Skills I Never Expected I’d Have to Learn by J. G. Martinez for The Organic Prepper
As preppers we try to teach others the skills they need to be more self-reliant. Even the most self-sustained preppers out there know that knowledge is the most valuable preparedness tool there is.
During these couple of years that I’ve been (almost) on my own I had to learn skills I never expected I’d have to learn. Some of them very interesting. Like dehydrating food. And other skills, like sewing. (Ugh) Those readers who follow writings of my (or ours, kiddo and mine) ” adventure” know that I’m not precisely skillful with my hands.
Here are the skills I never expected I’d have to learn.
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Dehydrating Staples
You may ask why dehydrating was a “needed skill.” Remember, I don’t have a fridge. We need to have some means to preserve meat and have proteins for a few days. Canned fish is awful here. Besides, they have all the fresh fish they want! Canned poultry and meat are much worse. (Red meat is hyper-expensive).
After trying a few recipes, I found the exact one to provide a tastier and long-lasting product. I could buy it in the market, but I am suspicious of the sanitation of the place. With all the small shops closed on Sundays (the day I use to have some red meat at lunch!), the need to learn was evident.
The temptation to prepare powdered eggs is there, but I don’t want to use up my gas bottle. Getting a new one will open a hole in my pocket. We should be heading home in a short while, so there’s no need to spend that money. Meals cooked with dehydrated vegetables are pretty tasty! Dry fruits are excellent for “Merenda” (in Italian) or snacks in the afternoons.
Daisy has several articles about dehydrating things like oranges, tomatoes, and even holiday leftovers!
Cooking Healthier and Tastier Meals
As a single man until 2001, I was never interested in cooking. Eating healthy was only somewhat of a priority. Venezuela is a cattle country. We eat lots of cheese and red meat. I went decades without cooking beans and white rice until kiddo came to live with me. Now, healthier, tastier meals are on the menu for us.
With a few videos, a folder of simple recipes, and the assistance of my little helper, we enjoy cooking our meals—father-son quality time. We were apart for too much time already. I have just a tiny fishing knife and the tiniest cutting polymer board I found. Also, I have a battered aluminum frying pan and a good-quality stainless pot. The pan won’t make it to Venez. Probably not the pot either. However, it was not cheap, and if weight allows it, the pot will go.
I learned that even a simple sandwich could be a satisfying meal with a bit of seasoning. Kiddo was pleasantly surprised when I prepared him grilled sandwiches. I fried an egg to add to his sandwich with some herbs. Before getting my borrowed gas stove, I cooked in a makeshift “rocket stove.” He loved the sandwich.
Roasted peppers are incredibly delicious by the way. I prepared some cheese arepas, adding the roasted peppers. You should have tasted it. Dang. And just a few cents. My kid told me several times he wants to open a restaurant someday. I told him, “Sure, after you get your college degree.”
Sewing Skills
Taking care of clothes is something we Latino males usually don’t even consider. God forbid your friends suddenly arrive home with a case of beer and catch you sewing a pair of socks, some underwear, or your favorite trousers. But unexpected accidents like a rip in the crotch of my jeans suddenly made me see why this was a need. You can save a lot of money by sewing socks instead of throwing them away and getting new ones.
As I don’t have a sewing machine here, this is a steep learning curve. Tutorials help. But for someone with less than stellar mechanical abilities, it’s challenging. Note: Learn while you still have good vision, fellows. Those with more patience and willingness to learn may get an extra income working upholstery, refurbishing old car seats and furniture.
