A living field manualObserve · Make · Mend

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Farming & Soil

Soil by Feel

Learn to distinguish gritty sand, silky silt, and sticky clay with a small moist sample.

Beginner15 minutes

Farming & Soil

Compost

Turn clean plant residues into a stable soil amendment by managing air and moisture.

BeginnerMulti-day

Farming & Soil

Crop Rotation

Move plant families between beds to interrupt repeated host planting.

Beginner1 hour

Farming & Soil

Seed Saving

Begin with dry-seeded beans or peas and keep the plant’s identity with the seed.

BeginnerSeasonal

Farming & Soil

Garden Planning

Choose a small productive area you can water, reach, and maintain throughout the season.

Beginner1 hour

Farming & Soil

Potato Growing

Grow tubers in loose soil and keep them covered from sunlight.

BeginnerSeasonal

Orchard & Perennials

Fruit Tree Grafting

Understand a graft union, then practice the geometry on waste twigs before working on a tree.

Advanced1 hour

Animal Care

⚠ Specialist review needed

Chicken Coop Basics

Plan dry sleeping space, clean nests, ventilation, and a secure run before buying birds.

BeginnerHalf-day

Animal Care

⚠ Specialist review needed

Egg Collection and Storage

Collect clean, intact eggs promptly and maintain a reliable cold chain.

Beginner15 minutes

Animal Care

⚠ Specialist review needed

Hand Milking

Learn a calm, hygienic milking routine alongside an experienced keeper.

Intermediate30 minutes

Animal Care

⚠ Specialist review needed

Livestock Water and Feed

Build a daily resource check around each species and its stage of life.

Beginner30 minutes

Animal Care

⚠ Specialist review needed

Animal First Aid Basics

Recognize a change, protect people and other animals, and get veterinary direction.

Beginner15 minutes

Land Management

⚠ Specialist review needed

Clearing Brush

Clear a small area deliberately while retaining useful plants and stable ground cover.

BeginnerHalf-day

Fire & Heat

⚠ Specialist review needed

Splitting Firewood

Learn how grain and a wedge work together, starting with manageable wood.

Intermediate30 minutes

Fire & Heat

Firewood Storage

Stack wood so air can remove moisture without creating an unstable wall.

Beginner1 hour

Woodland Knowledge

⚠ Specialist review needed

Forest Deadfall

Assess fallen wood as habitat first, then as material where collection is allowed.

Beginner30 minutes

Fire & Heat

Natural Tinder

Understand why dry fine fibers ignite more readily than a large branch.

Beginner15 minutes

Fences & Boundaries

⚠ Specialist review needed

Fence Post Setting

Plan a small fence post around soil, frost, wind, and the load it must carry.

IntermediateHalf-day

Fences & Boundaries

⚠ Specialist review needed

Fence Bracing

Follow the force from tensioned wire into a corner or end assembly.

Intermediate1 hour

Water

⚠ Specialist review needed

Rainwater Collection

Plan a small non-drinking-water system from roof to overflow.

Beginner1 hour

Water

⚠ Specialist review needed

Gravity-Fed Water

Understand why elevation gives water pressure and why narrow pipes reduce usable flow.

Beginner30 minutes

Water

⚠ Specialist review needed

Safe Drinking-Water Storage

Keep safe water safe with a clean vessel, closed storage, and careful dispensing.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Root Cellar Storage

Match each crop to temperature, humidity, darkness, and airflow.

Beginner1 hour

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Drying Food

Use controlled warmth and moving air to remove moisture, then prevent its return.

BeginnerMulti-day

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Fermentation

Use a tested sauerkraut method to understand salt, submersion, temperature, and time.

BeginnerMulti-day

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Sourdough

Learn to feed and observe an established starter before trying to bake by the clock.

BeginnerMulti-day

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Pickling

Distinguish vinegar pickles from fermentation and choose a tested method for the intended storage.

Beginner1 hour

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Food Canning Safety

Choose the correct tested process before putting any food in a jar.

Beginner1 hour

Woodworking & Tools

Tool Maintenance

Build a short clean, inspect, protect, and store routine after each job.

Beginner30 minutes

Woodworking & Tools

⚠ Specialist review needed

Knife Sharpening

Maintain the existing bevel and learn to recognize a small burr without cutting yourself.

Beginner30 minutes

Woodworking & Tools

⚠ Specialist review needed

Axe Sharpening

Restore a sound axe’s cutting profile without turning it into a fragile knife edge.

Intermediate30 minutes

Woodworking & Tools

⚠ Specialist review needed

Tool Handle Replacement

Understand a fitted eye and recognize when replacement needs a skilled tool repairer.

AdvancedHalf-day

Woodworking & Tools

Mortise and Tenon

Cut a small practice joint in which a tenon fits a matching socket.

IntermediateHalf-day

Woodworking & Tools

Basic Hand Sawing

Guide a saw along a marked line while supporting both the work and the offcut.

Beginner30 minutes

Woodworking & Tools

Wood Grain

Read fiber direction before sawing, planing, splitting, or placing a joint.

