Last updated on January 8th, 2015
Here is a list of practical skills that people knew ‘back in the day’, that the majority of the population do not possess today.
This (and your comments) might help preppers in an area they didn’t think of…
Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills
While there certainly are people today who posses these skills, I wonder how fewer there may be than days gone by. Many years ago, life (and our jobs) required that we posses more hands-on and practical skills than required of us today.
It seems to me that for decades now – far fewer kids are being taught the practical skills which would better help them make it on their own in a more self-reliant way than today. We have evolved into a modern and dependent society – one which would be in deep doo-doo if the SHTF, or TEOTWAWKI.
This list could be endless, given enough time to think about it – but I’ve noted some practical skills which crossed my mind as I wrote this.
Woodworking
Metalwork
Hand tools (versus powered/electric)
Carpentry
Drafting
Cooking
Home Economics
How to build basic things
Basic math skills (by hand or ‘in your head’)
Knitting, Crocheting
Sewing (by hand, and non-electronic machine)
Making clothes
Gardening (and it’s many sub-categories of skills)
Composting
Fence building
Fishing
Forestry
Pottery, sculpture
Making bread from scratch
Make your own soap
Primitive fire making
Raising chickens for eggs and meat
Foraging
Archery
Backpacking
Camping
Shooting, marksmanship
Canning, food preservation
Budgeting, staying out of debt
Knot tying
Car, engine mechanics
Gunsmith
Blacksmith
Textile
Welding
Hunting
Trapping
Map reading, pathfinding
Cobbling
Leatherwork
Entrepreneurship, inventing
Reloading
Washing clothes by hand
Stay at home mom
Adapting, making the most of what you have
Food pantry storage
Verbal communication skills
Raising farm animals
Dehydrate fruits and veggies (without electricity)
Greenhouse
Handyman
Tree-cutting, firewood
Bicycle repair
Frugality
Analytical thinking
Proficient reading
Making moonshine
Masonry
Plumbing
Butcher
Baker
Candle stick maker
Most people today (especially our young) are caught up in an electronic world rather than a life closer to the land and that which nature provides outside our door.
Entertainment is more high-definition TV, video games, and celebrity, than stepping outside and smelling the fresh air. Remember when you were younger and would spend nearly your entire time outdoors after school or after dinner or on the weekends? Our minds ‘worked’ differently in those environments and we learned many practical things and lessons in life just by the fact we were closer to the land, nature, and getting our hands dirty…
Please add your own comments of the skills we’ve gotten away from as a modern society.
Well Ken, out of your list I am proficient in 25 and minimal skills with six. Many, I feel I would pick up on easily because of some knowledge of other skills.
It is so true that everyone is into the electronic gadgets. I have a one year old grandson, and although I’m sure he will be doing that stuff, I will be teaching him more of the old ways that at least I know. I will make it fun for him and special as his father is more into the electronics.
Papa J, kudo’s to you for teaching your grandkids about the great outdoors. I taught my kids how to play outdoors the way I did. Now my youngest prefers to stay inside and play video games. sigh But my oldest loves picking blackberries and canning with me,camping,gardening etc… I only hope our generation is successful in passing on the traditions or else they may go away forever.
Let me guess, Stay at home Mom is one of those 25?
Between my wife and myself, we have all but 4 of these down pat. Many are an extension of another skill such as tree cutting and forestry or welding, blacksmithing and gunsmithing. We didn’t score well on moonshine making, textile, reloading and making soap. We have books on most of these. Just haven’t had time to tackle them yet. You are right, the list is endless. That’s life.
I went to school to learn to be a computer programmer, because I thought I would be able to get a great job doing so. I have been very successful the last couple of years, but I too see the writting on the wall hence the reason I am here. I realized that the skills I learned to make a living are not going to serve me well in the coming future, which is why I have taken on a number of these items listed. First I took on gardening. I have limited space, but I learned about earthboxes and build a couple of my own and now I have over 20 of them. I also recently got into raised beds. Recently my wife and I went camping and I have been researching camping, back packing, and fishing equipment to name a few more.
You may be asking who cares? I would like everyone to not only prepare, but also not be afraid of this list. Start small, but take them on. You have plenty of time to do them. I spend a lot of time in my garden and watch a lot less tv.
Water sourcing and purifying; well making.
Making and using primitive weapons; slings, bows, arrows (incl. flint knapping), spears,etc.
Identifying and preparing wild plants for food and medicine.
Emergency medical skills.
Excellent contributions to the list Tom
yes, I think it is a good thing to point out. back when I was a youngster on the farm (50 yrs back), pretty near everyone I came in contact with could do most all, and more. Have to admit, I have few. My observation of generation younger than me, they have even less than me.
