Make a “caveman Zipty” in the Wild From a Palm Tree
If you’ve ever found yourself lost in the wilderness of a warmer climate, sturdy saw palmetto leaves can help you build shelter.
In this video from the National Geographic YouTube channel, Colbert Sturgeon from Live Free or Die demonstrates how to make a caveman zipty. All you have to do is find a saw palmetto plant, such as a saw palm , and pluck some leaves from it. Now split the fibers of the leaves lengthwise to make a few strands and your caveman zippers are ready. When it’s time to build the shelter , use the strands to tie everything together. And, as Sturgeon explains, remember to wrap the strands tightly so that the friction of the fibers does all the hard work.