Beginner15 minutes

Rope & Knots

⚠ Specialist review needed

Rope and Pulley Lifting

Understand mechanical advantage with an unloaded or very light tabletop model.

Beginner30 minutes

Rope & Knots

Bowline

Tie a fixed loop for ordinary non-critical practice and inspect its collar.

Beginner15 minutes

Rope & Knots

Trucker’s Hitch

Learn a tensioning arrangement using a loop, a return, and a separate tie-off.

Intermediate15 minutes

Rope & Knots

⚠ Specialist review needed

Tripod Lashing

Build a small non-load-bearing tripod to understand wraps, fraps, and spreading legs.

Intermediate30 minutes

Textiles & Repair

Sewing a Button

Reattach a flat button with enough clearance for the buttonhole fabric.

Beginner15 minutes

Textiles & Repair

Back Stitch

Sew a continuous strong hand seam by stepping backward on the visible side.

Beginner15 minutes

Textiles & Repair

Darning

Bridge a small worn area with a woven patch anchored in sound fabric.

Beginner30 minutes

Textiles & Repair

Leather Repair

Assess a small non-critical leather tear and practice stitching on scrap.

Intermediate1 hour

Household Materials

⚠ Specialist review needed

Soap-Making Principles

Understand saponification and why safe soap making starts with exact formulation.

Beginner30 minutes

Household Materials

⚠ Specialist review needed

Beeswax Candles

Make a small rolled sheet candle without melting wax over heat.

Beginner30 minutes

Household Materials

⚠ Specialist review needed

Limewash

Learn where a mineral lime finish belongs and why surface compatibility matters.

Intermediate1 hour

Navigation & Weather

Compass Navigation

Orient a map and follow a short checked bearing in familiar terrain.

Beginner30 minutes

Navigation & Weather

Reading Contours

Translate contour lines into hills, slopes, valleys, and route choices.

Beginner30 minutes

Navigation & Weather

Pacing Distance

Calibrate a personal double-pace count and understand its limits.

Beginner30 minutes

Navigation & Weather

Weather and Clouds

Observe cloud form and change while using official forecasts for decisions.

Beginner15 minutes

Buildings & Shelter

⚠ Specialist review needed

Shed Planning Principles

Plan use, location, drainage, and access before choosing a shed design.

Beginner1 hour

Growing Infrastructure

Cold Frame Basics

Use a covered growing box while actively managing heat, air, and water.

Beginner1 hour

Fieldcraft

⚠ Specialist review needed

Campsite Selection

Choose a lawful, durable site away from water, overhead, and weather hazards.

Beginner15 minutes

Practical Human Skills

Job Planning and Records

Turn a practical job into a short sequence with clear stopping points.

Beginner15 minutes

First Aid & Safety

⚠ Specialist review needed

Scene Safety and Calling for Help

Practice recognizing an unsafe scene and making a clear emergency call.

Beginner15 minutes

Orchard & Perennials

Planting a Fruit Tree

Plan for the mature tree and protect its roots during planting.

BeginnerHalf-day

Water

⚠ Specialist review needed

Water Treatment Methods

Work through a CDC boiling method and keep chemical hazards, dirty gear and treated storage separate.

Beginner30 minutes

Fire & Heat

⚠ Specialist review needed

Extinguishing a Fire

Leave a permitted small outdoor fire completely cold before leaving the site.

Beginner15 minutes

Home Maintenance

Weatherstripping

Seal an ordinary door’s unwanted air gap without preventing safe closing.

Beginner1 hour

Farming & Soil

Soil Testing

Collect a useful laboratory sample before deciding what to add to a garden bed.

Beginner1 hour

Farming & Soil

Seed Starting

Raise a manageable first tray with labels, drainage and a clear plan for light.

Beginnermulti-day

Farming & Soil

Hardening Seedlings

Introduce indoor-grown plants to outdoor light, wind and temperature in gradual stages.

Beginnermulti-day

Farming & Soil

Mulching

Cover a suitable bed deliberately, keeping plant stems clear and monitoring the soil beneath.

Beginner1 hour

Land Management

Property Observation

Make a dated sketch of sun, water, access and hazards before changing the land.

Beginnerseasonal

Land Management

Habitat Piles

Plan a small, undisturbed refuge using suitable woody garden residues on managed private land.

Beginner1 hour

Woodland Knowledge

⚠ Specialist review needed

Responsible Harvesting

Decide whether collection is appropriate before taking any woodland material.

Beginner30 minutes

Water

⚠ Specialist review needed

Rain Barrels

Plan a manufactured rain barrel for non-drinking uses, including support, overflow and maintenance.

Beginnerhalf-day

Textiles & Repair

Running and Whip Stitches

Practice a straight running stitch and an edge-wrapping whip stitch, then choose each for a suitable repair.

Beginner1 hour

Textiles & Repair

Blanket Stitch

Work an open looped edge on stable fabric, keeping stitch depth and tension even.

