Self-sufficiency is a must if you’re planning on homesteading. Becoming a full-fledged homesteader is a learning process. You must learn new skills and hone those you already have.

Just like other major life decisions, the commitment to homestead might be a shock to new preppers in the beginning. But using the wisdom and knowledge of others who have done it before can help immensely. Read on for the skills needed to be self-sufficient!

Self-Sufficiency Skills Every Prepper Should Learn

1. Canning Your Garden Produce

Preserve fruits and vegetables from your homestead naturally so you can eat holistically all year long.

2. How to Compost

Don’t throw out all your biodegradable odds and ends.

Put them in a compost and make your garden thrive with compost tea.

3. How to Bake Bread

Never rely again on grocery store bread with bleached flour or expensive healthy loaves.

Bake your own bread at home!

4. Make Homemade Remedies

Do away with your dependence on the drugstore.

Heal yourself naturally with these home remedies!

5. Make Homemade Laundry Detergent

Make your own chemical-free detergent in either liquid or powder form.

6. How to Make Playdough

Your kiddos will love making homemade play dough.

And if they eat it, it’s made from organic ingredients so it’s not a risk to their health.

7. How to Make Cheese from Scratch

Use your milk product to make your choice of fresh, delicious cheese.

This is one of the most valuable homestead skills when you consider the cash you could earn.

8. Know How to Make a Compost Bin

Correctly storing your compost will save your backyard from smelling like a dumpster. Make your own homemade compost bin and make compost all year-round.

9. Grow Plants in Your Climate

Every climate has a different time period for planting various seeds.

Find the best one for your homestead.

10. Know How to Save Seeds for Future Harvests

Create a never-ending supply of seeds for your garden by learning how to correctly save and store seeds.

The Art of Seed Saving Photo by Survival Life

Also, a lot of seeds are excellent and long-storing food sources, like corn, beans, nuts, and grains.

11. Know First Aid and CPR

Just in case there is an accident on the homestead, you should always be prepared (especially if you live out in the boonies as I do).

Learn the basics of first aid and CPR and find out how to build your own first aid kit.

12. Learn How to Operate a Tractor and Heavy Machinery

Operating a tractor can greatly decrease the amount of time you spend walking back and forth from various chores on the homestead.

Learning to operate heavy machinery is a great help when you need to carry heavy loads of supplies from one place to another.

13. Know How to Ride a Horse

An alternative to the tractor and dirt bike (and much less of a gas hog) is the horse.

Be sure you are conscious of weight limits for your breed if you are planning on using your horse to help carry supplies.

Click here to learn English Riding

Click here to learn about Western Riding

14.  Train Dogs and Farm Animals

Believe me when I say this will save you loads of time in the future.

If you have to stop gardening to discipline a dog that’s using his digging skills in your garden and then replant the dissembled plants, you would have wasted more time than it takes to properly train him.

15. Learn How to Tie Knots

If you have a very stubborn dog or horse that you have to keep tied up to stay out of trouble, or if you just want to hang a line for your laundry, you will need to know a variety of knots.

16.  Make Simple Booby Traps

Keep those pesky squirrels out of your cow’s feed or simply trap them for a little extra protein.

Learn to make simple booby tramps to deter pests and to catch food.

17. Change a Tire and Change Oil

Life on the homestead means no guarantees that someone is nearby at any given time.

Learn how to change tires and how to change oil so you don’t lose a whole day of work due to a busted tire.

18. Learn How to Forage for Wild Edible and Herbal Plants

Preparation for emergencies is key, but in the event of injury in a natural disaster, you may have to forage for plants with healing properties.

Be very cautious when using herbs you did not plant yourself and do not use them unless you’re 100% sure that you have the correct plant.

19. Make your Own Fire Starter

Many people in Ireland still make their own natural fire starters today.

This saves time when needing instant warmth on those blistering cold winter days.

20. Know How to Start a Fire Without a Match

No one should ever rely completely on one method or another.

Learn how to start a fire in a variety of ways in case you are ever without matches.

21. Know How to Properly Handle, Shoot, and Clean a Gun

Predators and threats on the homestead are inevitable.

Don’t let the lack of gun knowledge be the reason that your family doesn’t get the protection they need. You will learn all about guns by searching for your favorite topics here on our sister site, guncarrier.com.

