How Many Of These Vintage Skills Do You Know?
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How many of these vintage skills do you know? Could you teach your family members or neighbors how to use those skills? This list is brief, but it’s crucial to ensure that these skills are not lost or forgotten. Some people may refer to them as pioneer skills, while others call them vintage skills.
It’s kind of like the phrase’ homesteading’ or a farm; is there a difference? I have never raised animals to eat on my homestead or plot of land. But I have raised a garden, sewn all of our clothes, lived on a budget, pressure canned food, dehydrated food, and water-bathed foods.
I’ve cooked from scratch my whole life. The most considerable lot we have ever owned was a 1/2 acre, but we produced enough fruits and vegetables to preserve for our family of six for a year. It taught my girls how to snap beans, peel peaches, peel tomatoes, and make grape juice from our own fruit and vegetables.
The girls made apple sauce and apple pie filling. The list goes on and on. You get the picture. They learned how to work, literally. We needed that food to survive as a family.
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Biggest Garden On The Street
I can still remember hearing people tell us we had the biggest garden on the street in every neighborhood we have lived in. It wasn’t for competition, it was for survival and to teach my girls to learn to work. And work, they did. I could not have canned 4-5 bushels of peaches, pears, apples, apricots, spaghetti sauce, and salsa without Mark and the girls’ help.
I also couldn’t have snapped that many green beans or made all that delicious purple grape juice. We made apple pie filling. Don’t you love apple pie? These are just a few of the items we preserved to feed our family of six. I suppose what I am trying to say is that you don’t need 15 acres to be self-reliant; you can do it on much less land.
Homesteading And Vintage Skills
I know the word ‘homesteading’ has become increasingly popular in recent years, but people my age have been practicing these vintage or pioneer skills for a long time.
It is not new to some of us; it was a necessity as we raised our families. We didn’t have food drive-thrus to pick up dinner. We made dinner at home. We didn’t have access to all the processed food available to families today. I hope to help a few families realize that they don’t need a lot of property to be self-reliant. We did it with a half-acre property and sometimes less.
We made pancakes from scratch and homemade cookies ready for the kids when they came home from school. We wanted to pay off our house instead of getting a soda every day from the store around the corner.
So, my question today is, how can we encourage people to return to what we have been doing for years? Here are just a few vintage skills we must teach our kids and grandkids. Ten acres aren’t going to help you much if you don’t know how to use these few limited skills.
Vintage Skills
Gardening:
If you can learn how to save seeds, plant seeds, and balance your soil with good organic products, you can grow anything, anywhere. Learning how to utilize the various soils found in your specific neighborhood is crucial to success when growing a garden.
I have had many good years and very few years that I couldn’t grow some vegetables in the desert where we lived. We had better soil up north (now we have moved back up north), and it took a few years to get that soil where I wanted it to be. Learn to save seeds; you will be glad you did.
Bread Making:
I know there are many people with gluten issues, but try making sourdough bread or natural yeast bread. Sometimes it’s not the wheat at all, but the commercial yeast. Very few people in Europe have gluten issues because they use only natural yeast, not commercial yeast.
It’s your gut, and you must follow what is right for you, but I have families come to my house to get natural yeast, and their gluten issues have disappeared.
Sewing/Mending:
I grew up making my own clothes, so a sewing machine has always been a mainstay in my home. I recall dreaming of owning a Bernina sewing machine one day, after working at a Bernina shop in Logan, Utah. It took almost 50 years, but I finally got one, thanks to the money my mom left me after she died.
I will never part with that machine; it means too much to me. My first sewing machine was a Singer, then a BabyLock. My grandmother even gave me a Singer Treadle machine. They were great machines and served me and my family well for many years.
I really should add knitting to this section. We can knit better items compared to some that we can buy at the store.
Cooking From Scratch:
If we can teach our kids that a tube that snaps on the counter with premade biscuits is not cooking from scratch, we will win! If we can teach them that vegetables and fruits really are more filling and healthy than a drive-through hamburger or chicken nuggets, we will win, too!
I know, I can hear some of you say, “But that’s why I use coupons, they save me money.” In the short term, this may be true, but our health is at stake, I promise. I confess I eat way too much. Ben and Jerry’s ice cream is my favorite. Is my cholesterol high? Of course, it is, and I know better. It’s an addiction, I’m trying to stop, including eating unhealthy food.
Please tell me I’m not alone. How can we teach our kids and grandkids how to make things like a white sauce or a homemade pizza crust? I’m thinking it’s by example, maybe or maybe not?
