The Self-Sufficient Skills thread (new name, old thread!)

[sylvie]

What skills to add. How do you improve on perfection, hmm, hmm, hmm. . . OK, honeybees which I read about on here.

Kefir and ACV and sauerkraut for fermented foods.

I want to make a manual dumbwaiter that will transport books to my loft library. I bought antique elevator lights, up/down buttons and floor indicator. I want it exposed and ornate metalwork. I'm already a woodcarver and will carve the doors and gild the whole thing. I don't know if it will be finished by years end but will photo what is done.

Hey I have a manual dumb waiter!!! I installed it when we built our house. Garage up to main floor of our house. Comes in really handy. Do you want the name or maybe the details? I love it. g

I sure would! Any details would be fantastic.

 

[TanksHill]

The one I used is called th Silent Servant, made in Ca. I pm you with more info. gina

 

[lorihadams]

Patch of Heaven,

What kind of fish are you raising and how big a tank do you have?

 

[Wifezilla]

I will be installing a pond this year

I will be learning "duck-ponics" to help grow food for the ducks while trying to keep their pond clean

I will be trying some hydroponics too

I am learning about hatching my own ducks

I have learned a lot since December about caring for my adult ducks

I will be converting flower beds to vegetable gardens

 

[freemotion]

OK, people, we are nearing the end of the first quarter of 2009. So it is time to start listing the skills you have AQUIRED this year (not your "I plan to..." list) and keep a running tally.

Example:

1. I learned to milk!!

2. Made yogurt

3. Made ricotta cheese

4. Made mozzarella cheese

5. Made "Fabulous All Natural Face Cream"

6. Made laundry soap

Then each time you get a new skill (see how I broke it up to make the list seem longer ) just copy the previous list and add to it.

Baby steps....so don't be shy about posting as a skill anything you tried and succeeded at....remember, no one is going to go check your work, so it doesn't have to be perfect!

This is to complement Bee's Squirrel thread...don't forget about that one, too.

 

[gettinaclue]

Hummmmm

Well, I haven't really acquired any new skills yet.

I've made a couple practice runs with the sewing machine to learn how to sew and I can honestly say I haven't "acquired" this skill. I did however "acquire" a headache. LOL

I'm reading, reading, reading up on many things. I hopefully will have those skills acquired in a few months along with the sewing.

Just focusing, taking baby steps and keeping my fear of failure in check.

 

[TanksHill]

I learned to make laundry soap.
Got my laundry line up.
Increased my laying hens for egg production and sales.

Hummm I will think about some more...

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Does mastering the art of hammer and nail count??? If so, I can say that I just this year finally used a hammer and succeeded in working on the brooder coop myself (without DH!) and didn't hit my thumb!

So,

1) Use of hammer....LOLOL

2) Learned how to put pills down a calf's throat

 

[sylvie]

1. I learned to knit the basic beginner stuff.
2. I learned how to make the most marvelous colorful cabbage-free coleslaw.
3. I learned how to cut crown molding to make a mantle over my fireplace.
4. To be continued. . .

 

[freemotion]

Wow, great stuff, everyone!!! Laundry soap is a very simple, yet MAJOR ss skill, IMHO. A penny a load....need I say more?

You'll be sewing and knitting up a storm before you know it...basic beginner? See how you feel when it is 10 below zero and that basic beginner scarf is around your neck!

Use of a hammer? Absolutely! Dosing a calf? Imagine the vet bill you saved.

Making a mantle? Whoa!!!! That is almost as skillful as making coleslaw ( back atcha!)