COW STOMACH FOOD POUCH!? How to make - Historical Food Carry Methods- Highlander Survival Skills 

The resourcefulness of past peoples is so endearing and astounding. I recall watching a documentary about relatively uncontacted tribes in the Amazon. They really didn't have a concept for " waste " in the sense that we do. The documentary followed the tribe as they slowly began to modernize and it was incredibly sad. 15 years on and the children had phones and western clothing. They seemed happy, but the elders were depressed. They remarked about how now they need money to survive, where as before, the forest provided.

It's incredibly impressive how you have created a solution to plastic food containers, albeit one that most people would consider disgusting. Yet it is still inventive and a good solution. History teaches us many ways to solve modern problems.

Brilliant work. I love your experiments and discoveries.

I know you are very focused on historical accuracy for the region of Scotland, but the use of stomachs for cured bags is well documented in other places around the world. My greatest familiarity with it is amongst the Native Americans of the great plains, the Dakota, Lakota, and other tribes whose entire way of life was built around the American Bison. They took whole animal butchering to the next level, using the actual whole animal, from bones and tendons to brains and eyeballs. Bag shaped stomachs were very popular as bags of course. There's also a different organ that's already composed of very soft skin, extremely pliable, and at least in a bison is big enough to be used as a bag. In fact, the bison itself uses this organ, to hold two very precious "jewels" as it travels across the plains. I'm not sure you can find cow scrotums big enough for this purpose, or that you'd want to, but all it would take is a simple drawstring around the top.

that hide tanning video clearly is a gold mine. it actually got me researching what would be needed to build an artificial peat bog.

Hello Highland Cookie Monster.

I was told, when in NZ, that the Māori used kelp. They cut pockets in bull kelp and stuffed a mutton bird chick into each pocket. I saw mutton bird on sale in a supermarket and they were covered in thick fat. My memory says it was yellow but it was a long time ago.

Great video and while I'm a bit late on the comment, I want to say another version of this idea is a parfleche. It was a rawhide pouch used in North America (and maybe a few other areas). The ones I've seen look like a bit like a large envelope and could hold dry meat and other small items.

I think it's funny anybody would ask about the hygienic properties of a tanned stomach vs plastic bag, I don't know what they put in the plastic, i know the basics of tanning.. Also don't forget that for years plastic had BPH in it that was causing all kinds of medical issues, who knows what that chemical was replaced with and if it's safe or not... so I think I'm going to take the tanned stomachs over the plastic

I enjoy a haggis, only had it in America. I use pig bladder to top a clay container. I have a bull scrotum tobacco pouch. And I’ve made lots of jackware

It's so cool to see your journey from bought clothes that look similar to historical to experimental archeology like this. Not mentioning the authentic experience. I am into historical hiking of different period but I can approve that it's really interesting way of spending time.

Something like a tanned stomach bag is so mundane and ordinary that if people were using them, no one would have taken the time to record them. So they easily could have existed and just slipped past the few people writing down extraordinary events.

And thus the Haggis was born 🤣🤣🤣

In a world where McDonalds is considered Food Safe I can NOT imagine how these would be in any way not- food- safe.

Am definitely putting this method into a fiction book as a little world building detail somewhere. I love the idea of tanning the stomach to make it more durable. Would these function as water containers as well? Or other liquids, such as oils for maintaining armor or weapons? They certainly would be a much lighter option than any kind of jar for such things. I can't see why they wouldn't work, but I may be missing something obvious due to ignorance.

Historically, especially bladders were used extensively as waterproof pouches for things like food, tobacco and documents, and many other uses. You could also make children's toys like balloons out of them.

Really good idea! I thought about that when I was butchering a goat. Have you tried brain tanning some of them? A raw egg will also work if a brain isn’t available the brain, or egg provides all the oils needed to keep it soft and pliable.

i almost forgot how much i enjoy watching your videos, and being reminded that a wholesome chap like you roams this earth at the same time i do! cheers!

Love it man, so glad we can just bring Guinness and pizza with us now a days.

I like the humor in this one! And a very cool video.

*I LOVE WALKING IN THE RAIN* in a woolen cloak - the rain is silent when it hits the cloak so you can hear it on the ground and the trees - its a very different experience When it lands on modern clothing its really noisy, you don't realise BUT - think, you have to be careful to look for cars cos you cant hear them - because of the noise the rain makes on your coat. Modern materials are rally noisy.