Beginner1 hour

Textiles & Repair

Hemming

Shorten a straight woven edge with a double fold and discreet hand stitches.

Beginner1 hour

Textiles & Repair

Patching Knees

Bridge a worn knee with a flexible patch attached beyond the weakened fabric.

Beginner1 hour

Textiles & Repair

Zipper Troubleshooting

Distinguish trapped fabric and dirt from damaged teeth, tape or slider before attempting a gentle fix.

Beginner30 minutes

Textiles & Repair

Wool Care

Use the care label to clean, dry and store wool while protecting its shape.

Beginnermulti-day

Animal Care

⚠ Specialist review needed

Chick Care

Prepare a brooder, check warmth and access to feed, and keep a useful daily record.

Beginnermulti-day

Animal Care

⚠ Specialist review needed

Introducing Chickens

Separate health screening from social introduction when adding birds to an established flock.

Beginnermulti-day

Animal Care

⚠ Specialist review needed

Goat Shelter and Fencing

Walk a proposed enclosure from a goat’s perspective before bringing animals home.

Beginnerhalf-day

Animal Care

⚠ Specialist review needed

Rabbit Housing and Heat

Plan connected shelter and exercise space, then check shade, water and daily behavior.

Beginnerhalf-day

Animal Care

⚠ Specialist review needed

Bee Colony Basics

Learn the parts of a managed colony and keep an observation record with a beekeeper.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Kitchen Hygiene

Arrange clean equipment and a sensible work sequence before processing a harvest or preparing a meal.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Using Food Thermometers

Measure the relevant part of the food, wait for a stable reading and compare it with the correct guidance.

Beginner15 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Food Labels and Batch Records

Connect each container to a dated record of what it contains, how it was prepared and where it belongs.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Freezing and Thawing Food

Prepare useful portions, protect them in the freezer and plan refrigerator thawing before you need them.

Beginnermulti-day

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Choosing Tested Preservation Recipes

Check that a preservation process matches the food, ingredients, equipment and storage you actually intend to use.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Refrigerator Pickles

Make a small refrigerated vinegar pickle while keeping its storage needs distinct from canned and fermented pickles.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Measuring Salt for Vegetable Fermentation

Read a tested fermentation recipe’s salt basis and measure it without confusing dry salting with a wet brine.

Intermediate30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Sauerkraut

Follow a published cabbage fermentation process, from sound heads and measured salt to submersion, monitoring and storage.

IntermediateMulti-day

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Checking Home Canning Equipment

Inspect jars, lids, racks and canner parts before selecting a tested process for the food.

Intermediate1 hour

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Canning Tomatoes: Recipe and Acidification

Identify the tomato product, required acidification and tested processing table before filling jars.

AdvancedHalf-day

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Handling Raw Meat and Poultry

Receive, chill, separate and prepare raw meat and poultry without spreading raw juices around the kitchen.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Handling Fresh Fish

Keep purchased or caught fish cold, inspect it, prepare it cleanly and decide promptly whether to cook or freeze.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Portioning and Freezing Meat and Fish

Pack raw meat and fish in usable portions, label each batch and maintain the freezer cold enough for quality and safety.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Understanding Safe Jerky Processes

Read a validated meat-specific jerky process and identify the roles of preparation, lethality, drying and storage.

AdvancedMulti-day

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Hot and Cold Smoking: Safety Principles

Understand what smoke contributes, what heat must accomplish and why cold-smoked products need separate validated controls.

Advanced1 hour

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Storing Grains and Dry Legumes

Inspect, package and rotate dry grains and legumes so moisture and insects do not quietly ruin the pantry.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Pantry Inventory and Rotation

Map pantry shelves, record what is actually present, and use sound older lots before opening new ones.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Responding to Pantry Pests

Find the infested package, remove contaminated food, clean shelves and prevent a repeat infestation.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Cooking Dry Beans Safely

Sort and prepare dried beans while treating kidney bean lectins and slow cooking as a specific safety concern.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Handling Milk and Chilled Dairy

Choose pasteurized dairy, keep its cold chain intact and make product-specific decisions after a temperature lapse.

Beginner30 minutes

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Culturing Yogurt

Follow a complete extension yogurt process from pasteurized milk and active culture through a verified endpoint and refrigeration.

BeginnerRead before starting; follow source recipe

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Cultured Cream and Butter

Understand cultured cream and churning as separate controlled stages, with pasteurized cream and refrigerated finished butter.

BeginnerRead before starting; follow source recipe

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Fresh Cheese Foundations

Choose a specific fresh cheese recipe and keep milk, utensils, curds and finished cheese under the process’s cold-chain controls.

BeginnerRead before starting; follow source recipe

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Small-Scale Grain Milling

Inspect food-grade grain, match it to the mill, grind a manageable amount and store flour with its raw-food status clear.

BeginnerRead before starting; follow source recipe

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Pressing Fruit Juice

Sort and wash suitable fruit, use a clean press, and distinguish fresh unpasteurized juice from a validated preserved product.

