10 Important Pioneer Skills That We Need
Whether you want to save money on your shopping trip or you want to know how to take care of yourself, I’d like to discuss ten important pioneer skills that are still needed today. I have no desire to learn a few things, but there are survival skills you need to know if a disaster hits. Additionally, we may see another lockdown, and many of us are already struggling financially. Being willing to sharpen some skills or learn new ones can make all the difference when facing an emergency.
Related: 30 Pioneer Skills We Cannot Lose or 13 Surprising Uses for Flour
10 Important Pioneer Skills
Some things you may just not be able to do. For instance, you may not have the skills to turn wool into cloth or churn milk into butter. It’s ok if you don’t know every little thing, but I would suggest knowing these ten basic pioneer skills:
#1 Bartering Survival Skills
Bartering is still a super important skill. I listed this as #1 because, as I said above, you don’t have to know how to do everything, but if you know how to barter, you can trade one skill for another. People used to do this a lot. You can barter with food, water, other critically needed items like first aid kit supplies, or your skills. For example, if you know how to make bread, you could barter making someone bread weekly as long as they help you drill a well. Amid a pandemic and civil unrest, bartering skills are great to have. To learn more about bartering, please read these posts:
- How to Barter With Food and Water
- Top 50 Items You Need to Have to Barter
- How to Barter for Goods and Services
#2 Raising Animals to Eat
Even a tiny homestead can have a few animals where you can get milk, eggs, and meat. Depending on your location, regulations, and space, you could raise chickens, rabbits, cows, sheep, or goats. Start small and work your way up. Some of us in HOA or PUD housing areas have limits to what we can do, darn it!
We have a neighbor who has some chickens. It’s fun to hear them early in the morning. She is kind to bring us eggs from time to time, and we love fresh eggs!
I don’t see Mark or me learning trapping for food, but having a few chickens may be something we can do in our small yard. Raising livestock takes some property which could be expensive, but maybe you and other neighbors could pool your resources and rent or otherwise acquire the necessary property. We have family nearby who buy a whole pig annually from a neighbor who raises pigs with a group of friends.
#3 Hunting and Fishing
If you live in the city and can’t have animals, you should learn how to hunt and fish. You can go hunting and fishing without living in the country. Get a hunting and fishing license and take the kids out throughout the summer or when the seasons allow it. You can hunt elk, deer, moose, or game birds, depending on where you live and what’s legally available. (Check your local laws and regulations).
I hope you can appreciate my first “Deer” experience. Mark went hunting with his buddies, and they had their tags or licenses (55 years ago), so he went to find a deer, bag it, and bring it home. I want you to picture this: we had just purchased our first home, which had a single garage in the backyard, but there was no garage door, as far as I remember.
Luckily, he got his deer and hung it up in the garage to do whatever you do with a dead animal. Then, Mark said, “Let’s cut it up on the kitchen table with a plastic tablecloth”. First of all, I had never seen a dead deer, and I was about to skin it and cut it up. Mark was confident that we could do this. He could do this; it was not my favorite thing to do. We’re dragging this animal across the lawn and trying to take it up four steps to the kitchen.
We probably used our wedding gift knives to remove the skin/hide, which is not pretty, my friends. It’s gross. They shed like dogs, so we have hair that has separated from the hide, I guess. I’m washing it the best I can in the kitchen sink. Keep in mind we are not butchers and have never done this. Mark acts like he knows what he’s doing, so I follow suit. Gagging, thinking, I sure hope this tastes better than it looks after I learn to cook deer.
We did not YouTube this ordeal; I am not sure they had YouTube years ago. Mark started cutting, and I was wrapping the pieces of raw meat. Now, if you were to say, “Get me some deer steaks,” nope. I’m not sure what this chunk is. How about this piece? I wish I could say I like to cook deer meat, also known as venison.
Here’s the deal: I tried every recipe the neighbors gave me: add onion, use a slow cooker, use an apple, use vinegar, but none of those worked for me. I swear I can still smell that venison smell to this day. We gave most of it to friends who love venison. Some had it made into jerky, not me, nope, no deer for me. People say, “Don’t shoot it on the run.” I told Mark we would never cut up a deer in our kitchen again. If he wanted to have it processed, go for it
#4 Starting a Fire and Cooking Over a Fire
You can barter for clothes, water, food, or other things, but you probably won’t be able to trade with someone to start a fire and cook whenever necessary. So, this must be one of the pioneer life skills that you learn to do well and be more self-sufficient.
