A new skill???

[Str8shutr]

A recent post by a fellow CG'r got me thinking. (dangerous stuff)
I am sure we all have the fire power to handle whatever it is we are prepping for, (zombies-earthquake-levee break-the cast of Glee takes over the world)
And it is easy to buy ALOT of the other stuff that we would need if/when these things happen. But....What about the old skills (or even new) that alot of us dont possess.
I have alot of guns, even more ammo, food and fuel, and am a master gardener/canner. But there are so many skills that would be needed after SHTF.
****What do you guys think are the main skills that will be needed? Sure, we may have someone near that can help with that, but most of us are on here because we dont want to have to rely on someone else if at all possible!
*****What skill would you be willing to learn and master?

Just thinking out loud....I am going to try to learn how to, and build a solar oven. I know they are sold everywhere, but it looks like something I could make, and possibly make better. Not necessarly a "skill" but it's a start!

[olhunter]

Tanning and vegetable gardening.

That's next on the agenda.

[OHOD]

Food water shelter are the bare necessities.
Being able to use and maintain your own equipment is essential.

As for gardening, sure, I can plant a seed or pick a tree, but I'm sure there is more to it than that.
As for hunting, growing up as a kid.....
As for fishing, did that too.
As for maintenance of vehicles, hydraulics and such, well .... I can do it on a basic level.
Shooting.....well duh.
Water, finding it? Anyone ever thought about using a small tube and drink water from sprinkler systems? Plenty of water in them tubes.
Shelter, in the woods I'm good to go, in the city.....umh I'm planning on staying in place.

Canning....I know about it and seen it done, but never did it, could probably learn quick. If my stove has gas or electricity, then it isn't SHTF.
But I can see how canning will come in handy for storage, for when SHTF happens.

Edit: As for other skills, I'd like to hear some other views too.

[Ripon83]

Community Organizing.....hey it can lead to high places

[ThemBastards]

Trapping food, making fire, and the most important for my climate- finding water in the desert

[problemchild]

Im arranging a 1 week stay with the Amish for my "new" skills group.

[thenodnarb]

How about learning about medicine and first aid? I've always been kinda nervous about this aspect, and have been avoiding it. Having a nurse or doctor or EMT in your MAG would be a good idea.

Things I've been learning and practicing specifically for when SHTF:
Bread making
gardening
raising chickens
making jam and spaghetti sauce from stuff I grow
Canning
reloading

Learning how to:
Make biodiesel
build and use a gassifier
build a methane digester
build a windmill from scratch, using scrounged components
build a house
cut down trees, and mill them with a chainsaw, or bandsaw mill.
build a water purifier from scratch
dig a well various different ways
make various different foods from scratch, like yogurt, cheese, butter

[mapleleafup]

Casting spells.

[derwiking]

Trade skills. When SHTF, things will need to be repaired and maintained; and those with trade skills will likely reap massive profits. This goes for anything, from carpenters, plumbers, electricians, even computer/IT folks. For the Electrician/Computer/IT angle, if those solar storms in 2012 hit as bad as NASA is thinking they are think of all the electrical and computer equipment that will need to be serviced and replaced if it wasn't properly grounded or shielded.

Let's keep in mind pretty much all SHTF scenarios devoid of complete Armageddon will likely be something that will last in the short term period (AKA Katrina).

[D2Shooter]

I don't know if it would be considered a "skill", but what about making sure you keep the right mindset during a shtf situation?

[Fireguy]

I'd like to be able to build a smoke house and a "root Cellar"what ever that is. In Shermans march to the sea his troops raided all the smokehouses and root cellars inhis path. There has to be a way to keep fruits and veggies without canning.
We should be able to do it here in CA.
I feel if you could provide food stuffs that wheren't freezed dryed or canned there would be a market for the service. If you could provide a service of storing produce or smoking game to keep it from spoiling might be a skill that would be needed.

I'd like to learn to weld to keep things running.

[jmsenk]

next in my skill set would be Tanning hides and improving my mediocre gardening skills. maybe making moonshine like my Grandfather did in the 30's (ya know... for trade) basic engineering and carpentry wouldn't go amiss either, and you cannot discount medical skills.

[Maddog5150]

I'll bite. What about learning a skill that will help advanced your community after the apocalypse?
A trade that you can barter or exchange with other people?

[jmsenk]

I'll bite. What about learning a skill that will help advanced your community after the apocalypse?
A trade that you can barter or exchange with other people?

Like I said... Moonshine!

[caoboy]

I'll bite. What about learning a skill that will help advanced your community after the apocalypse?
A trade that you can barter or exchange with other people?

That's what happened in WWZ. Good book to read/listen to.

Skills are starting to catch on, I think we ALL need to make goals to learn those skills. I think it's kind of funny how we are 'relearning' things people have done for centuries.