It’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of technology and convenience. However, it’s important to remember some of the traditional skills previous generations once mastered. Many of these timeless life skills are making a comeback because people are trying to be more self-sufficient. More individuals are growing their own food and fixing their own clothing. Our grandparents had a wealth of knowledge that is proving to be just as valuable today as it was decades ago. Here are eight of the most important life skills your grandparents used every day that are making a comeback.
1. Gardening for Food
Growing your own food used to be a common practice for many people’s grandparents. Now, gardening for food is becoming popular again. There are urban gardens that focus on sustainability within communities. Families have started their own backyard vegetable gardens or they’ve begun growing herbs indoors. Overall, people are wanting to become more self-reliant when it comes to the foods they eat.
2. Home Canning and Preserving
Like gardening for food, canning and preserving are making a comeback too. Being able to can and preserve your food was a necessity at one time. This skill would help ensure that the family had fresh produce that lasted through the colder winter months. There is an increased interest in reducing food waste and eating locally today. As a result, more people are pickling their own veggies and making homemade jams.
3. Sewing and Mending Clothes
Our grandparents often wore mended clothing. They needed to make their clothes last, so they would sew rips in the fabric or put a patch on a pair of jeans. People have started doing this again today. There is an increased concern over the environmental impact of the fashion industry. As that concern grows, more people are trying to buy secondhand or just take care of what they have. Due to this, sewing is becoming an important life skill to have once again.
4. Cooking from Scratch
Generally, older generations did not rely on takeout or pre-packaged meals. Most of what they ate was homemade and used simple ingredients. People have been focusing on eating better and, more than ever, they are interested in knowing exactly what’s in our food. As a result, cooking from scratch is another life skill that is increasing in popularity.
5. Bartering and Trading Goods
Bartering and trading were once a common way of getting what you needed. This skill is seeing a resurgence today. Within local communities and online platforms, many people are open to bartering on price or trading services. Overall, people are trying to stretch their dollar as far as it can go, and the ability to barter and trade is becoming an invaluable skill to have.
6. Basic Carpentry and Home Repair
Handymen weren’t always readily available, so many people had to learn how to make basic repairs themselves. Today, DIY culture is trendy. So, many people are practicing and learning skills like carpentry and basic home repair. There is nothing quite as satisfying as pinpointing what is wrong and fixing it on your own.
7. Budgeting and Frugal Living
More people are striving to live within their means today. At one point and time, careful budgeting was a non-negotiable skill, especially during periods like the Great Depression when resources were scarce. Credit card debt is fairly commonplace now, but many people are working to change that. They are embracing minimalism and being mindful about how they spend their money.
8. Knitting and Crocheting
This is something my own grandmother taught me growing up, and I’ve loved seeing it become popular in recent years. It is seen as an old-fashioned hobby, but it can also be quite practical. You can make your own clothes, blankets, scarves, etc. All in all, it is more satisfying than just buying something off the rack. Not to mention, your knitted and crocheted goods make great, inexpensive gifts.
Old Skills, New Trends
It is interesting to see how the trends of today play off the old skills our grandparents mastered. These life skills are more relevant than ever and can help provide you with a sense of independence and sustainability. It just goes to show you that we can learn valuable lessons from the past while adapting them to modern life.