Having grown up bowhunting the mountains of Nevada, it's clear Tim Bray has never been interested in doing things the easy way. The same can be said for the incredible fermented foods and drinks he creates. In this episode, Tim shares his own fascinating story, along with a bunch of tips and wisdoms he's learned over the past few decades.

A huge thank you again to Tim for his time, stories, and skillset today.

Give Tim a follow on Facebook –and check out his Ecology Hour show on local radio station KZYX

Key Topics:

• The process of fermenting apples into cider and the importance of apple varieties
• How weather and year-to-year variations influence cider flavor profiles
• The role of wild yeast strains and developing cultured yeasts like Kvike
• Techniques for aging and blending cider for flavor
• Historical context of brewing post-Prohibition in America
• The science behind lacto-fermentation in vegetables, fruits, and meats
• The cultural and natural history of yeast strains from Norway and Lithuania
• How fermentation preserves flavor and enhances gut health

00:00 - Introduction to Tim Bray
02:19 - Workshop setup and fermentation chambers explained
05:40 - The true meaning of cider worldwide
06:36 - Fermentation as a method of preservation and brewing basics
09:19 - Comparing cider and beer brewing processes
10:13 - The importance of starting with quality fruit for good cider
12:00 - Regional apple varieties and their influence on cider quality
13:30 - How acidity, tannins, and sugar balance in cider
15:30 - Variations in American cider styles, back-sweetening, and commercial practices
17:05 - Developing wild yeast cultures and homebrew brewing history
18:23 - Yeast strains like Scrumpy and their unique characteristics
19:00 - The aging process and fermentation byproducts
20:02 - Impact of weather and apple quality on seasonal cider variations
22:07 - Using sulfur dioxide and wild yeast in cider fermentation
24:22 - The art of blending different batches for flavor complexity
25:37 - How fermentation shapes flavors similar to seasoning in cooking
27:09 - Timeline for cider fermentation and aging techniques
28:33 - The influence of weather on apple and cider profiles
30:34 - Differences in flavor due to apple traits and conditions
33:00 - Adjusting process based on experience and weather patterns
35:10 - The craft of blending cider types and batches
36:04 - The basics of homebrewing beer and how it relates to fermentation
37:52 - Prohibition's impact on brewing and the rise of craft beer
41:16 - Notable craft brewers from homebrew roots, Sierra Nevada's story
44:06 - The innovative Norwegian Kvike yeast strain and its advantages
49:25 - Techniques for hunting and the story of a big Nevada buck
54:50 - Challenges of tracking and handling game in rugged terrain
63:17 - The historic Roxbury Russet apple and cloning techniques
66:45 - The significance of orchard diversity and cider apple varieties
70:10 - The cultural significance of fermentation in different regions
85:30 - The Norwegian Kvike yeast's unique fermentation traits
92:32 - The specificity and flavor contributions of different yeast strains
98:15 - Benefits of lacto-fermentation for preservation and gut health
103:25 - How modern food processing affects natural fermentation and health
105:39 - Using fermentation to digest carbohydrates and improve nutrition
106:00 - A preview of future demonstrations, including kimchi making

Exercise begins at 11.30

In this episode, Robin dives deeper into the practices that help him focus when they matter the most. He recounts his recent successful tradbow hunt in the mountains with a red hartebeest while it's fresh in his mind, and explains some of the techniques that helped him succeed when the percentages said he should have failed.

In this episode, Robin reunites with Ross Cameron and Dr. Adrian de Villers for a few days at the Cameron Property. Amongst great chats with the Cameron clan, and delicious meals cooked over an open fire, Ross and The Doc venture up onto the mountain in search of wild game. While the heavy rains scuppered fishing on the Vaal river, some mind-blowing animal encounters kept their spirits high and bellies full.

A huge thank you again to the Camerons for another incredible adventure!

Interested in fly fishing, specimen carp fishing, or bespoke bowhunting? Or maybe just want to relax amongst the largest wild olives forest in the southern hemisphere? Check out Camelotstay.co.za

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Key Topics:

• Robin's trip to Parais, South Africa, including stay at Camelot and mountain adventures
• The experience of hunting with a recurve bow in the bush and the challenges involved
• Stories from flying cattle rescue missions, including dramatic weather and mountain passes
• The unique wildlife encounters
• Cultural and practical insights into South African farms, water systems, and local community life
• The significance of salt harvesting from ocean rocks and animal behaviors in different environments
• Exploring remote airstrips, abandoned runways, and historic aviation stories
• Insights into sustainable cattle farming and indigenous breeds in Africa
• Personal moments of reflection, including proposal stories and future plans

