The pilgrims that boarded the sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and the pioneers that traveled this way and even further west all shared the do-it-yourself spirit.  The pilgrims knew that they would have to be self-sufficient as supplies from Europe would take a long time to reach their colony.  When they did not know how to do something, they learned from others.  Squanto helped teach them the agricultural practices suitable for this new land.  I know you don’t need to an American history lesson so I am going to jump ahead in time.  During the westward expansion of the United States of America, people loaded up their belongings and headed out to literally build a life with their family.

This life was not for everyone.  Some people tried it and returned back east.  The ones that stuck it out, survived many hardships, and thrived in spite of it all had the do-it-yourself spirit.  When they did not know something, they learned.  They asked others.  They shared information.  Skills and knowledge were passed on to the next generation as children worked alongside their parents.  How to build a table, make soap, or butcher chickens was common knowledge.

I don’t know if I could have been a pilgrim or a pioneer.  I have only read about their lives and hardships.  I have not experienced them, but I like to think that I could.  Of the two, I would much rather be a westward bound pioneer.

One thing is for sure.  The homesteaders of the 21st century also share the do-it-yourself spirit.  Who else would plow a field for a large garden when you can easily buy produce at the grocery store?  Who would attempt to make soap when it is cheap to purchase?  Who builds their own house anymore?  Not many people.

I could go on with more examples, but I will stop.  Countryside magazine is a great resource for homesteading information.  Flipping through its pages you can see that the D-I-Y spirit lives.  People are using innovative ideas.  They are re-discovering the lost arts of making goat cheese, wood working, etc.

My family is laying tile today and tomorrow in our dining and living room.  We did not know how to do it, but my brother came and helped us lay the tile in our bedroom.  I wrote about it in “An Old-Fashioned Tile-Laying.”  Now armed with just enough knowledge to get the job done, we are ready to get to work.

Snake in the house!

Last night as we were removing the quarter-round trim, we were completely surprised.  We found a snake in our house under the baseboard and between the slab!  I have no idea how he got there.  I have no idea what he was planning to eat.  I have no idea how long he had been there.  Very weird!  Finding the snake was a memorable part our tile-laying experience.  Something we would have missed if we had hired out the work.

The D-I-Y spirit lives in our household.  Our children work alongside us in the hopes that they are learning these skills as well.  So whether it is construction, making soap, cooking, gardening, or automotive maintenance, I hope that my children also become do-it-yourselfers.  Learning to be self-sufficient is the goal.  Just like the pilgrims and pioneers, we do not know what the future holds.  Knowledge is power, so use this time to learn as much as you can.  Read, research, practice, learn from others, do everything you can to  lead a more self-sufficient life.

Tags: artisan skills, d-i-y projects, do-it-yourselfers, homesteaders, pilgrims, pioneers, self-sufficient

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