BeginnerRead before starting; follow source recipe

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Culturing Buttermilk

Follow a published starter-culture process, measure the acid endpoint and refrigerate the finished buttermilk.

IntermediateOne to two days; follow the source recipe

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Storing Whole Grain Flour

Seal, label and keep whole grain flour away from heat and moisture, using freezer storage for longer quality.

Beginner15 minutes

Fieldcraft

⚠ Specialist review needed

Tarp Setups

Practise three measured square-tarp pitches and inspect anchors, runoff, clearance and ground insulation.

Beginner1 hour

Fieldcraft

Packing a Load

Pack dense gear close to the back and make essential items reachable without unpacking everything.

Beginner30 minutes

Fieldcraft

Equipment Dry Storage

Dry, inspect and store field equipment so trapped moisture does not damage it between trips.

Beginner30 minutes

Fieldcraft

⚠ Specialist review needed

Wildlife-Safe Food Storage

Choose the land manager’s approved food-storage method before entering wildlife habitat.

Beginner30 minutes

Fieldcraft

Field Hygiene

Set up a simple outdoor handwashing and water-handling routine before preparing food.

Beginner30 minutes

Fieldcraft

Waste Management

Plan how to pack out trash and handle human waste according to the site’s current rules.

Beginner30 minutes

Fieldcraft

⚠ Specialist review needed

Rough Terrain Decisions

Assess footing, exposure and exit options before committing to difficult ground.

Beginner30 minutes

Fieldcraft

⚠ Specialist review needed

Emergency Signaling

Send a usable help report, deploy sound, light and contrast from safety, and keep a stable location findable.

Beginner30 minutes

Fieldcraft

Field Repairs

Use a small repair kit to stabilize damaged gear, then make a permanent repair at home.

Beginner30 minutes

Practical Human Skills

Mental Arithmetic

Use decomposition and a rough check to make everyday calculations without losing track of units.

Beginner20 minutes

Practical Human Skills

Estimating Measurements

Build a calibrated sense of length, volume and weight, then verify what matters with an instrument.

Beginner20 minutes

Practical Human Skills

Height by Shadows

Use simultaneous shadows and similar triangles to estimate an inaccessible height from safe ground.

Beginner20 minutes

Practical Human Skills

Household Ledger

Keep a simple dated record of household income, payments and available balance.

Beginner20 minutes

Practical Human Skills

Pantry Replenishment Planning

Use existing pantry records to plan meals, replenishment quantities and purchases.

Beginner20 minutes

Practical Human Skills

Practical Handwriting

Make field notes, labels and instructions legible enough that someone else can act on them.

Beginner20 minutes

Practical Human Skills

Spatial Reasoning

Sketch familiar spaces from above, then compare the sketch with measured reality.

Beginner20 minutes

Practical Human Skills

Teaching Children Practical Skills

Introduce a safe household task through demonstration, guided practice and a clear finish.

Beginner20 minutes

Rope & Knots

Overhand and Figure Eight

Compare a simple overhand stopper with a dressed figure-eight stopper on practice cord.

Beginner20 minutes

Rope & Knots

Square Knot and Sheet Bend

Distinguish a square knot for bundling from a sheet bend for joining two noncritical cord ends.

Beginner20 minutes

Rope & Knots

Clove and Timber Hitches

Compare a clove hitch on a post with a timber hitch around a practice bundle.

Beginner20 minutes

Rope & Knots

Taut-Line and Rolling Hitches

Study an adjustable guyline hitch beside a rolling hitch that grips along another line.

Beginner20 minutes

Rope & Knots

Two Half Hitches and Constrictor

Compare an attachment made with two half hitches to a constrictor used for binding an object.

Beginner20 minutes

Rope & Knots

Coiling and Whipping

Coil clean cord without hidden twists and bind a fraying end with a simple whipping.

Beginner20 minutes

Rope & Knots

⚠ Specialist review needed

Square Diagonal and Shear Lashings

Identify square, diagonal and shear lashings by the way two small spars meet in an unloaded model.

Beginner20 minutes

Navigation & Weather

Map Scale

Convert a marked map distance using the particular map’s printed scale.

Beginner30 minutes

Navigation & Weather

⚠ Specialist review needed

Route Planning

Build a timed route card with checked distances, escape choices and a hard turnaround.

Beginner30 minutes

Navigation & Weather

Landmark Navigation

Use several mapped landmarks to check progress along a known safe route.

Beginner30 minutes

Navigation & Weather

Polaris and Southern Cross

Identify the hemisphere-specific celestial reference as an educational direction check.

Beginner30 minutes

Navigation & Weather

Shadow-Stick Direction

Watch a vertical stick’s shadow move and derive a rough orientation with a compass check.

Beginner30 minutes

Navigation & Weather

Estimating Daylight

Use official local sunrise and sunset data to set a conservative turnaround time.

Beginner30 minutes

Metal & Mechanics

Nuts Bolts and Washers

Sort threaded fasteners by fit and map the parts of a noncritical joint.