When starting a fire, you want the firewood to be as dry as possible. You’ll need to have fire starters such as wood shavings, cardboard pieces, and dryer lint. Learning the use of axes is a worthwhile skill as you go our gathering the fuel you’ll need. Years ago we heated one of our homes for a few years with a fireplace insert. We’d go gather a number of truckloads of wood on weekends and made a family outing and adventure out of the time we spent.
To cook food over the open fire, arrange your kindling into a teepee form. Then, arrange your larger firewood into a teepee form so you can keep the fire going. You’ll need a frame to hang the pot or a grill stand for that frying pan or Dutch Oven.
Related: Outdoor Cooking for Survival
#5 Gardening
Knowing how to grow your food is an essential pioneer skill. Whether growing fruits and vegetables in a big outback garden or on your patio, the more you can do for yourself, the better. Start with something simple, like a tomato plant, and keep working on it.
We’ve always had a garden and the kids would help us plant, water, feed, and harvest a variety of items. When we lived in River Heights, UT, we had a half-acre lot. We planted green beans, corn, tomatoes, and strawberries. I still remember sending the kids out with small buckets to gather some fresh strawberries we’d put on our homemade ice cream. They loved to help and to enjoy the treat. Great memories!
We would can the green beans and corn for our winter food storage. We had neighbors and a local farmer’s market where we’d purchase fresh fruit like peaches and apricots we’d also can.
Related: How to Garden in Raised Gardening Beds
#6 Food Preservation Pioneer Skills
Once you know how to raise animals, hunt, fish, and garden, you must know how to store and save what you have. Remember, there may be a time when you can’t just walk into the grocery store to get the food that you need. The main types of food preservation include:
#7 Butchering
I remember the first time we slaughtered a chicken for dinner. I couldn’t eat dinner that night, seriously. But, I guess if I was starving, I probably would have been able to eat almost anything edible. Knowing how to butcher the various meat options is crucial to survival. However, you could barter with this skill if you don’t want to eat the meat yourself.
Having good knives is critical. Being able to keep them sharp is also a skill that would help you be more efficient, save you money, and something else to barter.
#8 Sewing and Weaving
If the stores aren’t open, you can’t buy a new sweater, underwear, or a pair of pants. So, to replace your family’s clothing or even sew on a new button, you must first know how to sew and even thread a needle. You can find many easy patterns to make your own clothing, and you can self-teach or take a class. If you don’t know how to sew a button, it’s time to start doing that and grow your knowledge from there. If you are a beginner, I recommend reading my post: Basic Sewing Machine Supplies for Beginners.
Mark tells me his mom did a lot of mending. She’d watch TV while she sewed on a knee patch or used a light bulb inside a sock as she sewed a hole like new. She didn’t do a lot of sewing, but mending was a lifestyle skill she taught all her kids.
#9 Map and Compass Pioneer Skills
It’s easy to type or voice-command our destinations into our phones. However, some of us have no idea how to read a map or use a compass, which is terrifying. If you or your children don’t know how to use a map or a compass, it’s time to start mastering that skill. Make it a fun adventure for the kids and learn as you go, close to home.
Mark tells me all the time how surprised he is that the younger generation doesn’t know directions. One of his first jobs after getting his driver’s license was delivering prescriptions for a local pharmacy. Knowing his north-south-east and west was a critical skill he learned early. He also tells me having the Wasatch Mountains close by as a reference really helped.
#10 Foraging
I wrote a whole series on edible weeds! Knowing your surroundings and what you can eat if you haven’t been able to catch a fish or shoot a deer is crucial in emergencies. Berries, nuts, mushrooms, and edible weeds can become an important food source and be a part of your regular meals. Learn what you can eat that grows in the wild and what is poisonous and dangerous. You may have a ready-made meal just outside your backdoor.