I was born in 1953. I can remember my perents using waxed cloth, I say cloth because I think it was cotton, not linen. Anyhoo, I can remember them using the waxed cloth to wrap things in, mostly thing that need to be kept dry or that were well oiled and it kept the oil from leaking through.

I was just thinking about the possibility to use a cows udder after tanning to make a pouch for food. Here in Sweden I know it was common with boxes from for examle birchbark or wood. And waxed linnen was used too. Stomachs I think was mostly used for making "waterskins"..

I had a awesome period canteen that was known as a Bladder. It had a animal stomach or bladder inside that held your water, cowhide on the outside. The water always tasted good from it. The water was also very chilled from it even hrs later on a 90+° day. I never took it apart but I believe the inside was surrounded by wool before the outer layer of leather was stitched around it. It had a wooden fill cap and attached to that was a outer cap with a small hole to drink from sorta spraying the water into your mouth. Anyway it was a lovely canteen for camping and I've yet to see one since and something happened to mine over the years and I have it no longer. I'd love to find one again for camping and hiking though.

We sort of use something similar instead of aluminium or plastic tostore food safely. But we use linen or any fine fabric and bake it in bees wax. Easy to clean and produce.

That was an awesome Cookie Monster impression.

Absolutely love the beard. Yet another great video.

That start... xD

FOOD!

It's just incredible what beauty, what atmosphere you were able to create. This is truly a meditative experience watching you. I myself started making videos about my adventures, so I'm interested in everything. Grretings from Belarus tourist.

Lol, there’s something just, right, about using a stomach to store food!

10/10 Cookie Monster impression

I think that’s the best beginning to a RU-vid video that I’ve ever seen.

If I ever get my hands on some stomachs I may just turn them into bags. Thanks, Tom!

Just can’t say enough about how great I think your channel is Tom! Thank you for all the work and research you do and thanks for sharing it with us!!

I have a few in the freezer. I just might try this when I get my hands on some peat.

Holy cats, that opening had me rolling! Hilarious! As always, great information here. You do excellent work!

You had me at "omnomnomnomnom!!!!!" 😀

Another great video, thanks. Actually using the materials and methods that our forefathers would have used is educational and enlightening. Many of the ideas and materials that still work today is both useful and instructive. Your vids are a treasure for us and future generations, thanks again and good luck.

Natural materials can be surprisingly useful. The rigid air ships built by the Zeppelin company used gold beater's skin (animal intestines) for the hydrogen cells up until they changed over to a rubberized material in their final ships, the Hindenburg and Graf Zeppelin II.

If I can get my hands on a cow stomach and take the time to tan it I will definitely be throwing one or 2 into my camping/bushcraft kit. Sometimes the old ways are just superior especially when mixed with experimentation. This really does seem like just a handy lightweight reusable eco-friendly option in a world full of single use pollution.

Loved the Cookie Monster cameo

During the depression ,my dad said that there were some Bohemians that lived on the next farm, they would come over and get stomach lining all the waste they didnt use from killing a cow and they would eat the brains and make things out of the linings ,so yea they used to do that back in the day .

My mother did our geniology we come from Mcdonalds ,we have our own plaid and coat of arms ,mom knows all about it ,but im in shock thjis is my heritage ,im all ears and ....stafffs...., love your work

Love it!!!’ I have always wondered about the day to day of my ancestors. This was totally an option. Thank you for what you do, happy Easter, god bless!!!

Pro: you can make them yourself, so it's possible to replace one when it brakes. You cannot make a plastic bag yourself (at least I can't).

10:44 I've gone hunting with this guy! Thanks for an interesting video. I might try saving the stomach from the next deer or elk I kill. Never thought of using them before...

Yessss! Another fantastic video! So interesting. I just watched the Yorkshire vet sew up a cow stomach. I'm having a very cow stomach themed evening... 🐮🐄

If i am being honest this is a super interesting topic to me. This video you made gave me many ideas for my writings.

The menace of Rustle Dozi!

He should make a 17th century homestead on his land he just got

hilarious. i love the humor. also really cool info

it looks like your entire backpack is made out of a stomach! :)

Fascinating! I mean it makes sense to make use of more of an animal. And likely better than all the synthetic materials that mess with the environment.

