topic Re: Old Time Traditional Skills in Community Chat

Old Time Traditional Skills

Noel7 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 18:55:44 GMT

As a kid, I used to worry about the bomb. All that ducking under desks, I assume. I worried that I wouldn't know how to survive, it upset me that I didn't know how to create electricity. Yes, really. So I kept adding to things I thought I should know.

Sewing, by hand and on an old fashioned foot pump sewing machine that had belonged to my grandmother.

Spinning. I bought a spinning wheel and learned to spin. Also to crochet.

Darn a sock.

Canning, which I found tiresome, especially since I didn't live on a farm.

Fish well and clean a fish to cook.

Ride a horse.

Cooking, which I do pretty well. I can also cook in a fireplace as the Welsh did more than a hundred years ago.

I know how to build an outdoor fire, chop wood with an axe, set up a tent and windbreaker.

Shoot a rifle well.

First aid and a variety of medical skills.

Etc.

I cannot sing well, I wish I could. I also don't draw well, DH is an artist so he makes up for that.

Today I am doing one of my favorite things, putting on a party. Decorating, decorating! And... tablescapes

Anyone want to share their traditional skills?

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

millieshops — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:05:13 GMT

@Noel7 I'm impressed! Not sure it's a traditional skill but when I need to or just want to, I know how to make good use of my money. My friends used to tease me that if I had a carton of cottage cheese and a chicken, I could probably eat okay for a week. Credit my mother. Nothing went to waste in my mother's kitchen.

I don't have your survival skills - but I'm quite certain I could sew my QVC gold into my hems, and that might help me survive a governmental collapse. Once upon a time I could have done that on the old Singer treadle machine that had been in my grandfather's tailor shop.

By the by - I could probably get someone to pay me NOT to sing - I just listen well.

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Noel7 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:21:38 GMT

@millieshops

I love your skills! And ITA, in my opinion, skills with money are very important. I started saving with a B of A account in 5th grade, a school program.

And I really love the living off a chicken bit, lol. A Costco chicken CAN feed us for a week!

This came up because someone implied most people nowadays don't know traditional skills, so I started thinking about things I'd learned from parents and grandparents.

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Moonchilde — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:27:21 GMT

So many things, @Noel7, that I would like to know how to do, but growing up I had no one to teach me. Grandmothers were not around from early on. My mother was a very un-domestic person. I'd love to sew, knit, crochet, craft, etc (love to watch people spin wool at the Ren Faires) but I'm the sort of person who needs hands on help of that "what am I doing wrong right now?" variety. If I take a class, but get stuck at home with no help, I get frustrated and give up. I have tried - many times with many things. And I don't have a lot of patience ;-)

I can ride a horse, though these days I'd break its back. Rifle no, bow & arrow pretty decent. I can, alas, neither sing nor draw, trust me. And I sing better than I draw, which is pitiful.

I also never went camping, to do all the haulin' and choppin', but I'm sure I could learn, as well as canning. Some things, though, go better with a companion to share the labor.

I have no doubt that my niece in Alaska can do everything on your list. If you live thisclose to wilderness and being cut off from civilization and electricity is one bad snowstorm away, you have to learn it.

She and her hubby caught 30-some salmon in the past 2-3 days, to preserve, freeze and store. We get some - and scallops (see Scallops thread, lol)!

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Noel7 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:34:38 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
So many things, @Noel7, that I would like to know how to do, but growing up I had no one to teach me. Grandmothers were not around from early on. My mother was a very un-domestic person. I'd love to sew, knit, crochet, craft, etc (love to watch people spin wool at the Ren Faires) but I'm the sort of person who needs hands on help of that "what am I doing wrong right now?" variety. If I take a class, but get stuck at home with no help, I get frustrated and give up. I have tried - many times with many things. And I don't have a lot of patience ;-)

I can ride a horse, though these days I'd break its back. Rifle no, bow & arrow pretty decent. I can, alas, neither sing nor draw, trust me. And I sing better than I draw, which is pitiful.

I also never went camping, to do all the haulin' and choppin', but I'm sure I could learn, as well as canning. Some things, though, go better with a companion to share the labor.

I have no doubt that my niece in Alaska can do everything on your list. If you live thisclose to wilderness and being cut off from civilization and electricity is one bad snowstorm away, you have to learn it.

She and her hubby caught 30-some salmon in the past 2-3 days, to preserve, freeze and store. We get some - and scallops (see Scallops thread, lol)!

I think you nailed it, @Moonchilde We can learn so much if we need to or want to, especially with the internet. Or, if there comes a time when we don't have internet use anymore, we have books.

Years ago, DH bought survival books, including what you can eat in a forest and what to stay away from. It was during his Air Force days.

I never did learn how to create electricity.

When I was a little kid, my grandmother was an Indian rights activist and I spent a lot of time with her on a reservation in Northern CA. They fished and smoked salmon and would give us little kids chunks to gnaw on for breakfast. I'd like to think I could learn to do that if I wanted to.