Other Pioneer Skills to Consider Learning
A few other skills that could come in handy during emergency situations are:
- Making your soap
- Candle making so you can use the candles for emergency light
- Grinding your wheat for breadmaking
- Learning to use other grains for meal preparation
- Making your cheeses from dairy products you or others generate
- Researching how to make safe herbal medicines for your family
- Acquiring basic carpentry skills to use and barter
Final Word
The primary ways to survive if a disaster hits requires skills many of us no longer use or never learned. If there is anything on this list that you don’t know how to do, I would encourage you to start gathering information and learning and practicing! You never know when something could happen and you may have to return to the basics. In addition to this list, I would read 30 Pioneer Skills We Cannot Lose. May God Bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Pioneer Skills Cooking Over A Fire Deposit photos_95802776_s-2019
I can do most of these. And what I can’t do my husband can. LOL We just bought our daughter a dehydrator for Christmas. Hers died. We also gave her an Instant Pot when I got my new Duo. She’s also a prepper. I’m wanting to make jerky for Christmas as gifts as well as some banana bread. I need to get started soon though. Time is fast running out. I need to get some more over ripe bananas. I do have some in the freezer in vacuum bags. I do love making Christmas gifts. So far, I’ve made a couch arm sewing mat. Some melt and pour soap, sugar scrub and lotion. I’ve decorated some wooden trays I bought, using my Cricut. And I’ve bought some gifts already and some are on the way. Mail ordered. LOL I’m trying to stay out of stores, and stay at home.
Hi Deborah, wow, you have been busy! I love homemade Christmas gifts! I love making melt and pour soap. It’s addicting. I’m staying out of stores as well. Linda
I use the Goat Milk one. Next time I want to try the Shea butter one. I scented the ones I made with Jasmine fragrance oil. Love it. I bought some in Hawaii and it was wonderful. I also got some perfume in the same scent. I love it!
I love making soap too, but learned how to make from scratch. When I learned how to make soap, I didn’t know about melt and pour (or else there wasn’t that back then). I had so many skin problems, that I read every book I could on the subject and made my own.
The first time I did it, I was dressed like a Covid Nurse, and was actually shaking. I got more confident as time went on. Soaping 101 on youtube is a great site to learn from, if you are interested.
I’ve made the lye soap as well. And the first time, I was like you. LOL it took me a while to get up the courage to make it. The lye was scary at first. Now, not so much, but I always respect it and remember it can burn. I really need to make some soon. I love it. It makes my skin feel so good!
Hi Janet, I love your comment. I would be dressed like a COVID nurse too! Linda
Hi Deborah, I use the goat milk one too! I bought shea butter for something. I need to remember what I bought that for!! LOL! Linda
Wow! You are doing fantastic! I commend you! I need to do more myself but it seems all I want to do is quilt and sew! Good Job!
Robbie, I love doing what I do. So many people don’t sew anymore. They don’t know how. I’ve made a few small quilts. Baby quilts, too. I just make simple, scrap quilts. Nothing fancy. I’ve made masks for family, friends, and neighbors. As well as myself and my husband. He’s hardest to make for. He has a full beard, short, but full.
I guess you’d say in,I’ve crafts of all kinds. Crochet, knit, embroidery, sewing, with my Cricut and so much more. Needless to say, I’m never bored.
I agree with you about the sewing. I can’t imagine not knowing how to sew! Even tho I’ve sewn my whole life, none of my children got in to it. They’re in their 40’s and still bringing clothes over for me to repair! I have a goliath embroidery machine (that also sews but I never use it), 3 sewing machines, a one-needle embroidery machine (which I also never use!), a serger and a long-arm machine. Since the quarantine began in March, I’ve made 11 quilts. Needless to say, all the grandkids and great-grandkids (and then some) are getting quilts this year! I’m now making pillowcases for donation to the local hospitals. I have a ball making those! I crochet and had found a source that had an antique hemstitcher so I had alot of baby flannel blankets and burp cloths done so I could crochet the fancy edges. Those all get donated through the LDS church to local mothers’ homes. It’s hard for me to sit idle in on the couch while watching movies or even long car drives. I’ve also made a ton of masks but other than holidays ones (how long can this go on?!?), I’ve pretty much got ’em to match my outfits! :o) That’s funny about your husband’s beard-mine too! He looks like Santa but he trims it short…snow white and full! I don’t have a Cricut but I do make digital scrapbooking. My husband purchased an Accuquilt cutting machine for me for cutting out my quilting pieces and omgosh! it is THE best thing ever! I have to admit that the quarantining hasn’t affected me too much. I haven’t been bored at all. I’m especially grateful to Linda for her No Fail Bread recipe-I’ve finally perfected my bread making…much to my husband’s delight. She’s been a real blessing to us with all of her useful articles, etc.
