if you could take 3 things onto a desert island with you what would they be??

[LEGION]

Keep it practical.

I'd want a large sharp knife.

A set of strong purpose made clothing.

A large box of matches.

You wouldn't need the matches, they'd run out anyways. It is quite easy to make fire without matches, I use to do it all the time.

I trhink matches make it not only easier, but also quicker.

Once I'd start a fire I'd make sure it stayed fuelled, so at my camp there would only be one fire, constantly running.

However, for when I'd be mobile, I'd use matches, particularily if it were raining.

Yeah, but if I could choose between the 2, I'd pick a lighter over matches. Matches get wet they're useless, a lighter always dries out.

You can also build a big fire and after you run it for a while, you don't necessarily have to let it keep a flame. You can cover it and the coals will stay hot for many hours; is all you need is the dry stuff to get it built back up.

Also, you can make a coal bed. If you dig a fairly large hole, width and depth, you can make a long bed of coals. Then you cover it over and sleep on top of it and it will keep you as warm as any house could. You have to dig it deep because if you fall asleep on it and it is too close to the surface you'll burn your back.

We did this several times out when we would be hunting hogs with my dogs and would stay overnight. In the morning you just uncover the coals and put some tender on it and the fire starts right back up.

We also dug a 4 ft. pit and would let the hog meat we cut up in the hole. We would build a huge fire and after it built up a substantial amount of coals, we would put a layer of dirt over it, then wrap sections of meat in burlap and lay it on top, then cover the entire pit. Let it sit for about 8 hours and when you pull the burlap off the meat falls off the bones.