Even supposing the world goes merrily along, for the next two hundred years, I feel there is a great loss in youngsters/young adults/even grown ups not being competent in at least some of these. Knowing these gives one a great sense of confidence, in one’s self. Even if not used in every day work/life, it gives a solid base for life.
Back in the 70s there was a series of books called FOXFIRE. As I recall, it was an encyclopedic “how to” series written by “mountain folk” as a project to get students interested in their heritage. It covers everthing from moonshine making to trapping. I see it available used sometimes but I’d buy it in a heart beat if it were available electronically. Might be worth looking for….
My Kindle is loaded with survival books and is easily charged with my portable solar charger.
Copper
@Copper
I have the first 3 Foxfire books as pdf. files. They are available online. I just don’t remember where I got them.
Hi Tammy,
I’d suggest printing those pdf files (you can email them or take them via CD, thumb drive, etc. to a printing place) and have them bound and ready to go as hard copies. I did that with a woodcutting saw pdf, and the binder turned out great!
NG 🙂
My suggestion is if you want hard copies of the Foxfire books and don’t want to pay new book prices, check our your local library used book sales. They’ve been sold for 40 years now, so there are many older copies of the books available, sometimes only for pennies if you time your purchase correctly. I routinely see copies of the Foxfire books for sale at my local library used book sale that sells donated books to benefit the public library.
There are numerous sites that also host scanned PDF copies of the entire series, if that’s more to your liking
I also send around a collection of prep documents on a thumbdrive to folks on request and only ask that they send back documents they might have to add to the collection so that future recipients of the collection can benefit from their donation.
We really do not make things in America anymore, sure, we make some cars (with foreign made parts), airplanes, and some small local manufacturing plants make things.
Skills used by folks to live by, on a daily basis are a lost art.
Learn any skill you can.
Talk to old folks who did it.
Read books, try, trail and error, and keep at it until you can.
We will need it in the future.
I think I have at least 8 of the foxfire books as well. I picked them up about 30 years ago. I have a bookcase full of how-to books. I have 5 on my kindle only because I can’t find a print version. I’m not counting on those too heavily. The print books will still be good 50 years from now, the kindle I’m not so sure. I read reference books like some people read fiction. I love learning new skills, however I don’t rely on my memory to retain it all, hence the books.
Ken – I love your nursery-rhyme ending to the list! It made me smile, as all are wonderful skills to know. I would add seed saving, knowing the nuances of garden plants, knowing garden plant pests and diseases (and how to treat them), setting up a root cellar (knowing how to properly store these items and deal with their off-gases), darning socks, beekeeping, making your own dairy products from raw milk, naturopathic medicine and nutrition, navigation with a compass and the stars, knowing how to predict the weather the best way possible (and know the signs of severe weather), etc. I will post again when I think of more!
-how solar panels work.
-beekeeping
-teaching or tutoring children.
-how to guide & lead a survival group
-how to handle prisoners
-guard duty
-training methods of security
Oh I forgot to add how to collect and process maple syrup.
What is a Maple Tree?
Canadian flag made out of wood.
Aahhh, Thanks!
You’re welcome. Suggest you try real Maple syrup if you haven’t. It’s quite a bit better than most of the crap they sell in the store. Kinda pricey.
It also does not have high fructose corn syrup in it. I agree on the taste, I can’t eat pancakes, waffles, or French toast without it. Up here people collect it from the trees in plastic tanks on a wagon. Literally by the hundreds of gallons.
Maybe add medical skills. In the old days, gramma was your doctor, unless you were dying of Tb. Most people have lost touch with these skills.
I also see a lot of sites recommend learning CPR. Although this is a great skill to have, it will do very little in a true cardiac arrest but sustain blood pressure until you get the patient to a defibrillator. Alas, learning the art of caring for the sick without the luxury of medical technology is crucial. I’d even suggest that many doctors and nurses have lost many of these skills too! Other than those who work with homeless, or who have worked in third world countries, health care workers may also struggle when you can no longer just order that blood test or that CT scan.
Volunteer in providing first aid on the streets to the homeless…. that will expose you to some rich skills.
Some of the older Girl Scout Handbooks (printed prior to 1955) had chapters about HOME NURSING, which included basic sanitation, infection control, comfort and prevention of bed sores as well as meal suggestions (clear liquids, soft foods, semi-soft foods).
If there is a set of skills that any and everyone NEEDS to have, (and it will be needed throughout your life with or without SHTF), it is some home nursing.
That is only the basics to have some one comfortable while sick with an illness or laid-up with a broken leg.
As a nurse I use several of these skills on a daily basis, and critical thinking is part of my every day. Any good nurse should be able to fall back on basic nursing from his/her 101 class and remember the principles Florence Nightengale. As someone else pointed out, it may not save the person that needs neuro surgery, but the basic principles taught in nursing school can help keep those who aren’t sick well.