Sew happy!
Robbie, this is so funny. My husbands beard is Snow White and he also looks like Santa. Around Christmas and after the kids all look at him with awe. He goes along with them. He’s not quite as fluffy as he used to be. He’s lost quite a bit of weight due to his pancreatitis.
I have a Brother Embroidery machine (4 X 4). It sews, and quilts, too. I do use it most of all. I also have a treadle machine. I got it for a bargain. $40 at a garage sale. It needed cleaning, oiling, a d a new belt. Now, it sews perfectly. Now if the grid goes down, I can still sew! My girls are in their late 40s, and early 50s. My son is in his early 50s as well. Hubby has two sons. Both in their late 40s. My girls don’t really sew either. One daughter is a prepper, the other is a minimalist. My son is neither. It has been nice getting to know you. God bless you and keep you well.
Hi Deborah, how fun about your husband and “Santa”. I have a Bernina embroidery machine, oh my gosh, I love it! We have so much in common! Linda
Hi Linda! I would add first aid to your list. Mosre deaths on the Oregon trail were from secondary infections due to burns than any other causes. Cooking over wood in hard times could bring that right back. Stay safe and well!
Hi Jan, oh, great idea! I start writing whatever comes into my head. I have a few pioneer skill posts. I’m hoping people will teach their kids and grandkids some of the skills! LINDA
I agree with Jan on the First Aid. This will be very important in an emergency situation.
I suppose the thing I am least experienced with is bartering. I do barter some but it is not fine tuned! Skills that would take me a bit to get back up to speed on are hunting and butchering. I have done both but it has been many many years. I think the last time for butchering was 34-35 years ago when my husband brought home a deer. It has been more than that for hunting for me! As for hunting, it is necessary to also have the equipment to do so AND the practice to be accurate and not just wound animals. Along with hunting and butchering, know how to utilize all parts of the animal you are getting – know how to preserve and process the meat, yes but what about the hide? If you know how to tan hides, those can be used for so many things. And there are other parts of an animal that have a lot of uses if you just know how. So for hunters, get to know how to use all of the animal, not just the meat.
Sewing is a skill that many of us have but for those who do not know how to sew or have the equipment to sew, start out with something simple – I learned by making an apron first, then graduated to skirts and on to more challenging things. In a SHTF scenario, I have this covered! I have a treadle sewing machine that works like a charm so if there is no electricity, I can still sew! That is what I will barter, most likely!
I also think that we need to assess our daily lives – sometimes I use the “what if…” statement when I am making things (food, clothing, etc.) and think about how I can do it without modern conveniences.
Hi Leanne, I learned to sew by making an apron as well. I can sew or quilt anything. You can do so many things you will have no trouble bartering, my friend. Great commetn, Linda
Leanne, my first thing to sew was an apron in high school home ec. Second thing was a sleeveless dress with a zipper. I still hate putting in zippers. I almost wore the fabric out putting it in and taking it out. I did finally get it though. I wore the dress one time. I hated it! Because of that darn zipper.
I also have a treadle machine. Love it! I love making homemade bread as well. Hubby will eat half a loaf in one sitting, he loves it so much. I should make it more often, but it doesn’t last as long as store bought and we don’t eat bread every day.
Ah – Home Ec classes!! I grew up with a mother and 2 older sisters who could and sisters still do sew beautifully. Mom could look at a magazine or catalog and recreate the patterns herself. I don’t recall her ever using a store bought pattern until at least I came around to sewing!! Freshman Home Ec was an apron in the fall (already had that one down pat from home), sleeveless dress w/zipper in the spring. I also hated and still do hate putting in zippers! Sophmore Home Ec was a waisted dress with the dreaded zipper but I also don’t like gathering! That dress was a bust for sure. Then in the later fall, it was a lined 2 piece skirt and blazer. I wore that skirt and blazer for many events – loved it. Needless to say, while I know how and can sew clothing, I much prefer quilts and other sewing crafts. I don’t make many articles of clothing anymore – I am too hard to fit.
I gave up making my own bread when my daughter grew up and left home. I am alone and I know I would eat the entire loaf straight out of the oven with lots of butter! A lot of things I grew up learning to make/cook don’t get done much anymore. But, the key thing is that I do know how!