22. Store a Gun Safely and Properly

Part of knowing how to use a gun is learning to store it safely away from children and possible attackers.

You’ll sleep more soundly at night knowing it’s in a safe place.

23. Know Basic Auto Mechanic Skills

Again, you wouldn’t want to lose an entire day of work just because a switch needed to be flipped or a bolt needed tightening.

Basic auto mechanic skills are essential whether you’re a self-sufficient, a homesteader, a prepper, or just any regular practical Joe.

24. Know How to Hunt Wild Game

Make sure you have the proper licenses to hunt game provide more protein for your family and keep your livestock’s predators at bay.

25. Know the Laws and Regulations Regarding Hunting Wild Game in Your Area

It is only legal to hunt certain animals during specific seasons and knowing about these laws is important for your safety.

The consequences for hunting a game outside of its respective season can end in costly fines or the restriction/loss of your hunting license.

26. Make Your Own Meat Smokehouse

Whether you butcher your own livestock or hunt wild game you will need a way to preserve the meat properly.

Smoke your meat in your own homemade smokehouse.

27. Using a Smokehouse to Smoke and Cure Meat

Learn which techniques work best for different types of meat.

Whether you hunt or raise livestock, smoking and curing meat will allow you to keep your stock for longer.

28. Know How to Milk Cow and Goat

You may think that one is exactly like the other, but I assure you it is not.

Learn the basics of milking your livestock. Every cow and goat is different so you will have to learn to adjust your techniques accordingly, but the basics remain the same.

29. Learn How to Fish

Fish is packed with rich vitamins our bodies need (and love). Hopefully, your nearest waterbed is also packed full of fish.

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-67977 size-full" title="Learn how to fish" src="https://survivallife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Learn-How-to-Fish-Self-Sufficiency.jpg" alt="Learn How to Fish

Living off the grid or trying to reenact some Bear Grylls Survivorman fantasy out in the wilderness is not something to be taken lightly or romanticized. It requires experience, knowledge, and the ability to adapt and know when to call it quits. Without the proper supplies, shelter, and preparation, even the most well-intentioned attempts can turn tragic, as was the case for Rebecca Vance, her 14-year-old son, and her sister Christine Vance. Their story serves as a warning for those who think living off the grid in the wilderness is as simple as they make it out to be on T.V.

The Vance family decided to disconnect from the world in July 2022. Motivated by media-driven fears stemming from the global COVID pandemic, they sought refuge in the rugged terrains of the Colorado Rockies. A year later, they were discovered dead in those same mountains.. All three died of malnutrition and hypothermia, according to autopsy reports.

The U.S. Forest Service lists the campground where they were found as “closed due to inaccessibility.” It sits 27 miles northeast of Gunnison near the 13,266-foot Henry Mountain at the southeastern edge of the Fossil Ridge Wilderness.

Despite being convinced that they were saving themselves from COVID by fleeing into the wilderness, the Vance family was woefully unprepared for the challenges they would face. The remote campsite where they were discovered was littered with empty food containers and survivalist guides. Sadly, no amount of reading can replace real-world experience, especially when it comes to surviving in the wilderness.

The family set up camp at an elevation of approximately 9,500 feet. For anyone familiar with the region, this height brings its own set of challenges: freezing temperatures, snowfall, and a scarcity of easily accessible resources. During harsh winters, survival becomes even more complicated, and even with experience things can turn bad quickly.

The family had been missing since October 2022. They were discovered in July when a hiker found the boy’s remains outside of a tent in a remote campsite in the area of Gold Creek Campground, east of Gunnison, in the Colorado Rockies, the reports said. The next day, investigators discovered the remains of Rebecca Vance and Christine Vance inside the tent. Evidence at the campsite suggested that the family was trying to live off the grid but desperately struggled, Michael Barnes, the Gunnison County Coroner who authorized the autopsies, told The Times.

The family members were all “very thin,” and wearing several layers of clothes when found, the autopsies said.

In wilderness survival, knowledge is not just power—it’s matter of life and death. Before making a drastic life decision, educate yourself, gain real-world experience, and never underestimate the power of the wilderness and of Mother Nature. Your life, and the lives of those you love, may depend on it.

