Nowadays, our modern society is mostly dependent on what we know as the ‘system’.
We rely and use the numerous services that enable us to have electricity, gas, water, etc.
We also have a complex chain of supply to provide us all the necessary things for life- from food to computers.
And, without this chain, most of us today wouldn’t know how to survive.
If we were to compare the generations of those who’re now at the age of 50 or 60 and today’s youth, we would have a lot of differences to point out.
In the past, it was normal for a boy to grow up learning how to do numerous trade skills from their fathers and grandfathers and mostly all boys knew basic carpentry and mechanics.
However, this is no longer the case. The more we travel back into the past and the lives of past generations, we come across numerous differences.
Although they seem to have been forgotten or unknown, a lot of these skills that our grandparents knew can be essential even today.
Below, check out 10 amazing skills our great-grandparents knew and why they can be crucial for us…
10 Useful Skills from Our Great-Grandparents
- Gardening
In WW2, there was a campaign to plant Victory Gardens. These were veggie gardens intended to reduce shortages of food as a lot of the nation’s produce was sent to troops overseas and to allies.
So, with less men working on the farms, there was less produce being made. This practice that started then continued years after the war was over. Eventually, it died off, even though there are still people who have a garden veggie in their homes.
But, you needn’t have to survive in order to benefit from growing your own veggie garden- you’ll spend more time in nature, have your own fresh produce, and improve your gardening skills.
- Food preservation
Preserving food was common during our great-grandparents’ time. They smoked their own meat, canned their own food, etc.
This helped them ensure they have enough food during the winter period.
Today, even though some people still do food preservation, the number is significantly lower than it was in the past.
- Basic carpentry
Basic repairs are something we should all know and use them when there’s something to be fixed in our homes.
These skills can help us fix your home when a natural disaster strikes or when you need to improve your furniture or some other things in our homes.
- Basic mechanical fixes
Being skilled in diagnosing and fixing engines isn’t just helpful for keeping your car going when you’re on the road, but it can also help you deal with broken lawn mowers, chainsaws, and other power tools that are commonly used in households.
- Fishing and hunting
Back in the days, our great-grandparents all knew how to hunt and fish for food- this wasn’t a hobby or sports to them- it was a way to provide food for their family and reduce their costs.
Catching their food was a pivotal survival skill and it was very useful, particularly during hard times like during the Great Depression.
Many of these people didn’t just catch their own food, but also butchered it, cut it and cleaned it properly, and packed it up.
- Animal husbandry
Even though the industrial revolution happened more than hundred years ago, a lot of people continued raising a smaller amount of livestock in their homes.
Raising chickens, rabbits, goats, etc. requires a lot of dedication and knowledge and taking good care for these different animals.
- Herbal meds
Even though modern medicine has been a part of our lives for long, in the past, the main medicine was herbal medicine.
Our grandparents made their own medicines using herbs and other ingredients.
However, today, most people look at this type of medicine with skepticism because of the lack of research about their efficacy. Still, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence about the benefits of natural medicine.
- Horseback riding
In the Old West, stealing someone’s horse was punished with hanging. This is because if a person was stranded without a horse, they were practically sentenced to death.
Nowadays, horseback riding is often done only for sports or for fun; however, back in the days, horseback riding was an essential skill as there were no cars and no bikes that you could use to travel long distances.
- Cow milking
Although you may think this skill is no big deal, today, a lot of people today don’t know how to properly milk a cow- it’s much more than pulling down on the cow’s nipples.
Namely, to do it right, you need to first close off the nipple using the thumb and forefinger to prevent the milk going into the udder and then do the proper squeezing to take out the milk.
- Blacksmithing
Even though we may not blacksmithing today as much as our ancestors needed in the past, if we were left without electricity, these skills could help people fix their tools.
Blacksmiths are able to make or repair anything out of metal, which can be a highly beneficial in a lot of situations.
Nowadays, most of blacksmiths’ work is ornamental, but still, how amazing is this skill, right?
Sources: