Post SHTF Occupations

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Snowflake said:
I used to teach tartan weaving to tourist on a 1930 harris loom powered by pedals, Now I make christmas decs for friends....I'm mad on all things winter.
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I have the instructions on the 'how to's' but that is one craft that I am hoping to get to sit down and teach myself to do one day. I had the opportunity to see the craft done at one time at a colonial history museum, but I have yet to meet anyone local who does it. You have a gift that you can share weather it is Pre or Post SHTF.
 
Danil54grl said:
I have the instructions on the 'how to's' but that is one craft that I am hoping to get to sit down and teach myself to do one day. I had the opportunity to see the craft done at one time at a colonial history museum, but I have yet to meet anyone local who does it. You have a gift that you can share weather it is Pre or Post SHTF.
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I would love to do some great online tuition but I'm just no good with computers, I'm doing a computer class soon so hope to get better. Weaving's not so hard to learn, like most things it's no good to over complicate it. I would say start with a small frame and just use 2 sets of warp threads....then over/under. Once you've got that then you can think about more warp threads and patterns.
I've been filmed by a few American T.V shows over the years, Once I was filmed teaching the harlem globe trotters.
 
Snowflake said:
I would love to do some great online tuition but I'm just no good with computers, I'm doing a computer class soon so hope to get better. Weaving's not so hard to learn, like most things it's no good to over complicate it. I would say start with a small frame and just use 2 sets of warp threads....then over/under. Once you've got that then you can think about more warp threads and patterns.
I've been filmed by a few American T.V shows over the years, Once I was filmed teaching the harlem globe trotters.
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That is awesome Snowflake. . . I had to laugh at the "Once I was filmed teaching the harlem globe trotters". They are a wonderful group of guys that do so much for the communities, but to get a mental image of them trying to weave. . :p
I know they have finesse when it comes to handling a basketball so why not. Did they do ok?
 
Danil54grl said:
That is awesome Snowflake. . . I had to laugh at the "Once I was filmed teaching the harlem globe trotters". They are a wonderful group of guys that do so much for the communities, but to get a mental image of them trying to weave. . :p
I know they have finesse when it comes to handling a basketball so why not. Did they do ok?
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When I seen them walking down the stair I felt a bit small, They did ok....a bit too tall for my loom tho, I had a look online last night to see if I could find a film of it but I couldn't. Have a look at "Edinburgh old town weaving co" on you tube as that's where I was a weaver also look at Harris weaving and you should see the looms I used. If I ever find any footage I'll try and post it but as I said I'm no good at tech. I did find how to weave footage on you tube...Maybe that would be helpful for you. I do miss weaving, I'm a cook now as the hours fit in with my kid and I like to be around to help with her education, I might go back to weaving one day.:)
 
I tried to do a google search and all I got was their technical weaving . . . apparently a move they are know for. I am no good with computers either, so you are not alone! I used to be the cook thing too years ago. . . now I just have to do that for around here thank goodness
 
heres a little something:

 
and this:

 
I'm a jack of all trades, plumbing, carpentry, metal work/welding, construction, electrical yada yada but I've recently bought the gear to set up a smithy. I have done some blacksmithing in the past and really enjoy it so that seems like a reasonable thing to get into as well.

And if nothing happens SHTF wise I have an interesting hobby that doesn't use electricity, a good thing as we live on solar.
 
In a major post SHTF we would lose the oil refineries thus we lose petroleum grade fuels and refine oils for use in equipment and grease for the bearings, yes, we can make ethanol from corn and modify the engine to run pure ethanol but that doesn't replace grease and motor oils and tires, without diesel grade fuels we have limited our ability for heavy equipment and heavy trucks, vegetable oil may be out of the question for diesel fuel replacement post SHTF
.

On a side note
It takes 26.1 pounds of corn to make 1 gallon of ethanol, to drive a car that gets 20miles to a gal across country it would take half an acre of corn to produce enough ethanol to fuel roughly 2800 miles. From cornell university, "1 acre of land can yield about 7,110 pounds of corn, which can be processed into 328 gallons of ethanol" how do we solve the problem of producing motor oil and packing grease? we only have whats at hand pre-SHTF without producing it supplies will only last so long! In WWII allies bombed hitlers bearing factories to slow his advancement bearings are just as important than fuel in a mechanize world and the same is true post SHTF without grease bearings are worthless!
 
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Buy a horse?, move to near a navigable river, move near a railway line, after a MAJOR collapse oil is definately going to be expensive and of limited availability, I can see major post collapse economies as they start to rebuild wanting to avoid like the plague getting into the same mess we are in now of being dependant on imported energy.
We Brits and Yanks can be petty dumb at times but we are fast learners and I don't think after a MAJOR Snafu we will want to be beholding to anyone outside our borders. This will limited our fuel and logistic options and the best most cost effective is likely to be Horses for local transit, railroads, rivers and aircraft for long haul. If we are LUCKY we may end up where Joe Q Public can afford to run a quad or hog but I reckon for quite a while fuel will go to the railways and canal boats to recommence commerce.

