WHITE OAK — Although it wasn’t quite totally roughing it, a group of bush-crafters gathered at Harmony Hall Plantation Village between Thursday and Sunday to fellowship, enjoy what nature had to offer during the day and camp out under the stars.
The event was the brainchild of Allen Hobbs of Ivanhoe, who puts together his own YouTube videos about surviving outdoors and includes a live YouTube survivalist show.
All in all, the event attracted about eight people — one from the North Carolina mountains and one from St. Augustine, Fla.
“I wish this had been bigger, but it’s just the first one here,” Hobbs said. “Hopefully we can get this to grow.”
Hobbs said he chose to hold the event at the iconic, Revolutionary War-era Harmony Hall because of the history of the plantation home and the natural beauty of the surrounding land.
During the four-day event, those participating took time to make hikes to the Cape Fear River, go on tours of the 1760 home and the several other buildings on the grounds, as well as do a lot if cooking over an open flame. Meals included such entrees as venison, fish, stew and eggs.
“To have the natural resources here to see while hiking to the river … I think we all really enjoyed that,” said Aaron Levine, a management forester at Bladen Lakes State Forest who learned about the event on Facebook. “We were able to see a lot of evidence of different wildlife.
“And the history of these grounds is also really interesting,” he added.
Levine’s brother-in-law, Al Minkler, who came to the event from Florida, said he’s become interested in learning more about bush craft.
“It’s pretty cool to be able to use what nature offers us,” he said. “After all, this outdoors is where we all came from … and a lot of the younger generation seems to be missing out on this kind of thing.”
Using what nature offers included crafting a set of support poles for a tent, tongs and a large wooden spoon/paddle for cooking.
But the event at Harmony Hall meant something even deeper for Minkler.
“The hospitality and camaraderie has been good for the soul,” he said. “It’s helped us get closer with God, because we’re all Christians here — and I mean that as the good kind (of Christian).”
Throughout the event, Mother Nature seems to have produced a warm streak with highs in the 70s and 80s and lows in the mid-40s.
“It was almost too warm,” Hobbs said. “It’s not the cooler, winter-type weather we hoped for, but it’s been dry and enjoyable.”
For Neil Eddings of Brevard, who has been an Internet friend of Hobbs for years, knew about the event from YouTube.
“Allen and I had never met and I wanted to come support his event,” Eddings said while scrambling farm-fresh eggs. “This is a beautiful area, with a lot of real cool history.
“I’ve enjoyed seeing the plantation home and just hanging out here,” he added. “I’ll definitely try to talk this (event) up and bring more people next year.”
The decision to hold a second year seemed to be unanimous among the group.
“Oh yes,” Hobbs said. “We’ll be doing this again for sure.”
W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.
