Bender Heaven

A bender is the traditional British travellers abode. Built from little more than a tarpaulin and some thin hazel poles, people live in these clean, warm ecohomes the length and breadth of Britain. Few people have ever been in one, and, like so many sensible things they remain illegal. In this book, designed to last until the oil runs out, a longtime benderdweller reveals the art of the perfect bender.

• First published 2008 AD This edition Wooden Books Ltd 2008 AD Published by Wooden Books Ltd. 8A Mar
• I would like to dedicate this book to the spirit of the Dongasthe understanding that a reconnection
• 1 INTRODuCTION For the price of a tarpaulin and a few bits of rope anyone can create a bender. The
• 2 3 Choosing a site creating the space The weather systems in northern Europe necessitate a certain
• 4 5 siting in Winter planning for the cold During the other eleven and a half months of the year, we
• 6 7 essential equipment tools of the trade Having the right equipment about you will always make lig
• 8 9 poles selecting and sharpening As much of the UK is rich in fast growing softwoods, bender poles
• 10 11 ropes and pegs installing the bender Good ropes are important and come in different forms Tra
• 12 13 OE Old English, MO Modern English, ON Old Norse, Sc Scottish. making pegs woodworking for
• 14 15 stressing and setting poles tricks of the trade The majority of poles will naturally bend furt
• 16 17 traditional design simple pole layout If your poles are unset and straight from the hedgerow t
• 18 19 the ridge pole central balance A ridge pole bender consists of a central pole with radiating r
• 20 21 the Wurzel at the centre The wurzel is so named because Romany gypsies used mangle wurzels or
• 22 23 tarps, linings groundsheets outer and inner If you want to get the best equipment for outdoor
• 24 25 dressing Your Bender covering and lining the inside Your bender frame will usually be a little
• 26 27 doors and WindoWs entry and exit The simplest form of freestanding doorway is a hoop made from
• 28 29 outside Fires and the essential kettle When choosing the site for an outside fire always think
• 30 31 making Fire the ancient art of survival To start your fire you will need some form of tinder,
• 32 33 Fire Control outdoor safety If your fire is sluggish and lacking draw, a little artificial win
• 34 35 Fire shelter protection from the elements Another tried and tested method of keeping the rain
• 36 37 Cooking outdoors back to the old ways Cooking on an outside fire is a culinary experience all
• 38 39 WoodBurners gas bottles and other ideas Woodburners come in all shapes and forms from a small
• 40 41 WoodBurner use getting the right design Not being able to shut your burner down properly can b
• 42 43 WoodBurner saFetY distance, flue pipes and plates The burner must be a safe distance from both
• 44 45 saFetY fire and disease precautions The best way to view a bender in terms of safety is as a w
• 46 47 environmental impaCt landscape awareness Though the environmental impact of a few benders dwel
• 48 49 intruders rodents, badgers and bees Rodents are everywhere so its always worth investigating y
• 50 51 transport alternatives to automobiles If you intend travelling with a bender there are a numbe
• 52 53 handCarts the frugal side of benders For a minimalist handcart you will need wood from the hed
• 54 55 Benders and the Future low cost and low impact With the recent acquisition of knowledge about
• 56 57 postsCript looking at benders in a new way I would like to thank the author of a book called T
• 58