Many of the American founders of the survivalist movement often wrote back in the 70s that if they survived the big one, when they started to rebuild they would settle near a railroad line or navigable river to ensure they had a transit system. Soo accordingly those older skills will be required Loco Engineer, Welder, Boiler Maker, Wheelright, Saddlemaker, Leathersmith, Boat builder, sail maker, horse breeder / breaker etc etc
 
Hey Krime you should never show images of naked sheep on forums where Aussie visit, it leave them horny for days :)
 
No doubt the railways would again be the main avenue for trade and transit across the nation, post SHTF. Would take some time, but it would happen.
 
Very often on UK prepping forums when we discuss essential criteria for selecting a place to live, or BOL or BIL many people often recommend that people try to get as close as sensibly possible to either Navigable Waterways (canals, rivers, lakes etc) or near to heritage railway lines and the later ( in the UK at least) usually maintain a healthy stock of working steam locos (transport, electricity generation, hot water, heated bunks in passenger cars etc)
 
I was Gunsmith before I got a job with a corporation after the shop I worked in went out of bussiness . Also worked in auto repair . I have planned opening a small Gunshop as a part of My retirement plan anyway . I would work along the repair stuff lines post SHTF .
 
Most of the trad skills should become handy after TSHTF

Prepper

Sewing

Knitting

Darning

Weaving

Thread making

Needle maker

Leatherwork

Tanner / Tanning

Shearing / Fleecing

Skinning

Animal husbandry / Veterinarian

Black smith

Copper smith

Gunsmith

Tin smith

Coppicing

Arboritry

Williow weaving

Tool sharpening / Toolmaker

Wood lathing / turning

Brush making

Rope making

Sail Making

Seamstress

Quilter

Saddlemaker

Farrier

Barrel maker

Bow maker / Bowyer

Arrow smith

Boat builder

Midwifery / Nursing

Homeopathist

Alchemy

Herbalist

Plumbing / Hydrology

Brick Layer

Joiner / Carpenter

Tile maker / Brick Maker

Hunter / Fisherman

Miner (minerals) / Geologist / Driller

Telecoms / radio telegraphy

Electrical / electronics engineer

Mechanic

Boiler maker

Wheel wright

Welder / riveter

Food preserver / bottling/ canning/ tinning / salting/ drying / smoker

Candle Maker

Glass maker / blower

Rope Maker
 
Wow, after reading all of this thread for the first time, I am left wondering "What do I have to offer in a post-SHTF world?"
Someone made the point that there will be plenty of clothing available and I believe that to be true for many years, at least, so my sewing skills won't be needed.
I live in the south, so my quilting skills will probably not be needed much there.
I do know a lot about animal husbandry, but it has always mainly been focused on pet dogs and cats, which I am sure will have a very low priority post SHTF.
I know a lot about nutrition, but in a survivalist world, people are going to eat what's available, not necessarily what's best for them.
My knowledge of natural remedies, homeopathy, is limited to what I need to know for myself.
I have a green thumb, but lack the energy and muscle to grow more than I need for myself.
I do love to travel and to barter - perhaps I could load up a horse and cart with trade goods - I'd have to have an armed escort probably. And I could carry letters, as well. I rather like that idea as it fits with my current desire to hit the road for awhile.
Here's hoping that S does not HTF in my lifetime.
 
Madam, there will always be a need for experience and general expertise, for it is those with experience under their belts that guides the reckless young.
 
My skills outside of my survival skills are all over the board, I'm a small retiring rancher but I see most of my live stock being poached post SHTF given they are 80 miles away all in open range. I have a good working knowledge in blacksmithing light and heavy equipment repairs gunsmithing, construction, welding (all metals), tracker, trapper, farming, canning, smoking (meat) hide tanning.

The problem I see not many people have just the basic knowledge in the older professions (old ways) or even the bare minimum in basic survival skills most of the people that have these skills are around my age and older and I don't want to set around teaching a lifetime worth of skills to the younger crowd that only knows technology in a post SHTF. I have taught survival skills to the cob/boy scouts in my earlier days and that was enough! now I'm older a grouch that have very little patience with people and I think most around my age and older may feel the same way, it's not personal though my wife whom is a lot lot younger then I calls me a grouch everyday and everyday I find myself biting my upper lip and tong at the same time with her so maybe just maybe she is unknowingly teaching me to be nice post SHTF
 
anyone that relies on technology and never expects it to fail wont last long post SHTF, there will be a large "die off" of the useless and unwilling following SitX, only those willing to learn the skills of our forefathers(pre industrialisation) will have any chance of survival, even people with huge stocks of canned/tinned food wont be assured of survival as I don't believe it is possible to store enough food to last the rest of ones life, we need people with farming and horticultural skills, people who know how to grow food and rear animals, those are the ones who will be in high demand, along with anyone with basic medical skills.
 
