# Skills & Tools Of Yesteryear & Which Ones Do You Have; Or Wish You Had? # Over the last few years, I have read hundreds of survival and prepping articles. commented on just as many blog posts and realized some important facts about myself; and others around me. First, there are many skills I have, but more that I do not have. Survival skills, basic ones at that. In this post I will go over some of the skills that pioneers had, were forgotten over the years and which ones I have versus the one I want and need to learn. With the volatile economy, civil unrest popping up everywhere in the US and another possible collapse where will I be for survival? Where will you be? Are we heading into another great depression? No, not recession like in 2008-2009, but a full blown great depression? ![LatinoAmericansEp2_GreatDepression_t614.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVqJhoUz6XPh88GqhtJC9n25zFdgCEKMneyxLtqzWkLEd/LatinoAmericansEp2_GreatDepression_t614.jpg) _[Image Source](http://www.sfgate.com/tv/article/Latino-Americans-review-Long-overdue-story-4813207.php)_ ![border.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTaaS6RGXMUgqsdSczrCMmGrqXnU1ekRk2fDWWZZd5YtJ/border.png) ## Home Skills ## *Gardening, Cooking, Preserving & Sewing 1. Mastered in Gardening- This is one skill I have almost mastered. I can grow tomatoes, a variety of peppers, herbs galore, corn, potatoes, garlic, onions, asparagus, Brussel Sprouts, cucumbers and the list goes on and on. Need to master in gardening- Saving all heirloom seeds. Some I have been able to, but it gets a little tricky for me when it comes to leaf lettuces, arugula and other greens. 2. Cooking- I cook from scratch mainly but what happens when I run out of flour, sugar, etc? I need to add this (growing wheat and sugar beets) to my gardening. Or perhaps in place of sugar, I need to learn more about maple syrup hunting and making, or beekeeping. There are alternatives to actual sugar, but I am clueless as to how to get, harvest and make. Learn to cook on an open fire. I don't necessarily mean a camping fire. I mean, take your cast iron skillet or Dutch oven outside, start a fire (no using matches or a lighter/fluid) and cook a complete dinner. _Can you do it?_ 3. Preserving- learn to can the harvest and bounty from your garden. Grow herbs to add flavor; because how do you know how readily available salt and pepper will be? _Side note: Did you know you can grow black pepper?_ Learn to preserve meat. Make jerky. Do you know how to can meat? Do you know how to salt venison? How about curing pork? I do not. So adding these to my _to learn skills' list_. 4. Sewing- Yes I can sew on a missing button, hem pants and skirts and I can even follow a pattern. But that is where my sewing skills end. Last week I had read @floridagypsy post about [her homestead and how it started years ago](https://steemit.com/life/@floridagypsy/our-homestead-in-the-early-years-of-living-in-florida). Her sewing abilities is what provoked this post of mine. I want to learn more basic hand sewing skills and her determination and words inspired me. Weaving goes in this category too. Can you weave a basket to haul your goods? Can you make a backpack style basket to hoist up and carry heavier items? Yeah, me either. ![border.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTaaS6RGXMUgqsdSczrCMmGrqXnU1ekRk2fDWWZZd5YtJ/border.png) ## Carpentry & Livelihood Skills ## *Building, Use of Hand Tools (non-electric) & Blacksmithing 1. Can you construct a small out building? Maybe even a real shelter? Do you have hammers, hand saws, nails? Or will you live in a tree branch structure? 2. Hand tools- No drills or electric or gas powered saws here. Can you cut a tree for wood planks? Items you may need: axe, awl, plane, straight draw/draw knife to peel bark off trees, hack saw, machete- the list is on-going. 3. Blacksmithing- What happens when you knife gets dull? Or if you need a new knife? Do you have any of these in your stash? Anvils, tongs, hammers or forges . These are all tools you would need to work. ![knife.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbp9YKj9mBHqYPKYKuv155Q59YLsfsk1tfYvBQHiFncWY/knife.jpg) [_Image Source_](http://www.americantrails.org/resources/info/tools8.html) Draw Knife ![border.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTaaS6RGXMUgqsdSczrCMmGrqXnU1ekRk2fDWWZZd5YtJ/border.png) ## Survival Skills ## * Hunting/Butchering , Foraging, Fishing, Gunsmith & Raising Livestock 1. Hunting and Butchering- Ok, so you have gotten over your fear of guns and shooting a deer, squirrel or any other animal. But now the real work begins. Can you 'gut' the animal? Skin the animal? Butcher the animal? Do you know how to field dress a large animal? You may not be able to take it to a processor or butcher, so now what do you do? Do you hunt with a rifle or shotgun only? How about adding knives, bows and arrows/crossbows to your collection of hunting supplies? 2. Foraging and Fishing- Can you recognize safe plants to eat? Can you put a worm on a hook; or do you get squeamish? Do you know how to filet a fish once caught? 3. Gunsmith- Do you know how to clean your gun after firing? How about making sure all the parts are in working order? Do you have access to an unlimited amount of ammunition; or can you make your own? 4. Raising Livestock- Do you know about animal husbandry? What mixture to feed your chickens? How about how to milk a cow or goat? Process the milk after it has been milked? ![border.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTaaS6RGXMUgqsdSczrCMmGrqXnU1ekRk2fDWWZZd5YtJ/border.png) ## Medical ## * Basic First Aid, Herbal Healing and Pain Management 1. Do you hold a current Red Cross First Aid card? Do you know how to help a choking person? How about bandaging a cut? Cleaning out the cut? Splinting a sprain? How to build a travois to haul an injured person or your supplies? ![Travois_1.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQme3p4GPzpZBPwMtXtbVm9ALFgJXw37pG6sqmGGFdzVvGZ/Travois_1.jpg) [Image Source](http://travoisrescue.com/history/)_Travois_ 2. Herbs & Pain Management- Do you know which herbs are good for salves? Which herb can be used for a sprain or as a topical pain reliever? How about which ones are good for sore throats? Can you make infused oils? Can you make an anxiety tea? Yes, these will all be important if a doctor is not available; or if you cannot afford one or the medication. ![border.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTaaS6RGXMUgqsdSczrCMmGrqXnU1ekRk2fDWWZZd5YtJ/border.png) ## These are just questions off the top of my head... do you have any to add? ## ![SIGNATURE.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVMw2kXPA6owwExXmzmPsv5nxUWqSba82B7BC7TTrT3Vs/SIGNATURE.jpg)![DQmWrXCPVGRFqdbXTXFjsQfhDXZys1FT3dWoX8LdXyK4XYv_1680x8400.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTEdwxVnu6jWUyDdPb6MwHmFovo5TPHH7cTA3cts7FgiH/DQmWrXCPVGRFqdbXTXFjsQfhDXZys1FT3dWoX8LdXyK4XYv_1680x8400.png)![DQmYXXHDrDwhEdyGeY3dmTFcG8swHjuLQeWMii6nJEZhGTB_1680x8400.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmY5k36p5HWiia7nZ2N8QH3s248TynYQczzJckV3pAPJjc/DQmYXXHDrDwhEdyGeY3dmTFcG8swHjuLQeWMii6nJEZhGTB_1680x8400.png) Badges by @daddykirbs Come join the homestead slack community and have fun chatting with us- click picture below. 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