One of my favorite things to do when I have spare moment (do those exist anymore?) is to sit quietly and think about how things were years ago. Not as in “when I was young,” but I’m talking about times farther in the past…think no electricity, no running water, no grocery stores, etc. As I remind the kids, I am not THAT old, so definitely not times I would remember from experience. But I like to think about those simpler times. Life was both harder and easier in the same breath. Both more relaxed and more strenuous simultaneously. That dichotomy fascinates me, actually.
Maybe that’s partially why I love homemaking, gardening, and our backyard chickens. As you have likely seen me call it before, I like to practice “urban homesteading,” since we currently live in a subdivision. I have a soft spot for the things I can connect to my ancestors about. I enjoy imagining what my great-grandparents must have done in their daily lives, and trying out parts of that lifestyle. I have gathered a list of skills that maybe aren’t so practiced anymore by the mainstream population, but used to be vital to survival and prosperity back in those “old days.” Do you know how to do any of these? Let’s see what they are.
- sewing
- knitting
- preserving food by canning
- preserving food by dehydrating
- preserving food by pickling
- growing a vegetable garden…some call this a “Victory Garden”
- storing dry goods for the winter/leaner times
- making safe drinking water
- building a fire
- basic animal husbandry/care
- making butter
- making yogurt
- mending garments/darning socks
- foraging for edible plants, fruits, herbs, etc
That’s a long list, isn’t it? I have included links where I could find them in case you would like to learn any of those skills. I truly enjoy acquiring skills on this list. Many require much patience and years of practice to become proficient at, while others are able to be mastered more quickly.
When my paternal grandparents passed away, and before their beautiful home was lovingly dismantled and sold to a lucky new family, it was their wishes that each of us got to choose some things to take from their home to use in ours. Now, my grandparents were nearly 100 when they passed away, making many of the items in their home true treasures. When it was my turn to consider what I would like to have, I gravitated toward kitchen and serving items, linens, sewing kits, some furniture items, and a few other mementos. The history in these items tugged at my heartstrings. Kitchen towels embroidered with flowers and birds, teacups and saucers, the dining room table we had family Christmases sitting around, serving dishes, a glass measuring cup older than my dad, a cast iron skillet that I’m sure is more than a century old…these are the things I took. And I use them in my daily life. I’m staring at that gorgeous dining room table right now.
I believe that surrounding myself with some items from the past brings me grounding to the present and guidance for the future. And maybe that’s another reason I like old skills…I like old things! How about you? Do feel a connection to the ways of old, like I do? Or are you a more modern-minded kind of person who loves the newest, trendiest things? There’s no right or wrong answer here, by the way. It is interesting, however, to think about these things! So, as you sip your coffee in your “spare” time, I recommend taking a moment to think on this. It is incredible the things we can come to understand about ourselves when we think in both the “then and the now.” Also, something fun to do with the kids…choose a skill from the list above that you do not already know how to do, and commit to learning it with the kids! Maybe even have them help you choose! Perhaps this will even turn into an entertaining summer project? The possibilities for bringing joy are endless.