Modern Primitives: Traditional Skills for Preparedness in a Tech-Dependent World

Surely, smart phones represent the pinnacle of our supremacy as a technologically advanced species. You can make video calls to nearly anywhere in the world from anywhere in the world; use them to navigate almost anywhere in the world; shop online and take a picture of the occasional table and project it into your living room; you can even run a global business all from your phone. That’s a great deal of functionality and power in something so small.

Cellphones and cars are arguably two of the most important devices in our daily lives. To be clear, life is possible without either of them, though depending upon where you live, it’s far more challenging. In a world of electric cars, smartphones and smart TVs, the Internet-of-Things and smart homes, we’re spoiled for choice! We’re on the verge of an AI revolution and we will either meet our end or be elevated as a species. No one knows how this will play out or what it means for humanity in practical, everyday terms. Data centers and the power grid dominate the daily headlines. Without electricity, the tools and toys that we live for are expensive relics from a lost era. Increasingly, the question is how do you survive in a world without advanced technology? How do you survive a flood without cell phone or car?     

First off, I must confess that I firmly believe that living simply with limited technology is both sustainable and healthier than our present silicone over dependence. For a time as a child, I lived in the house my grandmother grew up in in rural South Carolina. The backyard was 500 acres, and I have such fond memories of being outside, exploring and soaking up nature. At this stage in my life, my highest desire is to be an old man in the country, sitting on the porch watching the seasons pass me by. As I age, I’m planning for a future of simplicity and stability.

However, not everyone wants a simple life. Not everyone aspires to live quietly or wishes to be removed from other people or shun technology. Whether or not the grid goes down forever is an open question. In the meantime, I’m going to suggest some skills to acquire and hone as well as strategies to employ to assist you on your preparedness journey. Traditional skills- from gardening to mending to handyman work- build real preparedness and self-reliance. Here's where to start.

Prepper Community Building Skills

I always open with suggesting a community. True to form, I’m going to strongly recommend that you form or find a community. I suggest that you start with your immediate family and if that’s not an option, look critically at your circle of friends and associates. You may have more in common with those on the periphery of your life than you realize. The bottom line is that we need other people.

Another community-building option is to offer classes if you have a high-level skill or expertise in a unique field. Former military, law enforcement and medics/nurses often find second careers in this arena. Growing up in suburban Atlanta, I took art classes at the local Boy’s Club. I’ve taken a couple of writing classes over the years, and my sister is part of a writing group. This does double duty as an additional source of income- never a bad thing.

Learning to Hunt and Fish for Food Security

I’ve said this before and it bears repeating. It’s reckless and dangerous to grab a firearm and march off, untrained and unaware into the woods and expect to bag a six-point buck. Firearms safety is essential and hunting is far more than simply pointing a firearm at an animal and pulling the trigger. Dressing the carcass, packing out the meat and tracking are just a few of the many considerations to account for when hunting.

Fishing is another deceptive activity. Fishing for sport and for sustenance are quite different and governed by different dynamics.

Backyard Food Security Skills: Gardening and Foraging

The ability to grow even a portion of your own food is enormous. More than just a hedge against high prices, genuine food security is one of the most significant steps you can take to ensure your readiness, resourcefulness and resilience. Being able to walk through the woods and collect edible plants and those with medicinal value is a learned skill. As such, it’s best learned from a trained professional with decades of experience because consuming a misidentified berry or root could prove fatal. If space and local laws allow, you might also consider chickens. They’re lower maintenance than most think and the fresh eggs can’t beat. Hens only, no roosters!

Basic Handyman Skills for Preppers 

Let’s face it, not everyone is able to build a perfectly square, level shed from scratch. Equally, some have no desire to do so. However, being skilled in the use of hand tools and owning a good set is up there with gardening. Maintaining your home, from replacing a leaky faucet to adding another bedroom to just being able to repair whatever needs repairing is hugely rewarding and far less expensive than paying another to do it. An added benefit is that you can easily earn legit side money as a handyman. Repairing appliances, lawnmowers and cars is hard to beat. This money can be used to buy some of the more costly prepping items such as a dual fuel generator or a solar power bank with solar panels. Of course, saving money works, too.

Mending and Repairing Skills for Self-reliance: Cobblers, Seamstresses and Leatherworking

All these occupations still exist, though they’re more difficult to find. In my late teens and early twenties, I recall running many errands to the mall to drop off a pair of my mom’s shoes at the local cobbler. Nostalgia aside, these skills are seriously underrated. Nowadays, seamstresses hide out in dry cleaners and the better department stores. Time was when nearly everything we bought was repaired a time or two before finally being replaced. Shoes were repaired while jackets and dresses were passed down to a younger brother or sister. Knowing how to patch a hole in the lining of a coat, take in the waist of a pair of pants or letting out the bodice on a dress are absolutely gold! This is a classic example of a hobby becoming a viable business and anchors you in the community. At the end of the day, everyone wears clothes, shoes and belts.

This list isn’t meant to be all-inclusive. I’m merely mentioning skills and methods of capitalizing upon them. Take stock of your current skills and interests. You may already be sitting on a great opportunity. Check out these resources for additional tips and suggestions. Community Building, Life with People, The ABCs, HCP Bartering Checklist.

The world is always on, and we can satiate desires both subtle and gross nearly instantaneously. What matters isn’t that the music stops, it’s what we do to continue to dance.