What skills do you have that you could teach someone that would help them be more self-reliant?

Going on the theory of "Each One, Teach One", is there any skill or knowledge that you have that could be passed down to a younger person, who hasn't had the opportunity to learn self-reliant skills.

I like to think of the Boomer generation as a bridge from the Depression era to those around now, the same way as those in the Depression era were a bridge from the Pioneer era, when their parents and grandparents had to live without electricity and cars.

Here are some ideas:

woodworking - carpentry, house building

basic sewing - both hand and machine

canning

wild food foraging

bread baking

metal working - welding, knife making, blacksmithing

knitting

masonry

animal husbandry

?

Edey

We really struggle here; there's very little that we know at this point.....one of the reasons that I love reading here.  Everyone seems to know so many of these practices; they're just second nature.  This year, I definitely want to learn:

• gardening
• cooking from scratch
• canning
• sewing

 

Gardening, canning.....that would be my two things. I enjoy those the most.

Mel, ask around at your church. I think that you can find an older woman to help you learn to can.Ask if you can watch her and then if she will help you. Yard sales are good places to find canning jars. An easy place to start is with jam and jelly. Then some fruit , like apples or applesauce. Peachs.....Georgia peachs are so good.  Ask question if you have some.  Babs 

Thanks for the advice, Babs.  I will do that.

DH has taught our sons: Car repair that is possible without a computer, basic woodworking, animal husbandry, gardening, machine shop which includes fabrication and design, tile laying, small engine repair, instrument repair, budgeting and money management, and creative problem solving.

What I have taught our girls: Cooking from scratch/healthy cooking, canning, spinning, knitting, sewing, meticulous hand sewing, hair cutting, gardening, art and design (now would that be condsidered self-reliant?), efficient and frugal homemaking, budgeting and money management, animal care, child care, first aid, and thinking outside of the box. 

What we have both taught our kids: The joy of making, the love of learning and self-reliance. This has encouraged them to learn skills that we did not teach them.

I have taught a number of women and young girls (not family) how to knit, as well as a small number of sewing and embroidery "students." I have made more offers to "teach" (always free) than "students" who are willing to learn. Unfortunately, few wish to hurdle the learning curve.  

My most successful "students" were the knitters, but few are still knitting. At least with knitting, and especially the 8-11yr old girls, there is a time and place. I have had a number of them really do well, but as they got older, and more involved with other skills, knitting was set aside. I tell them they will come back to knitting when the time is right. And they will.

 

Gigi, you are right about them coming back to knitting when the time is right.  I learnt to knit when I was 8 or 9 years old, and knit simple blankets for dolls, hats, etc.  Then put it aside and didn't even think of it through my teen years.  When I was expecting my first baby I took it up again, and all I needed was a pattern book with a few basic instructions to refresh my memory.  I've been knitting on and off ever since (30 years).  When my kids were younger I always took my knitting with me to hockey and baseball practices and games to pass the time.  I can't count how many people over the years commented on my knitting and said they would love to be able to do it, but when I offered to teach them they just said they didn't have the time or patience, etc.

As for passing down other skills, one of my three daughters sews and bakes.  The other two aren;t interested.  None of them garden or can although they all know how.  All four kids have the basic skills to be self sufficient, from repairing vehicles, changing tires, changing oil, repairing things around the house, gardening, canning, sewing, knitting, crochet, quilting, hunting and butchering, probably many more skills I can't think of right now.  But none of them seem to have the time for it right now, they would rather pay someone else to do it.  I'm thinking once they get into their 30s and 40s they all will come back to it.

Stacy

It is good that you kids all know these skills. They won't lose that knowledge, and at some time in their future they may have to, or want to, put it to good use. Their ability to take care of their needs has been enhanced greatly by what you have taught them. You did right by teaching them how.  Edey.

 

I started a new thread today on leatherworking. See "Leatherworking - A Dying Art? in the Hobbies and Crafts forum.

 I think this is a skill that needs to be revived to keep it from becoming a dying art. If you have this skill try to pass it on to someone who can keep it alive for the next generations. A handmade piece of leather is a beautiful thing.

Edey

Thanks Edey.  Actually, my kids are amazed at the number of their friends who don't know how to do their own laundry, let alone cooking or cleaning up after themselves......basic things. And here they thought I was the "mean mom" who made them do all this for themselves when they were at home.

Stacy

Skills... hmmm...

• sewing - hand, machine, and fancy (cross-stitch, needlepoint, and crewel)
• gardening
• cooking from scratch
• landscaping
• basic electrical work (replacing fixtures and outlets)
  
• basic carpentry (hand and power tools)

My friends and I trade skills back and forth when we need things done.  I don't have any kids, so that limits who I can pass things on to.