A+ intro

I've been wondering about this, want to do a 17th century walk of the spine of the world! The Rocky mountains from Canada to Mexico.

really interesting stuff :) and it's not just you, historic materials are quieter to use and wear, and I love that about them, the sound of modern clothing, bags and equipment annoys me so much now

Beeswax would work too. But not too much as the pouches go rock hard. I read somewhere the natives cached their pemmican in stomachs coated and filled with suet and caoul fat. Sown up with sinew or rawhide. Lasts indefinitely apparently if buried. Give it a go mate.

these videos keep getting better and better!

I've been looking for information like this for a long time, thanks for doing the work

Great video as usual!!

I was trying to figure out how to tan intestines just a few weeks ago, very helpful

Another great informational history based experimental tanning video. LOVED IT.

I liked your wacky intro on this video, there's something really nice in the pairing of a little unexpected/ surreal moment of explanation mixed with a seemingly genuine interest in the topic.

as a kid I played Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and the bomb bag in the game is described as being made from the processed stomach of a dodongo, a kind of large two legged fire breathing lizard, in order to safely contain explosives in something fireproof. Ever since then I had wanted to see if you could treat a cows stomach into some sort of bag. This is my second time watching this, i needed to see it again because im so incredibly tempted to go out and gather a few supplies to make my own. Regarding the oil used for limbering these bags up, I wonder how neatsfoot oil would fare. Its widely used for conditioning leather and considered by many to be second to none, plus it comes from rendering down the shins and hooves of cattle so if youve got cow stomachs, youve got access to the raw materials for it. It should give you a result not dissimilar to the flax seed one but be easier to acquire, and not be greasy like the suet ones.

thanks for your video ! love your green wooly jacket too

Caught this one early!

Great Video!

Excellent.

Great content!

Awesome video Tom keep up the great work and amazing content!!!

Very interesting! Glad you survived the experiment 😁

Thank you

Классное видео!👍👍👍

another great video mate

We come into this world in a vessel. We leave this world in a vessel. In between we use all type of vessels for various reasons. Perhaps the innocuous vessel is the meaning of life.

Nice video, interesting.

Thanks very interesting

I use Borax soap to tan hides, should work with intestines also.

Well hello again.

O A T C A K E ! ! ! !

In Mexico they make pouches from bull testicles skin. They work really nicely. You should try it. Love your videos!

Fandabi Dozi 👍

Perhaps you do, or have done this already, but why not wrap your food (Jerky, oatcakes, oatmeal, etc.) in your linen before placing into the tanned stomach. This should insure hygienic carry. Love your videos and I applaud your history experiments. So much of what was once mundane has been lost.

Germ theory 1. "God made dirt, dirt don't hurt." 2."Dirt only hurt after soap was invented, unless you got a stone in your soup."

A very fine work. I think i copy that 🤔 i hope at work 🤗🤗🤗

Love your videos man. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to learning our ancestors ways. Its much appreciated and very informative. Peace brother

depending on the area and region (jungle), you can use BIG vegetation leaf to hold your food. like banana leaf

Inspiring. Racoon hunting tonight (garden pest). Wonder how big a Coon stomach is....

This was a great video, thanks a lot ! In medieval re-enactment this is the kind of thing that could be bought by many people. It looks so useful and practical ! Would it be expansive to produce ?

So cool, I want to make one, maybe to carry dog treats?!

I am quite surprised that the highlanders didn't eat more cheese. Especially with so much sheep around.

10:53 Stares historically

"In the past, the standards for hygiene were a bit lower." Yeah. It's how the Black Plague spread. Though, that was more from the 'Dark Ages' rejection of all things Roman by the Catholic Church. In the past, it's unlikely they would have tanned the stomach. They would have simply made a bag out of a sheep or goat skin. Great informative video as always Tom.

And I'd guess the plastic isn't as breathable, causing problems like mold since food sometimes contains some remaining moisture, which evaporates slowly Bread would be a classic example, although if one would carry like a loaf with them when wandering around...who knows

Ah... the famous haggis... not unless I was starving and that was all there was available...

I am trying this now with a deer stomach. Wish me luck!

Oh I’m sure somebody else has already brought this suggestion up, or not, but what about brain tanning?

ever consider oil cloth? waterproof yet breathable!

FUD! 🍖🍳🍅