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Homesteader Depot

Tag: homestead skills

  • 5 Pre-Industrial Skills Everyone Should Have

    5 Pre-Industrial Skills Everyone Should Have

    The modern era has many advantages. Modern technological advancements have made daily life much simpler and less labor-intensive. No longer do we need to spend hours hand-washing our laundry, hauling water from streams and creeks or pumping it from a well, harvesting and grinding grain. etc. However, modern life has also made us very reliant on a complex industrial grid that could go down at any time, or of course, that many are trying to escape.

    There are many skills of yore that we grow up simply not doing or experiencing, that might quickly become a way of life if our grids fail or if you choose to go off-grid and start a homestead from scratch. When you first buy property, you might not always have a house built or the resources for every modern convenience. Here is a list of 5 pre-industrial skills that we’ve lost that might become very useful in situations like these:

    1. Building a fire: this is a primal skill that early man mastered, and that everyone should know how to do. You can use a fire to cook, boil water and keep warm.
    2. Hunting: another primal skill that everyone should at least be familiar with the basics of. Life doesn’t always allow for animal husbandry, but hunting skills such as shooting, learning to use a bow, and the basics of dressing an animal are invaluable.
    3. Sewing: basic hand sewing can help you out in many situations, and it is a household skill that is quickly moving into extinction. Simple stitches are very handy to know for mending and making many kinds of clothing and supplies.
    4. Grinding flour: it is so easy to take being able to grab a pound of all-purpose flour at Wal-Mart for granted, but grinding flour takes hard work without large industrial equipment. The simple process of harvesting, drying and grinding grain is very rewarding to become familiar with.
    5. Construction: whether you are constructing a simple hut or building your own house, having some idea of how to sensibly plan and execute the building of a shelter is a coveted skill, and could be life-saving in the wilderness.

    This could, of course, be a much longer list, but I tried to think of the very basic technological skills that can help you out in survival situations or bare-bones homesteading. These skills can be rewarding to learn, and sure to make you appreciate our post-industrial amenities a little more as well!

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  • DIY Beeswax Candles (Video)

    DIY Beeswax Candles (Video)

    Beeswax candles are a really fun indoor activity for wintertime, and a great skill for homesteading. Beeswax is one principal motivation for keeping bees, and you can use the wax to make crafts like homemade candles that will do very well at farmer’s markets or perhaps an Etsy shop. You can add essential oils or even herbs for a lovely, all-natural aroma that is far better than a toxic parafin candle with perfumes and dyes.

    But even if you don’t keep bees, you can find organic beeswax at your local health food store or online and make lovely homemade candles to sell as crafts or five as gifts (hey, the holidays are coming up!)

    This is a great tutorial video on how to make your own beeswax candles that I wanted to share, since this focus particularly on aromatherapy candles. Many people absolutely love scented candles, especially this time of year, but as I mentioned they can be toxic and harmful, not to mention expensive! This tutorial covers how to make therapeutic, great-smelling candles for yourself. Enjoy!

  • Crock Pot Soap

    Crock Pot Soap

    Making soap at home is a great homestead skill to have. Not only can you make your own all-natural soaps using non-toxic ingredients and even herbs or flowers from your own garden, but you can save money and give your soap as gifts too! You can even make a little money on the side selling them at the farmer’s market or Etsy.

    At the very least, soap is a very important aspect of clean healthy living, especially when you’re off-grid. Crock pot soap is an awesome method for soapmaking, and I’ve been meaning to try it out myself. I found this great video tutorial on how to do it, it includes directions for every step of soap making using a crock pot. Enjoy!

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  • Super Simple Tips for Splitting Wood

    Super Simple Tips for Splitting Wood

    Having a good supply of wood for fuel is crucial for your homestead.  While using the proper technique is important for efficiency and safety, using the right tool for the job can be just as important.  Here are a few items that will help save you time and energy as you get ready for the winter.

    Maul

    A splitting maul has several benefits over a chopping axe.  Its wider angel will spread the wood easier, while a thin chopping axe can get stuck in the wood.  It is less likely to bounce off hard wood because of its weight and the momentum that it generates.  And it is usually going to require fewer swings to accomplish the job.

    Chopping Block

    Trying to spilt wood on the bare ground versus using a chopping block will be much more difficult because the ground will absorb and diffuse much of the energy you are swinging into the wood.  To prevent this from happening, get a large cut of wood with one end flat, and one end with slight irregular angles.  You want the flat end to the bottom and the end with angles to be the top where you place the wood you are splitting.  The reason for this is that the wood you are splitting is never going to be perfectly flat and the angles on your chopping block can be used to counter the angles in the wood you are chopping.

    The Only Tree Every Prepper Should Grow in His Own Backyard?

    A superfood tree has been quietly making its way into many American backyards.

    If you can spot this peaceful invader he’ll provide you with food (all parts are edible), water (it can purify it), more protein and calcium than milk, four times the iron of spinach and… a LOT more:

    The Tree That Every Prepper Should Grow in His Backyard
    I planted one in my backyard and was absolutely blown away by how fast it grew – over 4′ feet in just 2 months.

    Best of all, this tree already grows in many American backyards, so see if it grows in your own backyard as well.

    Learn More Here >>

    Bungee and Chain

    When splitting large cuts of wood, splitting into two pieces will not be enough.  This will leave you bending down repeatedly to retrieve the fallen pieces and trying to balance them again, over and over.  One way around this, and a way to help focus the energy of your swing, is to use a bungee and a chain.  Get a 12” black rubber bungee cord and a chain about 3’ in length.  Hook one end of the bungee to the chain and then wrap it around the wood you are going to split, pull it tight, and hook the other end of the bungee through a link that will keep it tight around the wood.  As you split the wood it will remain together and upright.  This will not only keep you from bending over again and again, but it will also keep your maul or axe from being deflected, and focus its energy downward.

    Splitting wood is never going to be a breeze, but you can make things much easier on yourself by being prepared and using these simple tools to optimise your output.

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