Random Musings of One Tired Momma

Almost three years ago we moved back out to the country. Two years ago, we bought six goats at the sale barn. That same summer, my boys surprised me with two miniature horses. Also, that summer, we acquired two bottle calves. Last summer, we bought a pregnant Jersey. We also bought three more calves at the sale barn. This last October, the Jersey had her bull calf. Last fall, I bought four 6-week-old bunny rabbits. This spring, I bought three more adult rabbits, and three more goats.

I am still learning alot and I’m not sure yet how these animals will pay for themselves. I’ve considered selling and I’ve considered butchering. But, as I said, I have LOTS of learning to do yet!

With that said, here’s a Skills Bucket List to aid in my new-found country life! Little by little, I am working toward a homesteading life. And I am excited about it! Anway, from Jill Wagner’s Old Fashioned on Purpose (pg 149-152), here’s some skills I need to learn to aid me in my journey:

• Take a first aid/CPR course

• Know how to clean/dress a wound ***

• Put together a seventy-two-hour kit for emergencies

• Collect a stash of shelf-stable food that could last for several weeks in case of emergency

• Learn to use non-electric lighting

• Know how to purify water

• Add alternative energy sources (solar, wind) to the place

• Change my own oil and/or tires *** tire changing experience

• Safely handle, shoot, clean a gun

• Sharpen an axe/knife

• Harvest, split, stack firewood

• Build and fix fence

• Tie a variety of knots

• Build a fire

• Cut, bale, stack hay

• Make soap/candles ****

• Make laundry detergent

• Darn a sock ****

• Learn to knit, crochet, or quilt **** avid quilter, touched on knitting

• Spin wool

• Weave cloth

• Sew clothing

• Drive with manual transmission **** some experience

• Drive a tractor

• Drive and back up a trailer **** minimal experience

• Understand basic mechanic and carpentry skills **** built my own outdoor bathroom, very crudely, but completed

• Understand basic plumbing skills and how to unclog a drain/toilet

• Dry laundry on drying rack/clothes line **** my favorite!

• Learn how to tan a hide

• Make skin care and beauty products

• Make cleaning supplies

• Weave a basket

• Tap trees to harvest maple syrup

• Store food in root cellar or basement

• Compost kitchen scraps and animal manure

• Know how to properly prune and graft fruit trees

• Know how to safely cut down a tree

• Start seedlings **** started my very first ones this month

• Identify and forage for wild edibles

• Save seeds from vegetables to grow the next years **** tried this the first time this month

• Make herbal extracts, tinctures and infusions

• Know the difference between poisonous and edible mushrooms

• Propagate plants through cuttings

• Milk a goat, sheep, cow

• Give an animal an injection (muscle, vein, or under the skin)

• Assist with kidding, lambing, calving

• Understand how to help an animal in a difficult birth situation

• Trim hooves or goat/sheep, horse

• Butcher/pluck chicken

• Incubate fertilized eggs and hatch chicks

• Learn basic cuts of beef/hog

• Take hunter’s safety course

• Learn to fish ****

• Keep bees/harvest honey

• Use composting worms to make rich compost for garden

Some of these are marked because I know them or have experience with them, but need more practice. But, as you can tell, I have much to learn yet. Thankfully, I LOVE learning and cannot wait for moments to do so! This is not an exhaustive list and I am learning something new every day!

Are you interested in becoming more of a homesteader? What are some skills you would like to acquire? I can’t wait to read some of the responses!

Happy homesteading!