Thanks for all the information regarding Foxfire online. Man, that brings back memorys. Does anyone know where I can buy the whole set in PDFs? Thanks for the first 5.
Copper.
Agree we should add security and medical skills to list. my husband and I cover all but 4 items and include the medical, security and water collection/purification. kids can fill in the rest…no maple available here in the altitude, so I will have to stock up! nothing like the real thing!
Growing coffee trees will be one of my priorities. I live at 8600 feet and have been growing two trees for the last 5 years. The only problem is the yield. I think I will need about a hundred trees to keep up with my habit.
The Foxfire Series:
Having a hard-copy book is preferable to electronic copy if the SHTF.
The Foxfire Book
Foxfire 2
Foxfire 3
Foxfire 4
Foxfire 5
Foxfire 6
Foxfire 7
Foxfire 8
Foxfire 9
Foxfire 10
Foxfire 11
wish i could get those in the kindle version!
There are always solar powered chargers to use with electronic devices. They are small and easier to transport than a ton of books.
I have several of these as well, along with a larger (multi kilowatt) solar panel system with enough ‘juice’ to feed my primary systems in the house. I agree.
However, ‘if’ there were an EMP event:
Carrington Event
EMP nuke detonation
…these electronic devices ‘may’ cease to function – as in ‘fried’. I believe in a diversified plan (including alternative power sources for our modern electronic devices) as well as hard-copy references – where possible.
Actually it would not take an EMP or a Carrington type event to reduce a Kindle or whatever to a poorly designed table leg leveler.
All electronics will fail at some point. Particularly the high tech devices like computers. Anybody remember when Amazon deleted some books by Orwell in 2009? They probably still can do so. You know, only the government mandated ‘subversive’ books. A side of Internet kill switch to go with that?
Just found more on the Amazon thing. Alleged to be from the settlement. Read item ‘c’.
Amazon will not remotely delete or modify such Works from Devices purchased and being used in the United States unless (a) the user consents to such deletion or modification; (b) the user requests a refund for the Work or otherwise fails to pay for the Work (e.g., if a credit or debit card issuer declines to remit payment); (c) a judicial or regulatory order requires such deletion or modification; or (d) deletion or modification is reasonably necessary to protect the consumer or the operation of a Device or network through which the Device communicates (e.g., to remove harmful code embedded within a copy of a Work downloaded to a Device).
My wife and I used to belong to a historical re-enactment group called the Society for Creative Anachronism. One of the things they do, in addition to researching history and having mock battles, is researching lost methods of living from the medieval and Renaissance era.
I often thought that these people will be some of the ones who will survive a SHTF situation. The learn and teach metallurgy, woodworking, sewing and just about everything else that people during those eras had to know in order to survive.
But if you want to learn from them (non members are always welcome) you will need to dress the part. Their events are not like a Renaissance Faire where you basically visit that era. With the SCA you are trying to recreate that era.
Lehman’s Hardware at Kidron, Ohio has the printed books.
Old time medicine and first aid are a must.My pain killer of choice in this day and age is good ol aspirin. I have a large stash for the troubled times ahead. My mom was an RN and she also went through the depression, she had old fashioned remedies that she passed on to any of her children that gravitated towards helping their fellow man. Grow apple trees because you know what they say about ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’
All of the items listed here are useful in a SHTF / TEOTWAWKI situation,
with the exception of a few. The things that I think are odd (?) are:
a. Drafting – This is really a problem of conceptualization. This is really
a problem of visualization and making a rough sketch of the item to be
build.
b. Home Economics – This is really a broad area. There are many skills
involved like cooking, washing clothes, planning meals, etc.
c. Budgeting, Staying out of debt – Furher down –
Adapting, making the most of what you have
Frugality
This is a skill set for use before things happen. Afterwards, debt
won’t happen.
The rest is really pre-planning, so you can make the most of things.
d. Car, Engine Mechanics – It seems to me that after TEOTWAWKI, cars won’t
be running
e. Cobbling – Shoes are not designed to be repaired. Shoe making is a
skill that will be useful.
f. Entrepreneurship, inventing – Entrepreneurship is like Home Economics,
a catagory of a basket of skills.
Inventing is really just problem solving, along with conceptualization.
g. Stay at home mom – Again like Home Economics and Entrepreneurship, this
is a class of skills. Some people treat this like sitting on the couch
and watching Oprah.
h. Handyman, again a class of skills. Plumbing, electrical, carpentry,
roofing, etc.
i. Analytical thinking – Really conceptualization and problem solving.
j. Verbal communication skills and Proficient reading – These skills are
only learned by doing and that is not done in schools.
It was stated:
“far fewer kids are being taught the practical skills which would”
better help them make it on their own in a more self-reliant way
than today. We have evolved into a modern and dependent society
– one which would be in deep doo-”
I think that most kids aren’t taught anything, except how to pass the
proficiency tests given by schools to see what was learned. There are
only two things we learn from a test. That is first how good the teacher
is, and second whow good the test is.
I am a child of the 80s and when I was younger I spent many hours playing outside using my mind to occupy my time verses playing on game systems and the internet. The children now a days don’t know how to do anything without using some sort of electronic device. The schools now a days tell children to Google what they are not sure of. The kids don’t know how to look in a dictionary anymore. We have become solely dependent on electronic devices. We don’t teach are children to use there brains and think for them self. I know how to use many hand tools. The kids now a days just type it in a computer and a machine does it for them. We need to shut down the computer and make the children go outside and play make them use there hands and build a fort dig a hole. Make them be less dependent of electronic devices.
Upstate, I agree with you regarding kids. But much depends on who ever is the adult taking care of them, and looking around, not too many adults are bright enough to know what to do with themselves in life.
Both of my kids know how to cook, and I mean not the box or microwave. They know how to pick food for preserving, canning, storage and what to do with it too. They have been taught money management skills and how to stretch a dollar. They both know how to cut and sew clothes (not perfect, but the skill is now there). Both know how to fix things around the house and the cars. I have a daughter and a son which is my younger one. They are not afraid of getting their hands dirty and that includes knowing how to clean dishes, the house and laundry.
My husband, their dad, died many years ago and I simply took over everything which they needed to be thought about. And still, both kids are with the technology and know how to use it, typical young adults. They still know how to find their way out of a bad circumstance, navigate the woods without a compass and a GPS. Over the years, I quietly taught them survival skills and how to be prepared and how to use renewable sources. They were taught how to dress wounds and what mother nature has to offer for healing. And yes, they know how to use weapons too.
Perhaps, I should mention that their dad and I put in over 30 years combined serving our country and that has helped a lot. As a mother and woman, I am pleased to see them growing up, but there was a lot of discipline, love and common sense. It truly irks me to see some parents letting their kids get away with crap, but then, what can one expect when I see a mother in the cashier line waiting and checking her stupid social media account while the kids are running in the store around wild.
We are in a sad state when it comes to parenting. And schools, well, my kids went to public school, I have to work, but every night, I was at home with the kids supplementing their studies what the stupid school system was simply not teaching. I felt and feel it is my responsibility as their mom to make sure they are being thought properly, especially seeing our school system failing our kids, and selfish, incompetent parents failing their children.
I am glad to have found this site to see that there are like minded people out there and I like to read every ones wisdom and tidbits 🙂
Be well everyone
I would add shearing, spinning wool, and weaving to the list.
We create community by specializing in certain skills. While it is great to be able to do a little bit of everything, we can depend on each other as a human race. If times get really, really tough we will learn to operate as mini communities and not lose our basic instincts
If anyone is interested, I learned from “The Survival Podcast” (Jack Spirko) about several TV series from the BBC that are easily search-able on YouTube.
They are really interesting to watch, and as a city dweller (for the moment), I learned a lot about how to make products stretch farther.
By far, I personally found the most interesting to be “Wartime Farm.” It’s about three historians in England who take one year and re-create the conditions (and requirements!) of living on a farm in England during WWII. Fascinating.
Also, there is “Tudor Monastery Farm”, in which they do the same thing, but it’s in Tudor England (between ~1475 and 1510) . Also educational, b/c they built most everything from wood, and used the forest they had around them.
The third that I found (but not yet viewed) is “Tales From the Green Valley.” Also based on the same 2-3 historians in England, re-living certain conditions for a year.
Each series is about 8 one-hour shows, so it takes quite a bit of time to get through. But, I learned a lot about very simple things. Again, the WWII one was recent enough to be relevant, and easy to relate to, using a simpler version of things we still know / have today.
Be Well!
I’d also suggest that people learn how to make tipis and lodges from hides and canvas, after the hides are cured, treated, and made pliable.
Making arrowheads and hatchets from stone – metal will quickly become more valuable than gold.
Learning herbalism, and being able to not only identify the herbs, but to know how to cure and use them. Many of our modern medications are taken directly from the herbs.
PUNISHMENT PARK 1971 – MOVIE
Midwife
Apothecary
Both crucial for long-term grid-down scenarios.
Song leader – currently always a nice end to a long day of river rafting, having a guide or two with a guitar, harmonica, native flute, or drum lead the group in singing. In a WROL situation could help center a group and calm children. With hard copies of songbooks and hymnals.