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Moonchilde — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:38:24 GMT

Really, when I think about it, my skills are those of the City Mouse. My country-dwelling relatives are non-functional in just about every way in the Big City from driving to parking to walking down the street. I'm totally at ease. They're totally at ease in the country; I'm not yet. My skills are also electronics-based, because I generally embrace that, unlike those who yearn for the perfect good old days.

But in reference to...um...generations passing knowledge on - I'm only one example of someone who, by my chronological age, "should" be Betty Crocker and Suzy Homemaker, BUT - I did not learn any traditional skills from my family elders. I can't be the only one - not a freak, a fluke, "bitter", lol. Not all parents of Boomers were prairie housewives, nor were all of their parents. There just isn't one homogenous "we", or one "preferred upbringing", except to the short-sighted and judgmental.

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Trinity11 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:40:51 GMT

@Noel7...great thread. My Irish grandmother taught me how to knit, sew, crochet and bake from scratch. In high school I designed my own patterns and sewed a lot of my own clothing. I also can sing.....enjoyed being in school plays and sang in musicals in our high school productions. I was Maizy in "The Boyfriend." I played Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz." Those were the days. LOL

I worked in the Nurse's office at lunchtime during 6th, 7th and 8th grade while the nurse was at lunch. She taught me to take care of cuts and bruises and I remember I wanted to be a doctor. Unfortunately, that never happened but I think my taking insulin at such a young age ...I was better adapted to learning how and acceptance of it because of my interest in medicine.

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Moonchilde — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:45:23 GMT

@Noel7, have you ever heard of the Foxfire books? They started in 1972 and there are now many. It started with a teacher in the Appalachians and an oral history project he gave his students. They went out and interviewed all the elders of their community. This became the basis for all the books. Folklore, crops, folk medicine, old time crafts, just how people did just about everything in the isolated mountain communities.

You can buy the books on Amazon.

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Noel7 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:47:41 GMT

@Moonchilde

To be fair to myself, I taught myself many of those skills. Back in the day, hippie types were spinning and creating fabric and I wanted to know how, so I taught myself from a book. Bonus: my spinning wheel is made from beautiful wood and looks great tucked in a corner of the house.

I also taught myself canning and cooking, my father taught me outdoor skills and how to change a tire.

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

JustJazzmom — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:48:22 GMT

Wow Noel! Great skills!

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Poodlepet2 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:48:48 GMT

@Noel7, I frequently think about things like this. ...there is such joy and fulfillment that comes from doing all the things you listed...I am nowhere near your knowledge and accomplishments.

I love crocheting-especially with thread,, but alas, arthritis and decreased vision make it difficult. No problem though in the long run.

I love knitting....

Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom is so "organic"-I have been doing it for about five years and there is always something new to learn.

I can cook and bake from scratch: I am repeatedly amazed how many people have no idea....

I have always loved art-used to do pen and ink with a quill....I am now taking a rather extensive drawing course on Craftsy. I love it!

I recently discovered how wonderful and versatile colored pencils are-and I discovered adult coloring books which I used to dismiss as garbage....and no, they aren't....Totally relaxation-and I swear they help me with fine motor skills.

I have thought about spinning....we now own a sheep. This is Florida however, and we aren't talking about quality Highlands wool here. I recently read an article on Mielke's Fiber Arts fortnightly newsletter about using "trash" wool. It has its uses!

I am thinking about buying a drop spindle and some nice clean roving: inexpensive things....just to try it.

I don't know that I want to do the "dye" thing as I call it....Carding? We have had two poodles....I think I could do it....

Please tell me more about spinning...

There is absolutely a "spinning" craft zone if you will....

There is just a simple pure joy and sense of accomplishment I feel when I'm doing these things. I just feel so connected to human history....

Great topic!

Hugs,

Poodlepet2

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Mominohio — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:49:20 GMT

About 25 years ago, we chose to move to the country (was more countryfied back then, but has developed a bit, mostly Amish) in order to be able to be more self sufficient.

We grow a huge garden and can the harvest (less now that kiddo is grown and gone). An average garden for us has tomatoes (10 varieties at least), peppers (lots of varieties), potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, onions (several kinds), cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelon, zucchini, yellow squash, beets, peas, radishes, lettuce, spinach, and sometimes other things.

We also maintain a small fruit orchard,apples (several varieties) that we make cider and applesauce with, pears (several varieties), blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches.

We have room for chickens, but I know that the work would end up being mine, so I veto that every time, but my husband has kept them before and knows how.

We have a pond, and can fish it but don't. I can fish and clean fish, though. I don't really care for fish, so it isn't something I do often.

I can shoot. To hunt or defend.

I can sew only well enough to mend something or replace a button. I can crochet, but pretty bad at that too. Considering learning more about crocheting.

I can build a fire, and cut wood. We sometimes heat with wood during a power outage.

I can live without electric (CAN but don't want to!) because we have water without power, and sewage without power, and heat without power.

My son can hunt and butcher. I've never done it, but it isn't something that I'm grossed out by or wouldn't learn if I thought I needed to.

I can cook from scratch. That is becoming more of a lost art these days.

I can make change, do math without a calculator, and dial a rotary phone (truly, young kids don't know what to do with one!! LOL).

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Mominohio — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:51:06 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@Noel7, have you ever heard of the Foxfire books? They started in 1972 and there are now many. It started with a teacher in the Appalachians and an oral history project he gave his students. They went out and interviewed all the elders of their community. This became the basis for all the books. Folklore, crops, folk medicine, old time crafts, just how people did just about everything in the isolated mountain communities.

You can buy the books on Amazon.

These are great books. I've always wanted to add them to our library, but haven't done it as of yet. Have read a number of them, though.

I consider them a national treasure. That time was taken to document many of those old skills and traditions is a blessing.

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

SilleeMee — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:52:39 GMT

I am well educated in survival skills. Put me in the wilderness and I will most likely survive. I know how to rebuild a car engine, the old kind. I learned it back in school and they don't teach it anymore. I know how to operate many hand tools used in carpentry. I know how to sew. I know how to grow a vegetable garden. I know how to cook rice from scratch and not Uncle Ben's.

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Poodlepet2 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:53:14 GMT

@Moonchilde, I am a huge fan of Craftsy and The Great Courses.....

The world can truly be yours through these avenues-on your terms....Go explore!

Hugs,

Poodlepet2

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Noel7 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:54:55 GMT

@Trinity11 wrote:
@Noel7...great thread. My Irish grandmother taught me how to knit, sew, crochet and bake from scratch. In high school I designed my own patterns and sewed a lot of my own clothing. I also can sing.....enjoyed being in school plays and sang in musicals in our high school productions. I was Maizy in "The Boyfriend." I played Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz." Those were the days. LOL

I worked in the Nurse's office at lunchtime during 6th, 7th and 8th grade while the nurse was at lunch. She taught me to take care of cuts and bruises and I remember I wanted to be a doctor. Unfortunately, that never happened but I think my taking insulin at such a young age ...I was better adapted to learning how and acceptance of it because of my interest in medicine.

@Trinity11

You have WONDERFUL skills! Oh, how I would love to sing well

My mother was an incredible seamstress and also made her own patterns, so I know what that takes and I admire you for it, what a fabulous skill!

BTW, I also had an Irish grandmother. She was a wonderful baker but she never taught me anything about it. However... she was an activist, a suffragist for a woman's right to vote, and, as I said, an activist for the rights of the First Americans. I did learn that from her.

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Moonchilde — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:54:57 GMT

I taught myself to cook and bake, as far as following recipes. I'm not so good at judging when meat is done, lol - steak, chicken, burgers, etc.

But not having anyone to cook for - I don't cook, and haven't for a long time. But it's not because I can't, or don't enjoy it, just because I can only eat so much of whatever it is.

I live vicariously through my great-niece and her hubby who both love, and know, good food, love to cook, and are individually successful in the restaurant and hospitality industries. They "get" me :-)

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Noel7 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 19:58:59 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@Noel7, have you ever heard of the Foxfire books? They started in 1972 and there are now many. It started with a teacher in the Appalachians and an oral history project he gave his students. They went out and interviewed all the elders of their community. This became the basis for all the books. Folklore, crops, folk medicine, old time crafts, just how people did just about everything in the isolated mountain communities.

You can buy the books on Amazon.

@Moonchilde

I bought the Foxfire books when they first came out, I treasure them and still have them, of course. There are some audio tapes of the elders singing very old songs, I've heard them but I don't have copies.

I read an article the other day saying Appalachia is not doing well lately, very said.

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Noel7 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 20:00:31 GMT

@JustJazzmom wrote:
Wow Noel! Great skills!

Thank you @JustJazzmom

YOU have the skills I admire most.

Re: Old Time Traditional Skills

Moonchilde — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 20:02:28 GMT

@Mominohio wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@Noel7, have you ever heard of the Foxfire books? They started in 1972 and there are now many. It started with a teacher in the Appalachians and an oral history project he gave his students. They went out and interviewed all the elders of their community. This became the basis for all the books. Folklore, crops, folk medicine, old time crafts, just how people did just about everything in the isolated mountain communities.

You can buy the books on Amazon.

These are great books. I've always wanted to add them to our library, but haven't done it as of yet. Have read a number of them, though.

I consider them a national treasure. That time was taken to document many of those old skills and traditions is a blessing.

A 50th Anniversary compilation was published last year, covering many subjects. There's also a quarterly magazine, I believe.

For anyone interested, you do get somewhat of an idea what's covered in each volume, so you can decide which one(s) you'd be interested in. I loved reading about how they planted by the moon phases. It's worked for thousands of years.