Trap For Your Life, Part 3: The Trigger Snare

Previously in the Trap for Your Life Series (part 1 and part 2), I showed you the basic snare, which is great for trapping small animals like squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks. In this article, I will teach you how to construct the trigger snare. The trigger snare can be used for larger animals than just squirrels and rabbits.

You can trap raccoons, opossums, groundhogs, and skunks. If you’re in a survival situation, you will eat any animal you trap due to your need for nourishment. Believe it or not, the raccoon doesn’t taste too bad, as I have eaten it before. The trigger snare can also trap smaller animals as well. This being said, let’s get started.

 You need:

• Two sticks
• 18 to 20 gauge wire
• Paracord
• Bait (if you have any)
• A knife
• Pliers
• A pencil

Note: There are laws regarding trapping; check the laws in your local area.

Step By Step Guidance

Step 1

This part may take some time. Get your knife and the two sticks, and sharpen the end of one stick. The stick that will have a pointy end should be at least two feet long.

Using that same stick and your knife, cut a one-inch long groove at the top of the stick. Get your other stick and cut a portion of the stick in half, but leave an inch as it is. Now see if the groove and the other stick fit within one another, like the picture below.

Step 2

Using your pliers, cut about 15 to 30 inches of wire. Grab your pencil and the wire, and loop the wire around the pencil twice. Twist-tie the loop to the other part of the wire.

Pull the pencil out. Put the normal end of the wire through the loop, and make that loop 3 to 10 inches in diameter, depending on the size of your targeted animal. Attach the snare onto the bottom of the stick that is mostly cut in half.

Step 3

Get your paracord and tie it onto a sapling that is flexible. Then find a good and tight length from the sapling to set snare.

Once you find your length, tie the other end of the cord to the top of the stick that is mostly cut in half.

Step 4

Put your grooved stick in the ground, pushing in the pointy end. Pull down the other stick. Push it down to the sharpened stick and set it in the groove.

It should hold; if not, cut the groove in the stick deeper. Make sure your snare is upright.

Step 5

If you have bait, it two feet in front of one side of the snare’s noose (loop) and two feet in front of on the other side.

If you don’t have bait, you may remember in our last article, The Basic Snare, we talked about snare location. Be sure to set your trigger snare in one of those locations. Your trigger snare should look like the diagram below.

Never stop…no matter how hard it gets…keep trapping for your dear life!

Want to learn more about trapping? Check out the rest of our series below:

Part 1

Part 2

SaveFor awesome survival gear, you can’t make at home, check out the Survival Life Store!

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on March 21, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

If push comes to a shove and you need to find the true north without a compass, you must know how to do that to survive. We’ll tell you how today!

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Any chicken owner that has ever let their chickens touch grass before has doubtlessly already noticed that their birds don’t just pick through the grass looking for choice morsels of food, but they actually eat a little bit of the grass too.

It’s almost a little strange when you think about it; chickens eating grass? It’s true, chickens do eat grass.

But that begs another question: can chickens eat grass clippings, and are they safe for them?

Grass clippings are safe for chickens as long as they are dry, and haven’t been contaminated with fertilizers, pesticides, fuel or other chemicals which could pose a health hazard.

Grass is a natural source of nutrients for chickens, but far from nutritionally complete.

There’s a fair bit of contention on the internet regarding whether or not you can give grass clippings to chickens. Reasons vary, but a few people have blown the topic way out of proportion.

Grass is a safe and natural food for chickens, and you can give your grass clippings to them so long as you apply a little bit of common sense.

I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the topic down below.

What Benefits Do Grass Clippings Have for Chickens?

Grass is only of marginal benefit to them, but it does have a part to play in chickens’ diet. It can provide them with a few calories and a little bit of various vitamins and minerals that they need.

Grass is also beneficial for helping to clear out a chicken’s intestinal tract, and it can potentially firm up their poop if they are experiencing loose, watery stools.

Chickens generally don’t eat grass all the time if they have any other choice, but when they do eat it, by necessity or otherwise, they will invariably seek out more grit to help them break down the tough cellulose present in it.

Grass Clipping Nutritional Info

Grass is only a marginal food for chickens, and though it contains nutrients that they need, it does not contain very much of them at all.

Although the nutritional profile of grass does vary somewhat depending on the specific type, typically grass will offer chickens some carbs and fiber, a little bit of vitamins A and E, and a smattering of B-complex vitamins.

