Special skills for preppers (or not)

[NorthernRaider]

Special skills for preppers (or not)
NR 2011©
Heinlein - Specialization is for Insects
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein

A superb quote from a very wise man, but I want to clarify this contentious issue a bit.

The normal every day family Prepper does NOT, repeat NOT need to know how to strip, clean and assemble an assault rifle, they do NOT need to learn Morse code, they do not need to be able to fly a plane or helicopter, they do not need to be able to abseil down a cliff face in a force ten gale, they do not need to be able to perform major surgery, they do not need to be able to cook enough food in one setting to feed 200 people.

Let’s not try to turn ordinary people into militiamen or yeomanry, let us ENCOURAGE our people to learn sensible common sense skills that could save their lives.

If they have a bow, cross bow, air rifle, shotgun or sports rifle they SHOULD learn how to safely operate it and practise with it frequently and of course they should learn how to clean and maintain it.

If they have two way, amateur or CB radios they should learn how to operate the units and understand basic radio operation protocols (how to start, break and end a transmission etc)

They should learn to drive whatever vehicles are available to their family, normally a car, often a car and motorcycle and for some wealthier families the kids pet pony, if they own a 4x4 then it’s wise to put themselves through a basic 4x4 off road course, and everyone should do basic vehicle maintenance course 101 at night school.

If they have obtained ropes and shackles its worth finding out a few useful skills about rope work such as safe river cross rope setups, safe roping of heavy items in vehicles etc.

Everyone should do a decent first aid course with at least one family member doing an enhanced course, and if any of your family have special medical conditions such as type 1 diabetes its common sense to learn as much as possible about controlling their condition and extending the life of their insulin as long as possible.

And every prepper should know how to prepare a basic good nutritious meal using only basic camping equipment. You are not trying to feed your village, you are trying to keep your family and loved ones healthy.

There is nothing wrong with enhancing any basic skills you learn if it interests you, that’s the hallmark of a professional, but focusing primarily on learning basic sensible useful every day skills will benefit you more than learned how to jump from a plane at 50,000 without oxygen.
A broad wave of basic survival skills will be far more useful in most scenarios for most preppers.

[mikebratcher69]

I hear ya, as always the wise old owl...
But seriously though, as you say NR, a good all rounder is more of an asset than a specialist, knowledge of many subjects whether practiced or not is a foundation for survival of you and yours, of course having practiced these skills prior to an event would be better but the knowledge of how to do things is better than no knowledge at all.... I think a straggler full of knowledge would be a useful asset even if they wernt a fighter so to say, worth feeding me thinks...

[bigpaul]

just on a personal note i shall be looking for a foraging course in 2012, we will be getting out and about, going to Woodfairs, County shows, The scythe fair(already mentioned) and the Wilderness Gathering, and any other interesting events that might be happening during the year.

[NorthernRaider]

There are just so many skills and crafts that people could do to enhance their survival prospects and help them find a role AFTER TSHTF, such as dress making seamstress, saddelry, leather work, welding,tree surgeon, charcoal maker,mechanic, boatswain, carpentry, property repair, market gardener, homeopath / alchemist, , skills like being able to make bio diesel, building pv systems and micro wind turbines, being able to make sterilised medical supplies and tools etc

[bigpaul]

well, i reckon i'd be alright with the Tree Surgeon, Gardener and maybe Charcoal maker, i'm not much of a chippie or property repairs although i can put up shelves or build a workbench or do a bit of painting.

[mikebratcher69]

I can shoot, fix my own cars, fix my own electrics and solder, I can make charcoal, not so sure about sailing a boat, I can forsea many dings there. I can make rope or string but i'm even better at knotting it all up. I fix my house, well I wish it were mine, I can sterilise things, I can weld (mig) never tried brazing, I'm ok at carpentry but you've definetly seen better...I can make black powder without loosing fingers,(bang!!), fuses, reload ammo, haven't tried making the bio diesel yet, I can grow veg but I havent got the time to keep it up, I'm attempting to construct a salvonius rotor as we speak, just need a donor alternator, battery and an inverter...and much much more, I can work on my own or as part of a group...bla bla bla...AND finaly the most important thing of all... I'm incredibly handsome. Wow sounds like a C.V....

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Though I do tend to fart...

[bigpaul]

(26 December 2011, 16:32)mikebratcher69 Wrote: Though I do tend to fart...

thats the wind turbine sorted, then!

[mikebratcher69]

Hee hee hee, ooo you are funny!!

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[Nemesis]

If people have all these skills why are there no threads showing how? That’s why I am here to learn I am offering my knowledge would like to see others do the same, these chats are ok but let’s not forget why we are here, or have I got it wrong?

I would like to learn meat smoking/drying long term storing of, anyone?

[NorthernRaider]

(27 December 2011, 08:41)WetandCold Wrote: If people have all these skills why are there no threads showing how? That’s why I am here to learn I am offering my knowledge would like to see others do the same, these chats are ok but let’s not forget why we are here, or have I got it wrong?

I would like to learn meat smoking/drying long term storing of, anyone?

Your spot on right W & C, We are indeed here to learn off each other, but also we need to encourage folks to do hands on training courses as well, and we need to identify skills people should / could benefit from, and also identify skills people already have and get them to share ( RZ's again) as well as the highly education and information visual presentations of the type you provide us. ( waiting for the new PV one)