39 steps to a better SELFSUFFICIENTish life

[marshlander]

Following on from the earlier post, what non-academic things should we teach young people?

One of our less pleasant but regular tasks is unblocking drains. Visitors ( and it must be them 'cos other half is practically perfect, he told me so,) keep flushing unsuitable items and we have ancient shallow drains to the septic tank.

So I would start with 1. Know how to un-bung things, sinks, drains, hoovers, chimneys.

[demi]

How to preserve food. Jams, chutneys and other bottles fruit and veg, drying, cureing, freezing ect ect.

[fran]

How to make soup and bread x

[The Riff-Raff Element]

How to cook.

Basic car / bike maintenance.

How to make soap.

How to make drink.

[diggernotdreamer]

Putting up shelves, curtain poles etc

I went on a basic DIY course a long time ago, it was brilliant. I learnt how to fit a washer in a tap, make cement and build a brick planter, wallpapering etc,

[marshlander]

Set a mouse trap (ouch) and dispose of corpse without either crying or feeling sick yuk yuk yuk! (I know but they're pretty little field mice that the cats bring in alive then get bored and let free.)

Set the wing of a wild bird

Humanely dispatch a poorly chicken - I can't do this - I'm afraid of hurting them more trying so I take them to a neighbour who does the deed.

[gregorach]

Play a musical instrument, and / or sing.

[berry]

know how to repair a book

sew on a button, replace a zip and take up a hem

darn a sock.

treat everyday ailments eg honey for a sore throat

how to quarter a chicken, fillet a fish and cook a steak properly!!

write a letter by hand

dance with a partner!

replacing a fuse in a plug.

change a tyre

prune a rosebush

sharpen a knife/secateurs/hedge shears etc

[marshlander]

Oh yes, I like repair a book: My fave recipe book, in constant use for 30 years, is now reduced to a collection of loose pages.

Along with pruning roses you'd need to know about pruning fruit trees.

I'll add making compost.

[marshlander]

How to food shop! I going mad trying to work out if £5 back is better than price match. Or 400gms at £x is better than bogof. I have perverse cats too - they only like a particular brand of tuna or salmon cat food. Luckily it's a cheap brand but only available in one shop. Come to that OH only likes one brand of strong tea although he'll drink any brand of scotch!

[grahamhobbs]

Following on from the earlier post, what non-academic things should we teach young people? .........

I think we should teach them that practical skills are as important if not more important than academic things. I spent years learning academic subjects at school (and was very good at many of them, especially maths) whereas practical subjects like woodwork were looked down upon and counted for nothing. But have I ever used calculus or logarithms (or that Henry 8th had 6 or was it 7 wives) since leaving school - no, whereas I have spent a lifetime learning numerous practical skills.

[niknik]

as above, practical skills, diy, cookery etc.and get them to learn to live WITHOUT internet, TV , radio, for a while, and read books etc............. help them to understand the world will NOT stop if they cant access facebook, tuenti, etc etc, for a little while!

[Skippy]

know how to repair a book

I'd make that " how to make a decent job of repairing a book"
because if there is one thing that irritates me then it's books "repaired" with ugly great strips of sellotape that eventually dries out and leaves horrible yellow patchs.

as to teaching the young , I'm quite pleased my daughter likes being outside in the garden and she knows to always check with me before anything goes in her mouth to be safe. She has bee brought up like this from the begining ans we have no worries unlike a friend of mine who was taking out any plants with poisoness parts because his nephews would (at least he thinks they will )eat anything that looks "nice "or "pretty".Of course the downside of my daughterlearning this is that there hasn't been a blackcurrant make it into the house for the past few years and strawberries , blackberries and peas all seem to suffer like that too.


Pete

[marshlander]

I did woodwork at school. Made a spoon, a spice rack and a hideous modern art lump which my mother thinks is wonderful and has had on her window cill for all the world to see for the last 30 years.

I tried pottery a couple of years ago - hopeless - even my mother was declining offers of more wonky bowls for pot pouri so I gave up. I blame my ample upper storey for getting in the way.

[oldjerry]

Play a musical instrument, and / or sing.

Plus learn to draw.In terms of 'practical'stuff,that's all.
All the other stuff,mending, preserving,growing,etc.etc. see endless clips of Youtube et al. I'd have young people study English Literature and Philosophy, Art and Music and that's it.......Remember What the Dormouse said.....