Acquiring useful skills is something I’ve thought about a lot in case you couldn’t tell by all the crazy stuff I share with you that I’ve been doing. I believe that having a quiver full of skills and things you’ve actually tried is way better than having a library of books about self sufficiency and never having tried any of it. Now don’t get me wrong, your resource books are very important. It’s just that having experience with something, even if it didn’t go so well, gives you so much more to work with.
There are certain types of skills that will make you an asset to society if it ever needs rebuilt from a major disaster or TEOTWAWKI type situation. Skills like blacksmithing, woodworking, weaving, sewing, leatherwork, candle and soap making. Skills that were everyday and ordinary in the past but are not as necessary in our world of convenience and electricity. Unfortunately, because of that, many of these skills just aren’t taught anymore. But I wanted to let you all in on a great resource for learning some of the “old time” skills (no, it’s not my mother). It’s historical reenactments or living history events.
There are so many different groups that organize and participate in historical reenacting or living history events. I bet there’s one near you.
These events usually range from a few hours to a week long, and encompass many different time periods. Everything from vikings to pioneers to World War II and everything in between.Our family participates in historical reenacting of the colonial and mountain man eras (1770’s-1840). We’ve been doing this since my kids were very small, in fact the littlest turned 2 months old at her first rendezvous. Besides being a great family activity, these types of living history events are an amazing resource for learning skills from the past.
Through reenacting, I’ve been able to take classes on different types of weaving and cordage, outdoor cooking, flint/steel firemaking, basketweaving, butter making, tanning leather, and the list goes on. Sweet husband has taken some of the same classes plus done some blacksmithing classes as well.
You can learn to make knives and other weapons, shoot guns appropriate to the era, and primitive archery.
You can even learn to throw knives and tomahawks. (Yes, she’s only 4 here, yes, she popped the balloon with her own tomahawk, and yes, it’s scary how consistent she is with it–watch out future boyfriends!)
Get to an event and ask questions. Most re-enactors are more than willing to share what they know. If you meet one that’s not, go ask someone else. Some events have organized classes, others don’t. You might need to get out of your box and strike up conversation to learn the skills you want to know.
Attending these events as a visitor is a good start, but will only give you half the experience. Why not step up and become a participant? Then you too can experience the joys of primitive dishwashing!
You learn how creative you can get when the whole family is cramped in a little tent while the rain pours, how fast or slowly shoes dry out, how to wash hands, faces, hair, clothes, and dishes with minimal water, how long making a fort of sticks and rocks in the woods can occupy a boy, how to string canvas together to make a shelter when the tent isn’t big enough anymore–you get the picture. It is exhausting and fun and educational all rolled into one.
And you get to do it all . . .
wearing . . .
really . . .
cute clothes!
Here’s some ideas to find your nearest living history event:
Check this page at wikipedia.
Or this site for a listing of events.
Search for your state muzzle loading association and contact them to see if they sponsor any events.
Ask your local chamber of commerce.
Ask the “locals” in your community.
Watch out for flyers or notices in the newspaper.
Sometimes even the TV news crews will cover events.
So if you’re looking to learn some “old” skills, give some thought to giving living history a try–you might find out you really like it! :)
Keep preparing! Angela
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Great advice and information. Cute pictures of children. I like the old-fashioned dishwashing as entertainment that gets a job done.
Reenactment is a good way to learn skills and have fun. I started with being a docent at a Victorian house museum and from there to civil war period to colonial with a class in hearth cooking at Malabar Farm. I also found the PBS series Frontier House and their campanion book to be very helpful. I can also recommend the homesteading magazine Countryside.
cute pictures of kids. Thanks for the great advice and information.
Having a plan when emergencies and disasters strike is a must. By identifying what disaster situations your area is prone to you will help you to be much better prepared. Develop emergency plans for each possible emergency situation. These plans must include exit plans, meeting locations, emergency contacts, first aid and survival kits.
My family participates in the SCA and while I love to wear medieval clothing, I also love to take the classes and learn new skills. My favorite event is in August called Fibers and Fletching. Its the best event for taking classes and learning new skills. I learned to spin and weave, learned new techniques for camp cooking and how to make arrows last year.
My husband and I are Civil War re-enactors. Not only did I learn a lot about history, (I HATED it in high school), I also learned how to roll cartridges, fire his Enfield, weave, bake a peach cobbler in a dutch oven, etc. We have all the cooking over a fire utensils and everything we would need if the SHTF. I agree with the author of this thread…if you can join a group of re-enactors or even make friends with one, you will be amazed at what you can learn. And it’s actually fun.
Here in the Pacific NW we have a weekend event just for women – Women’s Primitive Skills. There are so many seminars lasting from 1 hour to several hours on how to make: you name it and we have either had that seminar or it is coming up. I have learned how to make soap, lip balm, brooms, cordage, tie knots, dip candles, make shoes/moccasins, make bread and candy, and the list goes on. I have even taught a seminar in food dehydration and jerky making. I have a long history of Mt Man Rendezvous – 27 years now (took a few years off though for personal reasons). There are so many skills to be learned and taught – try it. Living history is not just about going out and camping in a canvas shelter – it is about learning, research and teaching.