52 steps to learning skills.

[TeeDee]

I've something kicking around in my head , and as ever I'd like ideas and fresh takes.

I like the idea of 52 weekly planned learning objectives to make learning skills bite sized , incremental , varied and enough time to not feel onerous but achievable.

Once a week I think is a good timeframe , enough time elapses to plan an activity and each weekend can have a plan to follow.

This isn't a planned skill list for me per se ( but I'd probably run it ) but more a list of " things " and activities that may make an interesting diversion for the modern westerner wanting to reconnect/learn some more rudimentary skills.

This also isn't aimed at bushcrafty people whom tend to have a lot of these skills in the bag , but more the suburban individual whom wants to learn such things but with stabilisers still on.

I'll list what I've currently come up with and I'm hoping people will see a vibe/trend - it's not strictly homesteading but maybe skills people don't have ?

( I'm not saying the following is the optimal order to follow , I'm just listing things. Ideally basic skills should be built upon and combined if possible )


1) Butcher a Whole chicken into composite cuts.
2) Bake Bread
3) Make Cheese
4) Ferment Veg in brine solution
5) Use pork belly to make Bacon
6) Butcher a Whole rabbit
7) Clean and gut a whole fish.
8) Make Soap
9) Build food smoker
10) Pickle Eggs


Etc.

It will be interesting to what people suggest.

I guess as general guidelines it needs to be a skill or thing that isn't too costly to execute , can be done in a weekend and can have some simple easy to follow process steps written

 

[TeeDee]

11 ) Make fresh pasta

 

[Pattree]

I can see where you are coming from but I’m not sure how your uptake would go.

What numbers might you be anticipating, limited to, ready for?

Can we learners pick and mix or is it a curriculum?

Have you tested the market/desire/need for what you might be offering?
Where are skills courses offered near you? Do they have any marketing information? Your local library? I dunno.

Just my opinion but not many of us can dedicate every weekend in a year to anything - if that was your intention.

It looks like a lot of work. Presumably if I take on a module I will have access to a tutor of some sort for feedback, maybe an on line Forum.

It could become a life saver, whether physical survival or psychological reassurance. Either could be very useful.

 

[TeeDee]

Nothing as business targeted as that , I think just a skeletal framework of things to follow if one wants to , no pressure to complete if life gets in the way , just a program of tick list activities to follow.

Without a plan to follow , not much gets done.

 

[Broch]

12) catch a fish
13) trap or shoot a rabbit or grey squirrel

 

[HorseGuy]

14) Start a fire without using a lighter or matches.

 

[William_Montgomery]

I like the idea of butchery, perhaps tanning the hide could be another one further down the line.

Suturing a wound.

 

[HorseGuy]

15) Take a basic first aid course.
16) Erect a rain/wind proof shelter using a tarp, some string and home made wooden pegs.

 

[Broch]

17) ... and sleep out in it

 

[William_Montgomery]

On the homesteading front, learning how to humanely dispatch a chicken (and other poultry) by hand is a valuable skill to learn.

Felling trees and processing wood (for firewood and construction).

 

[HorseGuy]

17) ... and sleep out in it

Good point. Although I would suggest that one should be included as part of skill lesson 16.

 

[Foogs]

Utilitarian handiwork e.g.

Sew a simple drawstring bag

Make a simple piece of leathercraft e.g. purse or card holder

(Idea being that these are groundwork to build confidence in skills)

 

[TeeDee]

On the homesteading front, learning how to humanely dispatch a chicken (and other poultry) by hand is a valuable skill to learn.

Felling trees and processing wood (for firewood and construction).

Agree with this - I think it would have to be a final " work towards " step for some people after the butchering and processing chicken carcass etc.

Just to get them familiar with handling and anatomy.

It still surprises me how many newbie homesteaders have a definitely issue with the dispatching even after there flocks have gotten naturally large and too many roosters causing issues.

I'm not advocating enjoyment in dispatching animals but one does need to be humanely efficient and able. A half failed dispatch because of timid nature or lack of conviction is a sad thing.

 

[Pattree]

Hang on. I really don’t want to put a downer in this. I think the idea of bringing homestead skulls into suburbia is a great one but that may be a problem.

This also isn't aimed at bushcrafty people whom tend to have a lot of these skills in the bag , but more the suburban individual who wants to learn such things but with stabilisers still on.

I live in a village and don’t have access to much of what is needed here.

Despite assertions to the contrary, Sainsbury’s do not sell rabbit.
I have no easy access to a live chicken.
While I could build a shelter in my own garden most people in Wellington have no access to permission / space to make a shelter etc. It would probably involve teaching knots like a tri-pole lashing, (afterthought - or using something commonly found in a suburban garage - don’t ask me, I haven’t got one and have plenty of paracord.)

Looking down the list: I certainly didn’t learn many of these skills over a weekend and for most of them I was taught by someone who could help / get exasperated as I made the attempt.

The underlying idea is brilliant. It ties in with the current massive demand for allotments.

Could It make a learning manual? Like those self help books that have space for notes and records of achievement?

The Suburban Homestead.

(+1) Grow spuds in a couple of used tyres.
( + another one) build a semi permanent stove outside. (Bum - suburban fire/smoke restrictions???)

( + yet another) get the skin off a road kill.

Don’t let go of this Tee Dee. I think that the zeitgeist is right - now! You will need to be careful what you include. Many participants won’t want to shoot or trap and kill a squirrel. I think that few will have or want weapons.

 

[TeeDee]

Hang on. I really don’t want to put a downer in this. I think the idea of bringing homestead skulls into suburbia is a great one but that may be a problem.



I live in a village and don’t have access to much of what is needed here.

Despite assertions to the contrary, Sainsbury’s do not sell rabbit.
I have no easy access to a live chicken.
While I could build a shelter in my own garden most people in Wellington have no access to permission / space to make a shelter etc. It would probably involve teaching knots like a tri-pole lashing, (afterthought - or using something commonly found in a suburban garage - don’t ask me, I haven’t got one and have plenty of paracord.)

Looking down the list: I certainly didn’t learn many of these skills over a weekend and for most of them I was taught by someone who could help / get exasperated as I made the attempt.

The underlying idea is brilliant. It ties in with the current massive demand for allotments.

Could It make a learning manual? Like those self help books that have space for notes and records of achievement?

The Suburban Homestead.

(+1) Grow spuds in a couple of used tyres.
( + another one) build a semi permanent stove outside. (Bum - suburban fire/smoke restrictions???)

( + yet another) get the skin off a road kill.

Don’t let go of this Tee Dee. I think that the zeitgeist is right - now! You will need to be careful what you include. Many participants won’t want to shoot or trap and kill a squirrel. I think that few will have or want weapons.

You've made quite a few assumptions and are overthinking / over assuming on an as of yet undefined syllabus.

All I'm casting for currently is ideas , I can sort out the logistics and " how to " aspect.

I've never said you'll gain mastery of a skill over a single weekend , but it's all about starting the journey and you start the journey once you have a plan to follow.

You are , at least on this right - Sainsbury's don't sell Rabbit , so I guess I'm thinking of something else beyond the single superstore reality of Sainsbury...

Sorry Pattree - I think you maybe over projecting how YOU would address or tackle these things and then seeing fault in that.

I think it's as a framework , deliverable.

 

[Broch]

Anyone who wants to is welcome to come and despatch grey squirrel here - training and weapon provided I'll even demonstrate the 30 second skinning technique.

Everyone can get access to stuff with a bit of effort - there are still plenty of game dealer butchers that sell rabbit. And, to be fair, TeeDee did say there is no order to the activities and no pressure to complete in a timeframe.

@Pattree is right in one way though - a lot of these skill need some tuition - despatching a chicken is not something one wants to 'try' but maybe we can identify 'good practice' video clips.

 

[Broch]

I think we've got to 21?

17 - sleep in a DIY shelter
18 - Despatch a chicken
19 - Fell a (small) tree and process it (no chainsaw needed )
20 - sew a simple draw-string bag
21 - make a simple leather object

I would like to add

22 - make a simple useable camp knife using scrap metal, a saw, a file and a heat source (maybe not PC though)

 

[slowworm]

Plant a tree
Grow a tomato from seed
Save your own tomato seed
Take a softwood cutting
Take a hardwood cutting
Load/reload a rifle cartridge

Obviously some would take longer than a week to fruition and are not possible for all

 

[Broch]

29 - forage a meal for two in each season (is that 1 or 4 activities?)

 

[TeeDee]

To Sainsbury's and beyond !!!!


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