Are Grass Clippings Safe for Chickens?

Yes, grass clippings are safe for chickens. There is nothing in grass that is inherently harmful to your chickens unless it is fed them excessively.

This also assumes that your grass clippings are dry, and also free from chemicals such as fertilizer and pesticides, which could be toxic. More on that in just a bit.

Are Grass Clippings Cut by Power Mowers and Tools Safe for Chickens?

Yes, as long as they are dry and have not been contaminated by any chemicals. As we just discussed, grass clippings are perfectly safe for chickens, and the same holds true for grass cut with a power mower or similar tools.

But, this is a contentious point for some keepers: Many chicken owners are wary of feeding their chickens grass clippings cut by a power mower or other lawn tools.

The reason is, power mower can theoretically release harmful chemicals into the grass it cuts, things like oil, fuel, grease and so forth, or even pesticides and herbicides picked up from previous mowing.

These chemicals would then be consumed by chickens when they eat the clippings, leading to potential illness or even death.

Although certainly possible, the actual threat is way overblown if the mower in question is in good repair and working order, and if the grass is cut from any property that you have had full control over, i.e. a property where you know exactly what and what has not been sprayed on the grass.

Then again, grass cut down by a manual push-reel mower or scythe won’t entail this worry at all, so do keep that in mind if it is a concern for you!

Are Grass Clippings Safe for Baby Chicks?

Grass clippings are of dubious safety for chicks. Chicks’ digestive systems are not yet mature, and their crops are much more prone to blockage, especially from tougher vegetation like grass.

You could give grass to your chicks, but you should wait until they are around 6 weeks old – or even older – before you do, and only then in small amounts of finely chopped grass bits.

Something else to keep in mind is that grass has nowhere close to enough nutrients or calories for chicks, so it really is just taking up space in their tummies that could be filled with something more nutritionally useful.

How Frequently Can Grass Clippings be Fed to Chickens?

Grass clippings are a novel snack for chickens, or if you are being very charitable a dietary supplement.

You should give them grass clippings (deliberately), no more than once a week, and only in small quantities.

Additionally, chickens that are allowed to wander around and free-range can and will get lots of grass all on their own when they want it.

They don’t need you to give them extra grass at all because they are already eating plenty themselves.

Be Careful: Too Much Grass in the Diet Can Harm Chickens

In all cases, be wary when feeding grass clippings to chickens, no matter where it came from.

Grass has a bad reputation for causing crop impaction issues in chickens, and though some keepers just seem to be avowed haters of the idea of serving grass to chickens, there is merit in the concern.

Specifically, wet grass is far more likely to cause blockages in the chicken’s crop. If you give your chickens grass clippings, make sure they are dry before serving, and never be too hasty to serve chickens grass that is wet from dew or rain.

Do keep in mind that chickens do best when their food is dry, or damp at most. Truly moist and wet foods of all kinds, not just grass, are disproportionately likely to cause crop and other digestive problems in chickens.

What’s the Best Way to Serve Grass Clippings to Your Flock?

Assuming the grass clippings are fresh, dry and free of contaminants like pesticides, herbicides, and oil or fuel residue, the best way to serve them is loose in small amounts. Your chickens will eat their fill and leave the rest, most times.

It is rarely worth it to try and bulk up other foods by mixing them with grass clippings, so don’t waste your time.

Be Careful of Chemical Contamination that Might Be on Cut Grass

I’ve harped on this topic throughout the article, but just in case you skipped ahead to this part, allow me to be perfectly clear: you should never, ever feed grass clippings to chickens if they have been treated with any kind of pesticide, herbicide, or other common lawn chemicals.

Those chemicals can remain in the grass basically forever, and persist long after rain and cutting. Any of them could make your flock sick if you feed them, or maybe even kill them.

Remember that all birds, and that includes chickens, are highly sensitive to toxins and poisons. 

If you’re unsure whether a batch of grass was sprayed or chemically treated in any way, just do not give it to your chickens. It is just not worth the risk!

The post Can Chickens Eat Grass Clippings? Is it Safe? appeared first on Modern Survival Online.

Learn from these Native American survival skills from the past and learn more survival hacks you can use in the future!

RELATED: Native American Survival

This thin, dried meat can keep for a very long time and was an essential food supply for Native Americans. We put together a guide to preserving meat in the wilderness.