In our fast-paced technologically-centered modern world, many adults have never learned some of the basic skills need for self-sufficiency or survival. We’ve complied a list of some of the crucial skills everyone should know, for day-to-day life, homesteading, or SHTF.
- How to change a tire: seems basic, but many people, especially women, don’t know how to do this. But in many scenarios in life, and definitely when SHTF, AAA might not be reachable.
- How to hand-wash laundry: it’s harder than it looks!
- How to start a fire: probably the #1 survival skill, everyone should know how to do this
- Plant recognition: it’s always useful to know what’s growing in your region
- How to cook beans: also basic-but important!
- Basic weight, volume and distance measurements: there’s going to be a day when you can’t Google it
- How to mend clothing: no fast fashion after doomsday!
- Endurance-running, strength: being able to run and jump might save your life one day-train up now!
- How to properly lift and carry heavy loads: ditto!
- Basic knots: where’s that boy scout handbook?
- How to use a compass: something else that could save your life one day!
- Insect recognition: always good to know what might bite.
- Animal dropping identification: its useful to know what to hunt-and what to avoid!
- Animal print identification: see above.
- How to jump-start a car: another basic skill everyone should know
- How to siphon gas: you never know when you might need to uh, borrow some gas.
- Basics of child birth childbirth can be complicated but everyone should know a few basics, just in case!
- How to make a splint: first aid 101, as well as the following two:
- How to treat a wound and…
- How to treat a sprain.
- How to make broth: make the most of the game you catch, as well as…
- How to clean game: gross, but oh so useful.
- How to fish: many cultures caught fish without metal hooks, what’s your excuse?
- How to purify water: Like making a fire, this one is crucial.
- How to start seeds: The foundation of gardening is how to sprout seeds. This can be useful for everything from using the contents of your heirloom seed vault, making sprouts out of your dried bean and rice stash, to cultivating plants you find in the wild.
In a survival situation and even on a day-to-day basis, these necessary skills will help you become more self-reliant, more confident in nature, and less dependent on the tethers of modern life.
Great line up! So where do I get all this information – without it costing an arm & a leg?
Basic hunting for small game – weapons, snares, dead falls, game trails, watering holes, food sources
Basic gardening – growing the three sisters, composting fertilizer, nitrogen sources
Basic food preservation (like the Indians/Puritans/etc. used to do it)
“So where do I get all this information – without it costing an arm & a leg?”
From the Internet, Jean. You can learn anything you like from http://www.youtube.com
Just do a search for a couple of key words like – GARDENING THREE SISTERS and you get https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gardening+three+sisters Start watching for hours and hours of learning and fun.
Or just go to Google (or other search engine) and do the same to get https://www.google.com/#q=gardening+three+sisters
Try:
WATER PURIFICATION
BOILING
CHEMICALS
SOLAR
HOT ROCKS
SURVIVAL
FISHING
SURVIVAL
TRAPS
SPEAR
HUNTING
TRAPS
SURVIVAL
SNARES
I’m sure you get the idea.
The software stripped out all of my indents, the first term is the key and the following are subsections so you’ll want to search for FISHING TRAPS OR HUNTING SNARES.
Skill #10 – BSA has been explaining, demonstrating, guiding, and enabling scouts for 106 years on the six ‘first class’ knots: square knot; taught-line hitch; two half hitches; timber hitch; clove hitch; and bowline. You know you’ve got the skill when you can tie them blind folded.
BARTERING – probably one of the more important skills you’ll need, learn to barter, frequent farmers’ markets for contacts and establish a bartering network.
COMMUNITY – no man is an island and you’ll need companionship, specialized skill sets and many hands for farming and defense among other things.
IMPORTANT SKILL(s) – Something the community will likely need like animal husbandry, small engine repair, nurse/doctor/vet/dentist, alcohol/water distillation, bee keeping, gunsmithing, shoe cobbler, seamstress, baker, etc. The more skill sets you have, the more important to the community you’ll be.