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chicken lady
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| Posted: April 22 2007 at 10:22am | IP Logged
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Over the years I am constantly asked if I will teach friends how to spin, can, make bread, weave etc.
So my thought is, I am offering a week long class first to girls age 9-12, on homemaking skills. After that I promised their moms I would teach one for adults. Now for my question, what are the basic life skills that you would like your dd's to learn, that you either did not, or your don't have time to teach???
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St. Ann
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| Posted: April 22 2007 at 11:20am | IP Logged
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I would love for my dds to learn how to clean up while cooking, so that the kitchen is not left in a chaotic state when finished cooking. I think if one learns some basic organizational habits at a young age they will be left with a clear mind to concentrate on a new recipe or just cooking a simple meal with little ones without getting overwhelmed. I would go for simple recipes at first, concentrating on the organizational skills at the beginning.
The same with home care. Where to start when chaos rules? Sometimes I am so overwhelmed when I look into the play room that I really don't know where to begin!
I think it is a great idea that you are taking on this task - a very important task!
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Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: April 22 2007 at 3:39pm | IP Logged
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Necessary: Sewing, household management-cleaning routines, scheduling, organization, cooking, canning.
Optional: Knitting, crocheting, gardening.
I am sure I can think of some more, but I have to go out and garden! 
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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guitarnan
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| Posted: April 22 2007 at 9:25pm | IP Logged
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Sewing, cooking, canning, growing food in the home garden, outdoor cooking, first aid, minor home repairs...
The list is long, isn't it? Still, it's important to know how things in the home and garden work and grow, and what to do with them.
My dh is convinced that the Life Skills area of education is going to be very important in the future...he wants our children to know all manner of things, including everything on your list.
I really think everyone should have some first aid knowledge...how to ID poisonous plants and flowers...what to do in emergencies (storms, fires, etc.)...how to create and maintain an emergency pantry...
I remember 20 years ago, in southern Italy on an American Air Force base, being the ONLY wife I knew with "earthquake food" and water, manual can opener, etc. I grew up in L. A. and can't imagine living in earthquake territory without such supplies at home and in the car.
I may be hijacking this thread by accident; please forgive me...there's just so much to know that "traditional" school doesn't teach!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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chicken lady
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| Posted: April 22 2007 at 9:41pm | IP Logged
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guitarnan wrote:
I may be hijacking this thread by accident; please forgive me...there's just so much to know that "traditional" school doesn't teach! |
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I agree Nancy, you are seeing my vision. My strengths lie in helping others to learn forgotten skills, ie spinning. The classes I am thinking of are more geared towards homesteading, although one can certainly live in the city and need to know how to make bread, can jam, and sew.
I am a Herbalist so I was considering making Calendula ointment, and perhaps a tincture.
Candle, and soap making
Canning
Spinning and basic weaving
Bread making
Hand sewing
I have a book, Teaching your Daughters to be Keepers of the Home, (it is a Amish curriculm) I am basically taking the book, and putting a Catholic twist on it. I want to reference scripture, and theology on womanhood.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: April 22 2007 at 11:31pm | IP Logged
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In terms of canning.. even for those without gardens.. knowing how to can.. pressure can.. not just waterbath.. will give them skills for making lovely homemade gifts.
for instance, I've done a homemade speghetti sauce (no meat) along with a pack of noodles, a bottle of inexpensive wine I picked up on sale, some homemade biscotti.. or I've done a vegetarian homemade soup and a biscuit mix and some homemade jam
spent less than $10 per couple (I did these for our parents) and yet it was a lovely gift worth much more than I paid.
So in that way you save money not by canning things cheaper than you can buy them.. but by using that skill for others.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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ladybugs
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| Posted: April 23 2007 at 12:50am | IP Logged
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Oh, GREAT ideas...
How about teaching grace under pressure....  ?
I think about how learning how to remain calm with lice, machetes, grease fires, chickens running wild....
You're no chicken lady....You're SUPER CHICKEN LADY!
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Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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tigir
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| Posted: April 23 2007 at 3:44am | IP Logged
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This is amazing! These are all things I wish to teach my dds (and any future dc).
I recently told my eldest that anyone who has skills can find a job. I think it is so important to know a broad range of things, and running a household certainly gives one the opportunity!
I can't tell you how many times some of our skills have helped bring in extra money when needed, or allowed us to give gifts when we could not afford to buy. So many of these things can be done as a family (such as gardening) and bring lots of joy.
I love having an organized house, but unfortunately do not live in one at the moment. 
