Why everyone should pick up an old-fashioned hobby

If you’ve been following our farm for any length of time, you know that we have a great appreciation for skills of the past.

At the risk of being labelled as outdated or off-the-grid crazy we stubbornly hold on to many work-intensive methods, True - these aren’t always the most efficient, or ‘tech-y’ ways of doing things, but we feel the benefits to our lifestyle far outweigh the trouble.

We believe absolutely anyone would benefit from putting down their phone and picking up their own old-fashioned hobby – whether it be knitting, gardening, hunting, foraging, baking bread, butchering, wine, cheese, or soap making - or even keeping your own livestock if that is possible where you live.

Let me share a few of our motivations.

Education

As there are fewer connections to food production, animals, and nature in most peoples lives, picking up your own old-fashioned skill re-connects you to these missing influences. Learning traditional hands-on skills open up a whole new realm you may not be aware of and can become a passionate learning adventure for you. And an added bonus - your kids can learn these skills along with you and have the opportunity to see the world in a new way.

Connection to Culture

Nothing compares to the experience of working on projects alongside your grandparents or carrying on skills that your ancestors perfected. We have learnt a wealth of skills from our grandparents on the subjects of farming, butchering, blanket making, and gardening. Carrying on the legacy gives us a feeling of belonging and connects us to our family. In our increasingly lonely ‘online’ world, I think connections to heritage and legacy have never been so important!

Therapy

Inefficient, slow-paced, hands-on work deliver amazing therapeutic benefit. Interestingly many studies are finding out what our ancestors knew intuitively was true - that spending time in nature, gardening, old fashioned playing, knitting, and working with animals all are good for our mental health.  

On our farm, butchering and sausage making days together with family, provide great relational connection. Preparing food from scratch and eating it together at the table nourishes everyone’s attachment void. Knitting after a long day is rhythmic relaxation. And weeding the garden or working on the field means slow-paced time thinking and reflecting. Never-mind spending time in fresh air and sunshine boosts everyone’s mood.

In our opinion, a slower life, filled to the brim with old-fashioned hands-on projects contain no comparison to the fast-paced, consumer driven, and screen filled lifestyles we’ve all gotten so used to. Start out with one hobby or skill, that may very likely progress to another, and we all know you won’t look back.