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and Robin’s recent South Africa trip overview
00:41 - Exploring Camelot Stay and mountain adventures
02:04 - Robin’s hunting experiences and challenges of using a recurve bow
03:36 - Flying cattle rescue stories during severe weather events
04:53 - Encounter with wildlife around the farm
06:06 - Exploring remote airstrips and local aviation history
08:07 - Insights into water systems and environmental impact in South Africa
12:02 - Cultural stories about farms, community, and indigenous cattle
16:29 - Historic aviation and secret airstrips in remote areas
20:46 - South African weather patterns and seasonal rains
24:10 - Local community life and farm activities
27:02 - The impact of storms on water levels and dams
31:29 - Shark diving and underwater filming adventures with local experts
36:14 - Challenging terrain and driving in South Africa’s wild areas
40:28 - Wildlife sightings and animal behaviors at night
45:02 - Hunting and tracking stories with insights into animal behavior
50:18 - Family life, pet stories, and farm daily routines
54:13 - Hunting preparations, firearm details, and field strategies
58:08 - Reflections on wildlife conservation and animal management
64:16 - The thrill of tracking and shooting in the bush
70:00 - Personal stories of proposals and future plans in the wild
73:08 - Wrapping up with future adventures and gratitude

Many feel driven to make their hunting equipment more primitive... Often that involves swapping a rifle for a compound, or even traditional bow. But Aubrey Tidbury is a man hungry for something more difficult. Heading out into the African bush with nothing but a home-made spear, he often faces two of the lesser-known but more aggressive animals you can find in the Eastern Cape of South Africa: The bush pig and the bush buck.

A huge thank you to Aubrey for sharing his time with us!

Give Aubrey a follow on Instagram

Follow his son's fantastic YouTube Channel Bushveld Bowhunting - check out their Insta too.

The conversation delves into the history of bow hunting in the Eastern Cape, the learning and progression in bow hunting skills, and the significance of bush pigs in hunting. It also covers the early experiences of bow hunting, the journey of learning and improving hunting skills, and the first animal hunt experience, along with the importance of bush pigs in hunting. Aubrey discusses the importance of consistency in feeding pigs, highlighting the impact of routine and the challenges of maintaining this consistency. He also shares his innovative solutions for pig feeding challenges, including the development of specialized feeders. Additionally, he recounts close calls and hunting adventures, providing insights into the thrilling and dangerous aspects of pig hunting. The conversation delves into the primal and intense experience of hunting with spears, as well as the game-changing impact of using dogs in spear hunting. It also explores the process of creating spears and the purpose behind their design, providing insights into the hunting experience and the tools used. The conversation delves into the art of spear hunting, exploring the techniques and tools used in this traditional hunting practice. Additionally, the importance of documenting family hunting stories is highlighted, emphasizing the value of preserving and passing down these stories for future generations.

Takeaways

• Bow hunting history in the Eastern Cape
• Learning and progression in bow hunting
• The significance of bush pigs in hunting Consistency in feeding creates a routine for pigs
• Innovative solutions for pig feeding challenges Hunting with spears is a primal and intense experience
• The use of dogs in hunting with spears has been a game changer Spear hunting techniques
• Documenting family hunting stories

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Early Bow Hunting Experience
• 10:58 Learning and Progression in Bow Hunting
• 18:57 First Animal Hunt and Bush Pig Significance
• 28:27 Consistency in Feeding
• 35:00 Innovative Solutions for Pig Feeding
• 43:48 Close Calls and Hunting Adventures
• 01:01:47 The Reward of the Little Spear
• 01:07:13 The Pursuit and the Final Encounter
• 01:13:08 The Search for the Pig and the Final Discovery
• 01:18:24 The Introduction of German Hunting Terriers
• 01:24:04 The Process of Creating Spears
• 01:28:40 The Spears Aubrey has developed
• 01:35:30 The Mighty Bushbuck
• 01:38:30 Hand To Hand Combat with a Bushbuck
• 01:53:00 The Power of Stories
• 01:58:00 Uncle Dicky and the thorn-snake

• • 02:02:00 Wrap-up

Robin is currently juggling adventures and interviews like a circus on steroids. Many obscenely good episodes featuring a bunch of new guests will be landing in your podcast feed... any bloody... second... soon. But in the meantime, here's some musings from the Eastern Cape of South Africa, as well a story or two from a recent adventure in the Ngwathe municipality

Exercise begins from 6:51 - In this episode Robin shares another useful technique for staying focused. This is one of the mindful basics series that helps build your meditation toolkit. This one's useful whether you're out on an adventure in the wild, or just living your day-to-day life.

In this episode, Robin and Tudor Caradoc-Davies, the editor of South Africa's Mission Fly Fishing magazine record a special roaming podcast: Loading up the truck with this month's edition and rigging up the cockpit with flashy lights and microphones. In between deliveries they chat about the origins of the magazine, its rapid success, big adventures, close calls, a few top fishing tips. And of course categorizing the nerdiest of nerds within the fly fishing community.

A huge thank you again to Tudor for the great chat (and for allowing me to provide him some free labour!)

You can find THE MISSION magazine at many fishing stores in SA and across the world. Find out where to get one, read all editions online, and find a bunch of bonus material at themissionflymag.com

And Give them a follow on Facebook, Insta and YouTube

Also check out the book mentioned in our conversation Pheasant Tail Simplicity

EXERCISE BEGINS AT 7 MINS

In this episode Robin shares his own experiences using the body scan technique, then goes through the technique in a demo.