People nowadays can take up many different hobbies. It is always better if you can have a hobby that lets you learn key prepping skills. Developing skills such as gardening, food preservation and sewing will be very useful when civilization starts rebuilding after SHTF.
Here are some hobbies to take up that can teach you important prepping skills.
Gardening
A key tenet of survival is the ability to be self-sufficient when it comes to food. Gardening allows people to grow their own food without going far. A small backyard plot can be used to grow vegetables and herbs that can feed a whole family. Oftentimes, gardening becomes the gateway for people to discover the benefits of homesteading.
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry combines the elements of raising animals for leisurely activity and building up a food source. Beginners who take up the hobby often start out by raising chickens or ducks. These provide eggs and meat – two immediate sources of protein in times of need.
Once the art of raising fowls is mastered, hobbyists often move to raising livestock and bigger animals. This provides them with additional and diverse food sources such as beef and milk.
Foraging
Earlier generations survived by foraging or gathering wild food growing around them. Wild berries and fruits are just some edibles that can be eaten in periods of scarcity. However, many more edibles can be found in nature – and those skilled in foraging can easily spot them.
Knowledge in foraging also plays a role in knowing whether a certain item is safe to eat or not. This applies in the case of certain fruits and mushrooms that may cause food poisoning.
Baking and cooking from scratch
The advent of pre-packaged cooking mixes has made cooking more convenient – but this will not be the case when supermarkets run out of food. Thus, baking and cooking from scratch remains the best way to prepare food to eat. While the process is time-consuming, the resulting meals will provide energy and nutrients to help people last longer.
Thankfully, many people have been rediscovering the wonders of cooking and baking from scratch. Advocates argue that the process makes for a healthier and more delicious product and avoids the use of preservatives and other bad ingredients.
Food preservation
With more than enough food stocks, the question now is how can they be made to last long? Fresh meat and vegetables spoil quickly if not preserved. Thus, preserving food for future consumption comes in handy – whether it's canning, bottling, dehydrating or salting.
Aside from personal consumption, preserved food can be bartered for other key items. That way, other people can have a source of sustenance.
Sewing
Many people often throw away an article of clothing, such as a shirt when it has a hole. Those who know how to sew simply mend it, making it usable once more. Simple hand-sewing skills will work wonders in extending the life of clothes.
Hand-sewing oftentimes does the trick in the absence of sewing machines. While the process takes some time, it often guarantees a strong and long-lasting mend. (Related: If you had to, could you make your own shoes and clothes? Tips for rediscovering those skills.)
Hiking
There will be an instance where moving to another location is necessary. Hiking comes in handy as it combines both exercise and exploration. When SHTF situation occurs, the skills and experience picked up from this hobby will be of much benefit.
Hiking does not require a lot of specialized equipment compared to other hobbies. It mainly requires leg strength – something that will be of much use when the situation requires long-distance walking. (Related: Hassle-free adventures: The best camping and hiking gear for exploring nature.)
Delving into these hobbies is rather easy as guides for these are available over the internet. Most retailers sell items the average person needs to start these hobbies. Like-minded people who are into these hobbies often congregate on social media to share insights, and reaching out to them is highly encouraged.
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