Skill sets
Deb
I’ve been told that when I’m too busy, overwhelmed and exhausted, my tendency is to do more and think of more things that need doing. Maybe that’s true, as today in the shower, I started writing this post in my head, and it wasn’t even on my already overcrowded To Do list. Oh well, better get those thoughts recorded before they disappear, or keep me awake at night. Maybe later I’ll add more pictures, and hopefully you will all let me know what I’ve no doubt missed.
So, thinking of a theoretically possible, somewhat dystopian future, that we’re all hoping doesn’t happen. Maybe due to sickness, economic collapse, earthquake or other natural disaster. Or just thinking of building a simpler (but harder) lifestyle because we want to get more in touch with nature and the seasons, or away from a busy urban environment. Either way, we need community, our own village, as even the most driven amongst us can’t learn to do everything.
These are some of the skills we might need, just off the top of my head.
Farming & Animal Husbandry
- Breeding and rearing livestock for food, materials and transport
- Knowing how to handle day to day health issues
- Veterinary skills
- Shearing
- Butchering
- Bee keeping
Hunting & fishing
- Handling a boat
- Fishing
- Diving
- Hunting
- How to prep an animal in the bush to bring it out
Gardening & Agriculture
- Large scale planting
- Container gardening
- Companion plants
- How to do organic and biodynamic successfully
- Permaculture / how to plan a food forest
- Collecting seeds
- Taking cuttings and root stock
- Natural pest control
- Composting
Cooking & Food Preservation
- Nose to tail cooking
- Cooking without electric power
- Food preservation for storage
- Planning for winter – food for people and livestock
Home Crafts
- Natural cleaning methods
- Soap making
- Cosmetics
- Sewing
- Spinning
- Weaving
- Knitting
- Upholstery
- Candle making (wax vs animal tallow)
- Brewing
Health & Medical
- Doctor / nurse / or at least an experienced first aider
- Herbal remedies
- Essential oils – how to make and how to use
- Energy healing
- Working with emotional trauma
Trades
- Building
- Carpentry
- Roofing
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- Drainlaying
- Welding
- Automotive / mechanic
- Bike mechanic
- Blacksmith
Muscle
- Enough able bodied people for the sheer physical labour required
The Arts
- Musicians
- Story tellers
- Artists
- Comedians
- Maybe we all have one or more of these inside us
Questions to consider
- What else needs to be added to the list?
- How many of these skills are covered in your community?
- What can you go out and learn, to fill in some spaces?