Beginner30 minutes

Metal & Mechanics

Filing Metal

Use a handled file on an isolated scrap to remove a small burr and check the resulting edge.

Beginner30 minutes

Metal & Mechanics

⚠ Specialist review needed

Drilling Metal

Plan a hole on scrap metal with clamping, guards and a clear stop sequence.

Beginner30 minutes

Metal & Mechanics

Cold Bending

Compare a small marked bend in soft, known metal with the intended finished shape.

Beginner30 minutes

Metal & Mechanics

⚠ Specialist review needed

Riveting

Model the parts of a simple riveted lap joint without assigning it a load rating.

Beginner30 minutes

Metal & Mechanics

⚠ Specialist review needed

Soldering Principles

Map the role of clean surfaces, flux, heat and filler in a nonstructural solder joint.

Beginner30 minutes

Metal & Mechanics

⚠ Specialist review needed

Forging Overview

Follow the conceptual stages of forging without building a forge or heating metal.

Beginner30 minutes

Metal & Mechanics

Bearings and Lubrication

Locate a bearing, its seal and the maker’s lubrication specification on a deenergized example.

Beginner30 minutes

Metal & Mechanics

Gears and Axles

Count teeth on a cardboard gear pair to predict relative turns and direction.

Beginner30 minutes

Fire & Heat

Fire Triangle

Understand why fuel, heat and oxygen must meet before a flame can persist.

Beginner15 minutes

Fire & Heat

⚠ Specialist review needed

Safe Match Fire

Plan and tend one small permitted outdoor fire using matches and a prepared fuel lay.

Beginner30 minutes

Fire & Heat

⚠ Specialist review needed

Feather Sticks

Practice making attached thin wood shavings from a dry stick with a controlled cutting setup.

Intermediate20 minutes

Fire & Heat

⚠ Specialist review needed

Cooking Over Coals

Use a permitted outdoor coal bed as a steady cooking heat source while checking food safety separately.

Intermediate1 hour

Fire & Heat

⚠ Specialist review needed

Chimney Draft

Recognize how a properly designed flue draws combustion gases out of a building.

Beginner20 minutes

Fire & Heat

⚠ Specialist review needed

Charcoal Making History

Read historic charcoal kilns as an example of heating wood with limited oxygen, without attempting production.

Beginner20 minutes

Water

⚠ Specialist review needed

First-Flush Systems

Understand how the first roof runoff can be diverted before storage without treating later rain as safe to drink.

Beginner30 minutes

Water

⚠ Specialist review needed

Cistern Principles

Read the catchment, storage, overflow and use paths of a rainwater cistern before considering a design.

Intermediate45 minutes

Water

⚠ Specialist review needed

Hand Pumps

Learn how a hand pump moves water while preserving the sanitary protection of a well.

Beginner30 minutes

Water

⚠ Specialist review needed

Siphons

Model how a filled tube can transfer nonpotable water from a higher source to a lower outlet.

Beginner20 minutes

Water

⚠ Specialist review needed

Solar Still Limitations

Understand evaporation and condensation in a solar still and why its output cannot anchor an emergency water plan.

Beginner25 minutes

Farming & Soil

Tomato Growing

Plan warm-season tomatoes from transplant to support, watering and harvest.

Beginner1 hour

Farming & Soil

Beans and Peas

Grow warm-season beans and cool-season peas with separate timing and support choices.

Beginner1 hour

Farming & Soil

Corn and Squash

Plan space, pollination and harvest for two warm-season crops with very different growth.

Beginner1 hour

Farming & Soil

Carrots, Onions and Garlic

Plan root and bulb crops around soil structure, planting material and season.

Beginner1 hour

Farming & Soil

Cabbage, Lettuce and Herbs

Use separate harvest windows and care routines for brassicas, tender leaves and culinary herbs.

Beginner1 hour

Farming & Soil

Plant Cuttings

Root suitable stem cuttings while keeping tools clean and the parent plant healthy.

Beginner1 hour

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Hot and Cold Smoking

Apply a complete validated hot-smoking plan and recognize when a proposed cold-smoked product needs specialist controls.

Intermediate1 hour

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Jam and Jelly

Choose a tested fruit spread process and understand how fruit, sugar, acid, pectin and jar processing fit together.

Intermediate1 hour

Food Preservation

⚠ Specialist review needed

Food Spoilage Recognition

Recognize visible warning signs while remembering that unsafe food can look, smell and taste normal.

Intermediate1 hour

Orchard & Perennials

⚠ Specialist review needed

Pruning Principles

Read branch structure before making a small, purposeful pruning cut on a young fruit tree.

Intermediate45 minutes

Orchard & Perennials

Orchard Layout

Map an orchard for mature tree size, pollination, access, sun, and drainage before planting.

IntermediateHalf a day

Orchard & Perennials

Fruit Thinning

Reduce a crowded apple fruit set by hand after checking crop and local timing guidance.