Budgets:
I genuinely believe we need to teach people to budget their money. If they write down what the net is that they bring in and then create a list of expenses that need to be paid, they are well on their way to forming a family budget. If you have to cut down on those daily sodas, then stop.
I love Starbucks, but I also want to purchase another car within the next year or two. Mark and I live on less than we make; if we can do it, so can others. Is it hard, yes it is? However, it has been a way of life for us. I would rather eat at home, but I also realize I need to splurge to go on a date with Mark from time to time. However, I try to use a coupon for a two-for-one deal. I tip on the REAL full amount because I know how hard those servers work.
Get out of debt, and live on less than you make. You can do this!
We Can’t Depend On The Government
These are simple vintage or pioneer skills anyone can accomplish. We can’t depend on the government to take care of our families. We are responsible for feeding and clothing our families, not the government. I have known families over the years that have been on food stamps for over 15 years now, and some still live in low-income housing.
They have strong, healthy bodies and could raise a garden or find more gainful employment; this needs to stop. I understand if they are going to school or have been out of work for 3-4 months, have had some health issues, etc., but not 15 years. It has become a way of life for them, and they are also teaching their kids that this is acceptable. In my opinion, it is not. Okay, I will get off my soapbox.
Final Word
We should at the very least teach people these vintage skills. Please teach these skills or have someone introduce you; we will be a better world, I promise! Thanks for being prepared for the unexpected. May God bless this world, Linda
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My last add to the survival, take care of yourselves list was a treadle sewing machine! I love that it’s almost the same as the one I learned to sew on. I’ll admit it was a lot of work to get it back into working order, but I’m thrilled with it. Saving seed should be second nature to everyone, even if they can only have a flower pot. Loved the post, keep up the great work.
Hi Beth, I gave my treadle machine to my daughter, and now I want to look for one and get it serviced and ready to go. Great reminder. Saving seeds is a big one. I need to add these to my post. Thank you so much!! Linda
Great article Linda, i would say that there are only a few people in this country now that under stands what this means. The more i travel, the more i see people dependent upon grocery stores , fast food joints, government handouts, just living from day to day. I truly feel sorry that people have gotten into that rut. My advice to everyone i talk to that understands what is going on today is, sign up to ” food storage moms ” and follow Linda`s articles and advice, it`s a win, win situation.
Keep up the fantastic work that you do, God Bless…
Hi Hearl, you are so cute, I love your comment! I really try it teach the world to be self-reliant. Life is good if you learn to work and take care of yourself. Thanks again, Linda
I think another one of the important vintage skills is knitting. Even young children can be taught to knit and in an earlier era, many children were required to knit five rows on their socks before they could go out to play. Mittens made from natural animal fibers are much warmer than the thin cotton and synthetic mittens and gloves sold in stores.
Last year I made very thick mittens for my son for Christmas. He and his sisters went sledding on a sunny day–the snow was melting but the sledding was great. After a couple of hours his mittens were absolutely soaked on the outside, but completely dry (and his hands were very warm) on the inside.
When we have no electricity to heat our homes, mittens and hats are going to become very important. If we can learn how to knit these items, that will help us become more comfortable. And knitting is very therapeutic. It can be done by small children and the elderly so that they can make a contribution. If we have animals that produce fiber that we can spin, so much the better. And an expensive spinning wheel isn’t required; yarn can be spun on a drop spindle, which costs about a dollar to make. (I have posts about these on my blog.)
Keep up the good work!
Jennifer
PrepSchoolDaily dot blogspot dot com
Hi Jennifer, great comment! I never learned to knit, one of my regrets in life. It’s never too late to learn! Great tip on the yarn spinning, I love it! Linda
I know how to do all of the skills you have listed. I grew up on a farm/ranch and we raised all of our own meat, a huge garden and put this food up for year round eating. We did have to purchase our fruit because of the location of our ranch – it was too high in elevation to effectively have fruit trees. We did have one apple tree that produced the biggest pie apples. I don’t know what the variety was but when we saw the first apples drop, we knew it was time to pick and make pies for the freezer. We didn’t dehydrate but that is a skill I learned later in life.
Sewing is my thing!! Beth mentioned a treadle sewing machine! My son-in-law’s mother GAVE me a beautiful full cabinet treadle machine. It is in such good condition that all I needed to get it working really well was a new belt and that was purchased at a local sewing shop (the owners fix and repair just about every type of machine!!). I’m not very good with that machine but with my electric machines, it is a different story. In fact, I was at my daughter’s for Easter and my 6 year old granddaughter brought me 3 things and asked me if I could fix them! My daughter knows how to sew and has a machine but she also has 4 children and claims she doesn’t have time to fix things! At least my grandkids know that this grandma can do these things. I look forward to teaching them how to sew and will do like my mother taught me – first project is an apron; no cutting involved, just tear the fabric, press and sew. Then on to quilting!!
I live in an apartment and my 8′ X 10′ deck which gets pretty good afternoon sun is my homestead!! My lettuce and radishes are coming up! I am growing cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, carrots, radishes, and lettuce; thyme, oregano, basil, hyssop and lavender; and strawberries! I figure if I can at least produce my own salads, I am ahead of the game. And, if I only get 20-30 strawberries, they will at least taste like strawberries!
I truly love your posts, Linda and I imagine you get tired of me rambling on in my replies!! But, hey, you get me started! So, really, Linda, it is your fault that I ramble on! LOL!!
Hi Leanne, you never ramble in my eyes, girlfriend! OH my gosh, I need to go look for a good treadle machine. My daughter has mine in another state. My first sewing project was an apron! Wow, tearing the fabric, boy does that bring back memories!!! And really good ones at that! LOL! I can hardly wait to hear about your homestead deck! You are rocking it! I mend all my grandkids stuff as well! It’s life! And we love it, Leanne! Linda
I have and use all these skills. I am beginning to teach a lot of the lost skills and arts.
Hi Ceri, way to go, this is the best comment! I love love love hearing this! Thank you for teaching others a lot of the lost skills and arts. Linda
I would like to add another skill? Get out of debt and stay there. Pay extra on all debt every month and live on less, there will be a time you will thank yourself.
Hi Janet, oh my gosh, this is the best comment ever! We do not need stuff, get out of debt. I’m going to go add this one right now, thank you, Linda
Linda, you mention saving seeds. Could you be a little more specific how to do that. Aren’t most of the store bought seeds hybrids so saving seeds from the crops of hybrids won’t grow…grow very well? Do you by specific seeds so you can save the seeds…? I’m a newbie at gardening and I know how necessary it will be. We purchase an irrigation water share each year but have never used it, yet. Back to the seeds, I need advice/suggestions/information.
Hi Teresa, I will talk later about saving seeds. You can only save seeds from Heirloom plants, hybrids you cannot. Linda
I know all of these! YAY!! I do have a treadle sewing machine. Gave $40.00 for at a garage sale. We had to get new belts for it, clean it and oil it. Works great! Cabinet is in really good condition, too. The drawers were full of machine accessories and had a small jar of buttons, and several pair of scissors, all needed sharpening. Best money I ever spent!
HI Deborah, oh my gosh, that is the best deal ever! SCORE! That would be a cartwheel moment for me if I could do cartwheel! LOL! Love this, Linda
Check on all of these, plus some basic carpentry and a few other useful skills. I’ve got a treadle sewing machine (and parts along with a repair manual) as well as a hand wringer for laundry, a good selection of hand tools of all sorts. Unfortunately no proper wood cook stove at the moment but hoping to set one up some day soon. Also have a good selection of how to books for a variety of skills in case having access to computers may be limited. Where I live we have a good seed library and many people save seeds to trade and sell.
Hi Alice, oh I would love a wood cook stove, that’s not going to happen, but I would love one. Having books will be needed, no internet, no information. We are spoiled. I like the save and sell or trade seeds. Great idea! Linda
This cracks me up – Gardening is my worst “vintage skill.” My grandparents had a huge garden and I learned to garden, cook, can, dehydrate, sew, bake, butcher, hunt, etc., all those depression era skills that they grew up with. In spite of growing up in (and I mean in…) that incredible garden, I can barely keep one of my own going! Forget houseplants! My grandmother always said my green thumb was brown when it came to plants. Weeds, however are another story… I have no problem growing them . . .
Hi Cindy, oh how I LOVE your comment! I taught all four of my children all adult daughters, and not one cans, sews, or gardens. They do bake bread! LOL! Life is so different now. It’s all good! Linda
My kids could pick strawberries before going to school and Tom and I would clean and freeze 45 quarts. Now my 17 year old grandson has finished high school (home schooled) and is apprenticing with a licensed plumber. He has installed our new hot water tank, cleaned all our drains, installed a pump for the stationary sink in the basement and put a bidet in the master bath…. Can you tell I’m proud!
HI Chris, wow! I can almost smell the strawberries! Proud grandma for sure! I want a bidet! I’m jealous in a good way! Love you girl! Linda