I took Home Ec for two years. First year, no credit, but it prepared me for the next year. Same with typing. We learned to cook on semester and sew the next. Same with the second year. The don’t have Home Ec anymore. I do think every child should take some type of sewing. At least sewing on a button and hemming a hem. Plus sewing up a rip. Even it it’s by hand. Same for basic auto maintenance. But that’s just me. The kids these days don’t know how to do much of anything. Just play on their handheld devices. It’s sad. I tried to teach my kids, but it didn’t all take. When I married my husband, I had my own tool box. Including a skill saw. I also had the tools to change spark plugs in my car. I already knew how to change a tire and how to change the oil. Not bad for a single Mom of 3.
Hi Deborah, a single mom with 3 kids and a tool kit! You are amazing! I sure wish they brought Home Ec and Auto Maintenance back as well. It really has short-changed kids nowadays. We were blessed! Linda
My Dad wouldn’t even let us kids drive – with or without him until we knew how to change tires, change oil, and check spark plugs, air cleaner, etc. – basically we had to know how to maintain a vehicle as part of the responsibility of driving.
What we did in Home Ec was sew 2 days a week, cook 2 days a week, and 1 day a week we learned other homemaking things.
When I got married, I also had my own tools, both hand and power. My husband was a carpenter by trade and was amazed that I knew how to use a chainsaw, other power tools and actually make things with wood! Not long after we married, I wanted a couple of new wooden spoons so I went to the hardware store (also sold lumber) and picked up 4 pieces of maple scraps they had – got them free of charge. I proceeded to go home, draw out the 2 wooden spoons on the wood and started carving them out using both power tools and hand carving tools. I even have a couple of deep scars from wood carving! The other two pieces of maple I used for candle holders, drilling holes and lining them with copper “cups” from the hardware store.
I agree that everyone should know how to maintain their clothing. My daughter graduated high school in 2004 and she took a self directed class and chose to learn to make a quilt that she then gave to me. She knows how to sew and has a machine but she says she doesn’t really like to sew. So, even though she CAN repair things, my grandkids always save their repairables for grandma! Makes me feel so special!
Hi Leanne, oh my gosh, you are such an amazing woman! Your dad was so smart to have you and your siblings do this before they got their license. I LOVE it! WOW WOW WOW!!! Linda
Hi Leanne, oh my gosh we were so lucky to learn the experienced sewing at school! About ten years ago I discovered a “ruffler”, oh my gosh, it changed my life. I could make twirly skirts for my granddaughters or ruffles on quilts. It was a game changer. Life is so fun if you know how to sew! Linda
Hi Deborah, oh the zipper! If you have a good zipper foot, I could have taught you. I bet by now you know how to put a zipper in!! This is so fun to talk to each other! I love it! Linda
Linda, A single mom has do do what she has to do. Making minimum wage doesn’t go too far with a house payment, utilities, and food for 3 growing kids. Especially a growing boy. LOL at one time we had TV and two lawn chairs in the living room. The TV was on the floor. LOL and we used an cooler for the fridge. Ours died. No money for another one. Oh well, we survived.
I did have a zipper food. Just didn’t sew too well. I did get it in. And I do know how. Just not my favorite thing to do. LOL I’ve made myself a make up bag with zipper. And loads of other things. It had to be perfect for my Home Ec teacher. LOL I think I was in too much of a hurry or something. I have learned to slow down.
Hi Deborah, isn’t it wonderful that you survived even in the somewhat worst of times? The cooler for a fridge, you rock! Linda
We do what we have to do to survive. I got married at 16. Really to get away from home, but later it became worse. I’ve had a lot of bad things happen in my life, but I survived. I’ve had a lot of good things in my life as well. I got three children out of my first marriage. And that was good. I got to raise my children, and not their biological father. He was not a good man. Still isn’t. But I’ve now been married to a wonderful man who loves me. And I love him. And I trust him. That in itself makes me so happy I could cry. And I have. I don’t feel that I deserve to be happy, but for whatever reason God sees that I do. Life is good. And God is good!!