I would definately agree that an organized kitchen, sewing, cooking/baking and first aid are tops on my list - those are things that can be done in the city or country. But even city dwellers may be able to do some "light" gardening - herbs and such, so even touching on those things can be of benefit.
Great idea! 
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wifemommy
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| Posted: April 23 2007 at 8:56am | IP Logged
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chicken lady wrote:
guitarnan wrote:
I may be hijacking this thread by accident; please forgive me...there's just so much to know that "traditional" school doesn't teach! |
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I agree Nancy, you are seeing my vision. My strengths lie in helping others to learn forgotten skills, ie spinning. The classes I am thinking of are more geared towards homesteading, although one can certainly live in the city and need to know how to make bread, can jam, and sew.
I am a Herbalist so I was considering making Calendula ointment, and perhaps a tincture.
Candle, and soap making
Canning
Spinning and basic weaving
Bread making
Hand sewing
I have a book, Teaching your Daughters to be Keepers of the Home, (it is a Amish curriculm) I am basically taking the book, and putting a Catholic twist on it. I want to reference scripture, and theology on womanhood. |
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Can I come and take your class?  Some of the things I can do but I'd love to learn more. All of those skills can teach organization which can transfer to the more mundane areas of life...like cleaning the playroom...again  Annie
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chicken lady
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| Posted: April 23 2007 at 9:14am | IP Logged
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I love how the topic of "organization" keeps popping in here. I am an Astist, one would never call me organized. I need to take classes on that I would love to teach my dd's how to be organized, sadly it is not happening 
Oh well we can't be all things, I can shear a goat, spin its Mohair, and weave it into a lovely shawl, but don't ask me to balance a checkbook
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guitarnan
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| Posted: April 23 2007 at 9:58pm | IP Logged
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I want to take your class, too!
And..have you thought about a class for boys and young men? (Basic sewing, cooking and cleaning, plus some fixing and building skills? Break out that machete!)
I have a friend in Indiana who loves to spin and weave...just say the word and we will both be there (my dd will be in tow, I am sure!).
I'll tell one of my favorite Boy Scout stories here...last year, in Boys Life magazine, a doctor from Louisiana who had been a Boy Scout wrote in. He said that he used every single skill he ever learned as a Scout during Hurricane Katrina. The hospital staff lashed poles together to make stretchers. They cooked "campfire style" to feed the patients. This doctor even rowed patients to safety in the flood waters. Of course he used all of his first aid and emergency training...you get the idea. He said that he had no idea, when he was young, that the life skills training he received as a Scout would actually help him save lives.
Young people need to know some of these homesteading/traditional skills. You never know when you'll need to improvise or create something that could help someone else.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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chicken lady
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| Posted: April 23 2007 at 10:23pm | IP Logged
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Great ideas Nancy! Funny you should mention Katrina, I have been thinking about how so many people no longer know basic life saving skills. ie first aide, water sanitation, and even starting a fire and cooking. I will keep you posted, it would be fun to have 4 reallearners come and camp out for the week classes! HMMM this would be so fun!!!
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: April 23 2007 at 10:27pm | IP Logged
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Oh I like the idea of cooking over a fire.. we're moving to doing that for camping.. and take a grill for over the fire rather than a campstove. It's really fun. A bit of a challenge but sticking to fairly simple foods and the only challenge is working with the fire to get a good even moderate heat.
Don't forget cooking in a dutch oven over the fire.. there's whole books on doing that
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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ladybugs
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| Posted: April 23 2007 at 10:53pm | IP Logged
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Camp Pollo Loca...
I can see it now...you have enough property - 
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Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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ladybugs
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| Posted: April 23 2007 at 10:59pm | IP Logged
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Chicken Lady,
You know I love you!
After I posted the above message, I want to make sure you know to take it in jest!
If I lived closer, I'd be there!
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Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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chicken lady
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| Posted: April 23 2007 at 11:03pm | IP Logged
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NO worries I thought it funny.....we are loco!!!
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mairejam5
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| Posted: April 24 2007 at 1:58pm | IP Logged
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You guys are all making me green with envy. I didn't learn any of these things growing up... well, except maybe cleaning up as I cook. There are probably a few other things, but not much of what is on your lists. I wish I knew these things because they would be soooo helpful to me right now and I would like to teach them to my kids. As it is my house is constantly a wreck and I am in the middle of learning things, but nowhere near where I can pass anything on. And it is so much work to figure it all out on my own!!
Sigh,
Maire
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Homemaking classes?????