Beginner30–60 minutes

Orchard & Perennials

Trunk Protection

Protect a young tree’s trunk from mower strikes and browsing while leaving room for growth.

Beginner30 minutes

Orchard & Perennials

Growing Berries

Choose a berry crop for the site and establish a labeled, manageable planting.

IntermediateOne planting session; seasonal care

Orchard & Perennials

Grape Training

Observe a grapevine’s trunk, cordon, cane and shoots before following a cultivar-specific training system.

IntermediateOne hour to map; seasonal work

Orchard & Perennials

Perennial Herbs

Establish a small culinary herb bed with confirmed plant identity and winter expectations.

BeginnerOne planting session; seasonal care

Orchard & Perennials

Nut Trees

Evaluate the mature space, climate and pollination needs before planting a nut tree.

IntermediateHalf a day to plan

Animal Care

⚠ Specialist review needed

Sheep Grazing and Wool

Observe pasture and flock condition, plan a safe grazing move, and handle a dry fleece after trained shearing.

IntermediateDaily checks; seasonal shearing

Land Management

⚠ Specialist review needed

Erosion Control

Trace where soil leaves a site and keep vulnerable ground covered while seeking a durable drainage plan.

IntermediateSeveral visits, including after rain

Land Management

⚠ Specialist review needed

Trail Maintenance

Inspect a path for drainage, surface wear and hazards before doing small, low-impact maintenance.

Beginner1–2 hours per inspection

Land Management

Windbreaks

Plan a living wind screen around prevailing wind, mature plant size and the space needed for care.

BeginnerPlanning day; years to establish

Land Management

Hedgerows

Build a mixed perennial field edge for cover, flowers and a clear maintenance boundary.

BeginnerPlanning day; seasonal upkeep

Land Management

⚠ Specialist review needed

Swale Principles

Read how a vegetated swale slows or conveys runoff before considering any ground change.

Intermediate1 hour observation; design by specialist

Land Management

⚠ Specialist review needed

Stump Management

Decide whether to retain, monitor or professionally remove a stump based on its location and regrowth.

Intermediate30 minutes for assessment

Land Management

⚠ Specialist review needed

Moving Fallen Branches

Triage ground-level branches after a storm and move only loose pieces that are genuinely safe to handle.

Intermediate30–60 minutes for light debris

Woodland Knowledge

⚠ Specialist review needed

Recognizing Rotten Wood

Observe decay in fallen wood while treating standing dead or damaged trees as a separate hazard.

Beginner20 minutes

Woodland Knowledge

⚠ Specialist review needed

Straight Poles and Stakes

Select already cut, sound small wood for garden markers and other non-structural uses.

Intermediate30 minutes

Woodland Knowledge

⚠ Specialist review needed

Natural Cordage Materials

Prepare a short purchased-flax sample, reverse-twist two plies and practise a staggered tapered addition.

Beginner45 minutes

Woodland Knowledge

⚠ Specialist review needed

Bark and Resin

Observe bark layers and natural resin without cutting or tapping a living tree.

Beginner20 minutes

Woodland Knowledge

Leaf Litter and Humus

Observe the forest-floor layers and leave most organic cover in place.

Beginner20 minutes

Woodland Knowledge

Animal Tracks

Record a track pattern with scale and habitat before considering a species identification.

Beginner30 minutes

Woodland Knowledge

Browse and Trails

Notice feeding marks and repeated wildlife routes without disturbing their users.

Beginner30 minutes

Woodland Knowledge

⚠ Specialist review needed

Plant Identification Limits

Build a multi-feature field record and stop before using an uncertain plant.

Intermediate30 minutes; revisit in season

Fences & Boundaries

⚠ Specialist review needed

Gate Alignment

Diagnose a dragging gate by checking the opening, hinges and supporting post in order.

Intermediate45 minutes

Fences & Boundaries

⚠ Specialist review needed

Wire Fence Inspection

Walk a wire fence safely and record failures before they become escape routes or injuries.

Beginner45 minutes

Fences & Boundaries

⚠ Specialist review needed

Animal-Safe Fencing

Match an enclosure to the species, terrain and consequence of escape before choosing materials.

IntermediatePlanning day

Fences & Boundaries

Wooden Fence Repair

Replace a damaged non-structural fence board while checking posts and rails first.

IntermediateHalf-day

Fences & Boundaries

Garden Trellises

Plan a light plant support around crop habit, access and seasonal inspection.

Intermediate1 hour

Fences & Boundaries

⚠ Specialist review needed

Dry-Stone Boundaries

Read a dry-laid boundary wall for movement, drainage and historic value before repair.

Beginner45 minutes

Fences & Boundaries

Living Fences

Plan a planted boundary while keeping animal containment and legal lines separate.

BeginnerPlanning day; seasonal care

Fences & Boundaries

⚠ Specialist review needed

Fence Tension

Recognize stored wire energy and diagnose sag without guessing a tension setting.

Intermediate30 minutes

Woodworking & Tools

Measuring and Squaring

Mark a small board from one reference edge, then verify the layout before cutting.