bigpaul said:
anyone that relies on technology and never expects it to fail wont last long post SHTF, there will be a large "die off" of the useless and unwilling following SitX, only those willing to learn the skills of our forefathers(pre industrialisation) will have any chance of survival, even people with huge stocks of canned/tinned food wont be assured of survival as I don't believe it is possible to store enough food to last the rest of ones life, we need people with farming and horticultural skills, people who know how to grow food and rear animals, those are the ones who will be in high demand, along with anyone with basic medical skills.
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That be true!

like in horror/apocalypse movies there is always that one setting in the corner head resting on the knees sobering unresponsive to the folks around em, I have NO patience NO tolerance and NO mercy for them people I presume to put a bullet in the head and move on
 
I always thought I could do a lot of stuff but I only know 2-3 of those and can do reasonably at maybe another 2-3. Just goes to show how many things there are to know, and why in the long run some form of community is better than being a one-man band.
 
Graynomad said:
I always thought I could do a lot of stuff but I only know 2-3 of those and can do reasonably at maybe another 2-3. Just goes to show how many things there are to know, and why in the long run some form of community is better than being a one-man band.
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I am really starting to rethink the community thing! I have been pretty much a solo thinker for most of my life but as my body ages and my concern for my wife it may be the best option, my favorite saying (or our motto) to her (she gets it now) 'I'm not going to be around forever and you need to learn a few things' - the more I get involved such as forums as this lets just say I'm evolving and rethinking my strategy my biggest problem and perhaps really my only problem is trust, a friend pre-SHTF may not be a friend post-SHTF so, do I really want to put all my eggs in one basket? in a community setting it's all or nothing, for me, it is a dilemma.
 
Yeah me to, I've always pretty much always done things by myself. My missus and I were talking about this yesterday, if she goes first I have to learn....hmm nothing really, I'd have to start doing a few things I currently don't but know how to do like washing the clothes but that's about it. Whereas if I go first she could not keep anything running around here, she'd have to sell up and move into town.

I am also thinking about a community because I can't do a heck of a lot of things in that list and many of them will be important, but how do you set one up? Unless you are dead lucky and have all your neighbours on the same page, or have some friends who are willing to contribute to a common BOL.

And even if you can organise something there will always be problems with personalities etc and tough decisions to be made post-SHTF that many may not agree with. And current friends are so under little or no stress, unless you're all old Army buddies or something you don't know how they will react under stress and it could all fall apart. It's a whole can of worms.

Oh and BTW, welcome to the "Grumpy old man" club :)
 
another possible problem, if one had a community BOL pre-SHTF, places such as this will be under the scrutiny of the governments and looked upon suspiciously perhaps evoking a response from law enforcement, I guess that may depend on the amount of traffic and building pre SHTF
 
Keeping in mind that SHTF could be Civil unrest like in any modern War zone you may have cars electricty , modern COMM's and most anything we have today but food and other goods shortage and a very unsafe enviroment .
 
Maverick said:
My skills outside of my survival skills are all over the board, I'm a small retiring rancher but I see most of my live stock being poached post SHTF given they are 80 miles away all in open range. I have a good working knowledge in blacksmithing light and heavy equipment repairs gunsmithing, construction, welding (all metals), tracker, trapper, farming, canning, smoking (meat) hide tanning.

The problem I see not many people have just the basic knowledge in the older professions (old ways) or even the bare minimum in basic survival skills most of the people that have these skills are around my age and older and I don't want to set around teaching a lifetime worth of skills to the younger crowd that only knows technology in a post SHTF. I have taught survival skills to the cob/boy scouts in my earlier days and that was enough! now I'm older a grouch that have very little patience with people and I think most around my age and older may feel the same way, it's not personal though my wife whom is a lot lot younger then I calls me a grouch everyday and everyday I find myself biting my upper lip and tong at the same time with her so maybe just maybe she is unknowingly teaching me to be nice post SHTF
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I'm with you, Maverick - not much patience for teaching the younger crowd since they don't have the patience for learning.
 
Our group is pretty well rounded. Most are former military. One was a combat medic and now a rn. Another buddy did trapping and pest control for a number of years. A couple are union carpenters by trade. A new guy is, well, he's just big. I mean huge. Maybe he can pull a plow.
 
I'm with you, Maverick - not much patience for teaching the younger crowd since they don't have the patience for learning.
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The whole generation seems to have ADHD....and can't seem to dig their nose out of their cell phones for more than two minutes.
 
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