Hi Deborah, oh, we all deserve to be happy! I love hearing your story. Oh, what we learn from life! Good or bad, it’s what we make of it. Love this! Linda
Leanne, my step-dad taught me what I knew about car maintenance. Most of the rest, I learned by watching. I just used a chainsaw for the first time this month. It was an electric one, but I used it. My husband told me how to use it and watched me for the first few limbs. LOL The first year we were married I asked for a weed eater for Mother’s Day. I asked for a lawn mower, too. Hubby worked for the railroad and was gone a lot. He bought me a sled-propelled, auto start mower. All I asked for was a plain mower. LOL I do love to mow. We live on an acre of land, and the front yard is very small. Hubby owns that, and I mow the back with a riding mower. I can drive a tractor. The first time I did I was 9-10. I just drove it in circles so my grandpa and uncle could sprig the grass in a field. I thought I was so smart. LOL Little did I know. It was fun though.
Hi Deborah, oh my gosh, I LOVE your comment!! Life is so good! Linda
Deborah ~
I was also about 9 when I first drove tractor. But I didn’t get to drive in circles!! I had to drive the tractor and trailer in the hay fields so my dad and brother’s could load the bales of hay. Once the trailer was loaded, dad took over. I think most of my upper body strength comes from haying. When my little sister was 9, she took over driving the tractor and I helped load the first couple of layers of bales. Had to get strong really fast!
You were so fortunate to have found a loving man after your first marriage. My marriage didn’t end well either as my husband was an alcoholic and wasn’t concerned about food on the table as much as he worried about booze in his glass. We only had one daughter who fortunately turned out to be an amazing woman. She now has 4 kids of her own and she is such a good mother – some of that comes from me but I was always so stressed after her dad and I divorced that I know there were times that I was not a good mother to her. Now I try to be the best grandmother I can possibly be. The kids call me their science gramma because I am always coming up with science experiments for them to do.
Hi Leanne, oh the science gramma! I love this! I think being a mother is one of the hardest jobs on the planet. It’s rewarding for sure, but it’s hard. You rose above a bad marriage and a wonderful daughter came out of it. Oh, and the 4 grandkids are susch a blessing. Linda
Leanne, my ex was also a drinker, and a womanizer. Among other things we won’t go into. He was also more interested in his beer than anything else at home. We were married a little over 10 years, and 3 children. I married again less than a year later. That one lasted 6 years total. Half that time we were separated. He was a worse drinker than the first one. After he got his first DUI, he would get drunk every night and threaten to shoot himself. I was about ready to help him, so I gathered all his guns up and took them to his mother’s house. When he told me to go get them, I told him if he wanted them to go get them and explain to his mother why he wanted them. Not too long after that, I left for good. I moved out of town to get away from him.
Oh, my daughter and step-son/son in law got my husband and me together.
Hi Deborah, wow, talk about a wonderful love story. God works in mysterious ways. You are a strong and loved woman now. Thank goodness for your daughter step-son/son bringing you together. I love this! Linda
Linda, I love the story too. Mostly because it’s so true. My past life was hard, but now it is so much better! It’s so amazing to still be alive after a lot of what I’ve been through. It was all worth it to get to where I am today. Life just gets more awesome every year!
Hi Deborah, I had a rough childhood, I wonder if you and I may have PTSD, every time I read about it, I’m sure I have it. But the good thing I rose above it and life is wonderful. Linda
I agree that Home Ec. Sewing should be reinstituted into schools. However, I am firm believer that we should also return auto mechanics (maybe they’ll let girls do it now), plumbing, wood working and electrical. My two boys each participated in building a house that was auctioned off. The experience has served each well. We have lost sight of the fact that many children do not want to, or can’t afford to go to college. But there are also some who are extremely good with their hands and enjoy it.
Hi Deanne, I totally agree with you. We need both Home Ec. and Auto Mechanics and woodworking. We need all skills, not just college degrees. Some of the skills you mentioned are worth more than gold to me. We need to follow our dreams to learn skills we will love to do the rest of our life. Great comment, Linda
Oh, I agree 100%. Embroidery, crocheting, knitting are some others that need to be taught. I learned to knit at age 54, from a book and YouTube. I learned to crochet in my mid to late 20’s from a book. No internet then. I’ve made one pair of socks. LOL Now, I’d use circular needles and not the DPNs.