Beginner30 minutes

Woodworking & Tools

⚠ Specialist review needed

Hand Planing

Practice controlled passes with a sharp hand plane on secured scrap stock.

Intermediate45 minutes

Woodworking & Tools

⚠ Specialist review needed

Chisel Sharpening

Hone a bench chisel repeatably while protecting the edge and working surface.

Intermediate45 minutes

Woodworking & Tools

⚠ Specialist review needed

Half-Lap Joints

Lay out and fit a small half-lap sample without assigning it a structural load.

Intermediate1 hour

Woodworking & Tools

⚠ Specialist review needed

Wooden Mallet

Plan and inspect a simple wooden mallet for light bench work.

IntermediatePlanning and assembly day

Woodworking & Tools

⚠ Specialist review needed

Simple Stool

Read a tested stool plan and assemble it with attention to legs, joints and tipping.

IntermediateProject day

Woodworking & Tools

⚠ Specialist review needed

Sawhorse

Choose and inspect a stable sawhorse system before supporting material for hand work.

IntermediateProject day

Woodworking & Tools

⚠ Specialist review needed

Workbench

Plan a stable hand-tool work surface with safe restraint and access.

IntermediatePlanning day; assembly varies

Household Materials

⚠ Specialist review needed

Beeswax Wood Finish

Use a small compatible wax test on an ordinary wood item, then buff and maintain it.

Beginner45 minutes

Household Materials

Cast-Iron Care

Clean, dry and store seasoned bare cast iron while keeping enamel care separate.

Beginner20 minutes

Household Materials

⚠ Specialist review needed

Natural Dyes

Make a small experimental dye swatch and record how fiber and light affect its color.

BeginnerHalf-day

Household Materials

Starch

Compare the behavior of dry starch and a small cooked paste without confusing it with permanent glue.

Beginner30 minutes

Household Materials

Traditional Glues

Compare starch paste and animal glue as material families, then match an adhesive to its actual job.

Beginner35 minutes

Household Materials

Leather Conditioning

Assess an everyday leather item before adding a care product, with preservation limits for old leather.

Beginner30 minutes

Household Materials

⚠ Specialist review needed

Wood Ash Uses

Separate safe ash disposal from any soil amendment decision based on a soil test.

Beginner25 minutes

Home Maintenance

Loose Hinge Repair

Diagnose a sagging interior door and tighten a sound hinge without overdriving its screws.

Beginner30 minutes

Home Maintenance

⚠ Specialist review needed

Caulking

Patch a small stationary interior gap with a compatible sealant after checking the source of moisture.

Beginner1 hour

Home Maintenance

Finding Studs

Map likely framing behind an ordinary drywall surface while treating every detector result as uncertain.

Beginner25 minutes

Buildings & Shelter

⚠ Specialist review needed

Foundations and Frost

Read a cold-climate foundation as a system of bearing ground, water control and frost protection before choosing a construction plan.

Beginner45 minutes

Buildings & Shelter

⚠ Specialist review needed

Post and Beam

Trace loads through posts, beams, connections and bracing before evaluating a timber-frame building plan.

Intermediate1 hour

Buildings & Shelter

⚠ Specialist review needed

Roof Pitch and Runoff

Read roof slope on a drawing and trace rainwater from the roof surface to an appropriate discharge point.

Beginner45 minutes

Buildings & Shelter

⚠ Specialist review needed

Natural Ventilation

Map a breeze through a room, compare inside and outside conditions, and decide when opening windows helps.

Beginner1 hour

Buildings & Shelter

⚠ Specialist review needed

Insulation Principles

Trace the thermal boundary and distinguish insulation, air leakage and moisture control before planning improvements.

Beginner1 hour

Buildings & Shelter

⚠ Specialist review needed

Basic Masonry

Read masonry courses and joints, practise a dry bond layout, and prepare a condition record before repairs.

Beginner1 hour

Buildings & Shelter

⚠ Specialist review needed

Cob and Adobe

Distinguish monolithic earth walling from dried blocks, record material behaviour, and map protection from water.

BeginnerMulti-day

Buildings & Shelter

⚠ Specialist review needed

Lime Plaster

Identify the background and binder, plan a supervised sample, and record preparation, coats and curing.

BeginnerMulti-day

Buildings & Shelter

⚠ Specialist review needed

Historic Ice Houses

Read an icehouse as a system of stored winter ice, insulation, access and meltwater drainage.

Beginner1 hour

Growing Infrastructure

⚠ Specialist review needed

Raised Beds

Lay out a reachable ground-level growing bed, choose suitable materials and prepare it for planting and maintenance.

BeginnerHalf-day

Growing Infrastructure

Compost Bins

Choose and organise a compost enclosure with room to add, turn and remove material without mixing finished batches.

BeginnerHalf-day

Growing Infrastructure

⚠ Specialist review needed

Herb Drying Racks

Set up a clean food-safe drying screen, keep herbs in a thin layer and match the drying method to the herb and conditions.