Hi Deborah, life is good when we have hobbies or skills! Love this, Linda
I sometimes think I have too many hobbies. LOL OK, not really, but I do have a wide variety. And I love them all. I just got some more of my Jasmine oil and as soon as I get the Goats milk soap, I’ll be making some more soap. I used some of my first batch last night. I smelled so good when I went to bed. LOL I will be making other scents, too. My sis in law and I both love the Jasmine. My daughter can’t use lavender, it stops her nose up. I think she’s allergic to it. I’ll make her some other scent. Maybe Ylang Ylang. Not sure, yet. I’ll think of something though.
Hi Deborah, oh we can never have too many hobbies!! LOL! Now, I want to order some Jasmine oil. Squeal! Linda
I wonder why they no longer offer auto mechanics in school? It used to really be mechanics with the older cars when i went to school in the 60’s and 70’s but now cars have got all that computer things on them maybe that is why it isn’t offered anymore.About have to be a scientist and have a room full of gadgets before you can work on one or find out what is wrong with it. I can change a tire learned when i was 15. Replace a battery and a few other things.
Hi Donna, here in Utah and several other states (not all) stopped teaching Home Economics, Wood Working, and Auto Mechanics many years ago. It’s really too bad because they are skills our youth need. In some cases, not all, they will not learn how to sew, work on a car, or woodworking at home. Stay safe, Linda
Linda, PTSD is a possibility. I started out without my daddy. He got hit by a car because his car broke down. This was the last day of March 1951. I was born in October. He was 25 years old. I’ve always wondered if I was the cause. I’ve cried all my life for my daddy. Before I was born, Mother’s veins in her uterus ruptured. I was born emergency C-section. They cut my face and Mother almost bled to death. The doctor told my grandparents that there was little chance Mother would make it and none that I would. And that was the start of my journey in life. The ending, so far, has been better.
Hi Deborah, oh I forgot about your daddy and the car accident. Man, your mom must have had a very hard life as well. Wow! I always tell my kids, you never really know what’s going on behind closed doors to speak. So many people suffer silently. Linda
That is so true. We lived with my grandparents until I was 5 1/2. At that time, Mother remarried. He was totally different from what I was used to. I’d have rather stayed with my grandparents, but never said it.
Linda it’s the fragrance oil. The Jasmine Absolute I just got didn’t have much of a smell. Just an FYI. I use the Thieves or similar, in my hand sanitizer. It’s not as drying and smells wonderful. It has cloves in it. I do have a recipe somewhere if interested. Just let me know. But you can buy it already mixed.
Hi Deborah, thank you I have plenty of soap that I made. I was so afraid I would put too much oil in it that I didn’t put enough. Live and learn, but I still love it, because I made it! Linda
I do the same. I use my soap exclusively when I have it. LOL I do run out too often! I’m trying to do better. I’m making extras this time of year. I do have a tendency to give too much away. Everybody loves the goat milk soap.
Hi Deborah, I love it too! Linda
I’m wondering what everyone is cooking today. I’m cooking pinto beans in my InstantPot. I plan on browning some ground beef with taco seasoning and put in it. I also want to make a pan of cornbread to go with it.
Can your believe people buy baked cornbread? I saw a lady today with a pan in her cart. I just shook my head, in my head. LOL
Hi Deborah, they make cornbread in a pan? Oh, I did not know that. I don’t think I have ever seen it in a pan. I love pinto beans in the Instant Pot. We’re still eating the last of the ham and bean soup from the Thanksgiving ham. Yummy! Linda
Yes, it was already cooked. The Deli at out local store makes it. I can’t believe people don’t make it at home. They make mixes for it. All you need is milk and egg. I usually make mine from scratch though. Not hard at all. I learned from my grandmother. And my mother.
Hi Deborah, the homemade is so good! Yummy! Linda
Oh, and the beans were so good. I cooked them on slow cook for an hour and then 35 minutes on pressure. Cooked the beef, with the taco seasoning, added it to the beans and slow cooked for 30 minutes while the cornbread was mixed and cooked. Now, I’m stuffed. LOL I love pintos cooked any way.
Hi Deborah, so how many cups of beans and how many cups of water? Linda
True. But I do keep a couple of packages here.
What a great list! If there were to be One other thing I’d add would be to Get to Know a Rural person if a reader lives in town. Many of us already do most things on your list. Like, I barter hunting use of my land with my neighbor for his plowing my driveway. I’d be happy to let people do a garden, could teach them food preservation, etc, for some yardwork. Maybe I will go on your FB page to suggest this. I have to relate a funny thing: a buddy of my neighbor’s came to hunt here. He got a deer in less than an hour. He had a brand-new knife set…um, but had No idea how to gut/bleed the deer. (I guess his nephew usually did this when they hunted together.) Big laugh when he found out my neighbor also didn’t know how…hey, he doesn’t hunt, just has buddies who come here. Their bright idea was that I could do it for them! “Nope, not my deer. ” Gosh, I butcher chickens, not deer (though I helped my dad but too many years ago). I took pity and called my other neighbor who came over. Again, they thought he’d do it. Same response as me but he would tell them How to do it. I then told my ‘barter neighbor’ to use his tow truck to lift that deer up to hang. The job got done, deer was brought to the processor. This story brings out again the Need to know rural people. What I don’t know, I know somebody who does. My barter neighbor has been getting to know more of our neighbors. Occasionally I still roll my eyes and mutter “cidiots” when some hunters come here.
Hi Wendy, I would love for you to share it on our FB group. Thank you! That story is the best, it’s your Deer! I love it! I cut up a deer my husband shot and dragged home. Key word, ONCE. Never again! LOL! Great comment, I LOVE it! You made my day! Linda
Hey, Linda! Wow! Dragging a deer carcass across the grass and up some stairs into the kitchen! WOO-HOO!! You know what? My husband once acquired a deer that had been hit but the car in front of him on his way home from work. Well, the cop and the driver said he could have the deer (rather than leaving it to rot), so he brought it the last mile home! Guess what, he skinned and gutted it and he hung it in our garage for a short time. When the butchering timeframe came, guess what he did? He cut it into 4 parts, I think…was way back in the 90s, and left me to finish butchering the entire animal! I had no idea what to do, so looked up info. on butchering deer and read up on instructions in my Joy of Cooking old standby cookbook, if memory serves. In the end, we got lots of meat, and I even ground up some for hamburger with my old “hostess gift” from an ancient Tupperware party. It was/is an electric veggie slicer and grinder for meat. Believe it or not, I still own this old contraption! Don’t use it more than 1x every 7-10 years anymore, but if we needed it and still had electricity, we’d definitely USE IT! Anyway, I will say I told my husband I’m never doing THAT again, but if we were starving I certainly would!! We love venison…often cook it (along with turkey) for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. Everyone in our family considers that venison dish a special treat! I fry it in a small amt. of Avocado Oil with lots of Mrs. Dash’s herbal seasoning and extra onions and garlic with a bit of sea salt. Everyone we know that hates plain venison absolutely loves it like that. Oh, gee, I need to make another batch of my homemade Mrs. Dash to get ready (!), cause our daughter and son-in-law will be coming home from Harrisburg for Thanksgiving, and “venison and onions” is one of his favorite dishes!!
Hi Jess, oh my gosh, I love this story! It’s your son-in-laws favorite dish, oh my gosh, I have the giggles. So many people love venison, you have found the trick to make it edible! I love it! Wow, you cut up the deer after your hubby cut it into 4 parts! Oh my gosh, what we did back in the days! Love this! Linda
Hey, Linda: I never did mention that our Amish friends that live 15 mins. away raise sheep for sale (actually “spring lambs”) every spring. They actually have middle eastern buyers who come buy their lambs (one of two each) and skin it and barbecue it over an open fire not he edge of their farmland!!! For the rest of us buyers, they skin it and cut it up into large chunks, but it is not what I would ever call “butchered” meat! HOWEVER, we have gotten used to dealing with the chunks and hunks of meat, and it is some of the most wonderful lamb you’ll ever find! At first, I really didn’t know how to make it taste like we wanted, but then found something on Amazon, called Fresh Jax Authentic Greek seasoning. WOW!
You put some lemon and salt on the meat and add the Fresh Jax over the top and throw it in the crockpot. By the time the lamb is done, you will practically be swooning over how great that lamb tastes, almost as good as any authentic Greek restaurant you’ve ever eaten at! YAYAY!!! Our daughter now swears by Fresh Jax, as well, and has thanked me many times for gifting a bottle of it to her. 🙂
Hi Jess, oh that sound awesome to get fresh lamb from your Amish friends. I will have to check out that Fresh Jax spice, great tip! Thank you! Linda