BeginnerMulti-day

Growing Infrastructure

⚠ Specialist review needed

Greenhouse Basics

Plan the site and operating routine for a small greenhouse, then monitor temperature, ventilation and water before filling it with plants.

BeginnerMulti-day

Growing Infrastructure

⚠ Specialist review needed

Pantry Shelving

Plan shelf capacity, choose an appropriate rated system and organise food so it stays accessible, inspectable and easy to rotate.

BeginnerHalf-day

Growing Infrastructure

⚠ Specialist review needed

Outdoor Washing Stations

Arrange a small household produce-washing area with potable water, cleanable surfaces and separate incoming and clean handling zones.

BeginnerHalf-day

Growing Infrastructure

⚠ Specialist review needed

Root Cellar Design

Prepare a crop-based design brief for a cool storage space, including zones, monitoring, ventilation, access and water management.

BeginnerMulti-day

Growing Infrastructure

⚠ Specialist review needed

Smokehouse Principles

Map the facility, monitoring and clean handling needed around approved smoking equipment before choosing a smokehouse design.

Beginner1 hour

Growing Infrastructure

⚠ Specialist review needed

Trellis Planning

Prepare a support brief from crop habit, mature load, shade and harvest access before selecting a trellis system.

Beginner1 hour

Home Maintenance

⚠ Specialist review needed

Hanging Shelves

Install a manufacturer-specified wall shelf after confirming the wall, fixing system and intended contents.

Beginner1 hour

Home Maintenance

⚠ Specialist review needed

Filling Small Holes

Fill a small fastener hole in sound interior drywall with a compatible repair compound and a patient finish.

Beginner1 hour

Home Maintenance

⚠ Specialist review needed

Drain Trap Principles

Understand the water seal below a fixture and document a drainage problem without dismantling unknown plumbing.

Beginner15 minutes

Home Maintenance

⚠ Specialist review needed

Gutter Inspection

Inspect roof drainage from safe ground positions and record where rainwater leaves the building.

Beginner15 minutes

Home Maintenance

⚠ Specialist review needed

House Structure

Map a house’s apparent load paths and document concerns for a qualified assessment before making alterations.

Beginner1 hour

First Aid & Safety

⚠ Specialist review needed

Wound Care Principles

Clean and cover a small superficial wound while recognizing when bleeding or injury requires urgent care.

Beginner15 minutes

First Aid & Safety

⚠ Specialist review needed

Burn Response

Stop a thermal exposure safely, cool the injured area and obtain help for serious burns.

Beginner15 minutes

First Aid & Safety

⚠ Specialist review needed

Bleeding Control

Recognize life-threatening external bleeding, call for help and maintain firm direct pressure.

Beginner15 minutes

First Aid & Safety

⚠ Specialist review needed

Sprains and Splints

Protect an injured limb, recognize possible fractures and learn splinting through assessed practice.

Beginner15 minutes

First Aid & Safety

⚠ Specialist review needed

Heat Illness

Stop heat exposure, recognize emergency changes in behaviour and begin cooling while help is called.

Beginner15 minutes

First Aid & Safety

⚠ Specialist review needed

Cold Injury

Recognize hypothermia and frostbite, protect the person from further cooling and arrange appropriate help.

Beginner15 minutes

First Aid & Safety

⚠ Specialist review needed

Choking Training

Learn the difference between an effective cough and severe choking, then practise age-specific care on training manikins.

Beginner1 hour

First Aid & Safety

⚠ Specialist review needed

Recovery Position and CPR

Distinguish an unresponsive person breathing normally from cardiac arrest and practise the appropriate response with an instructor.

Beginner1 hour

First Aid & Safety

⚠ Specialist review needed

Ticks Stings and Bites

Separate routine tick or insect care from anaphylaxis, animal bites and suspected venomous bites that need urgent help.

Beginner15 minutes

Fieldcraft

⚠ Specialist review needed

Lost Person: The First Hour

Rehearse the first decisions after losing the route: stop, establish facts, communicate and stay findable.

Beginner30 minutes

Fieldcraft

⚠ Specialist review needed

An Unexpected Night Outdoors

Build and inspect a carried shelter system in a supervised drill before depending on it for an unexpected night.

Beginner1 hour

Fieldcraft

⚠ Specialist review needed

Collecting Water in the Field

Separate source choice, dirty-water collection and treatment in a clean practice workflow.

Beginner1 hour

Fieldcraft

⚠ Specialist review needed

Ground Insulation and Emergency Bedding

Compare moisture protection and insulation beneath a resting person without deliberately becoming chilled.

Beginner1 hour

Fieldcraft

⚠ Specialist review needed

Trip Plans and Overdue Response

Give a trusted contact a usable itinerary and rehearse exactly what happens if a check-in is missed.

Beginner30 minutes

Fieldcraft

⚠ Specialist review needed

Practicing Rescue Signals

Practice access, contrast, light aiming and a location read-back without sending a false distress signal.

Beginner45 minutes