“The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies.”
If you’re like me, watching the Ingalls Family in “Little House on the Prairie” inspires you to learn new skills. Even though most of us will never become homesteaders like Laura and her Pa and her Ma, we can adopt some of the hands-on arts that they made part of their everyday lives. Recapturing some of their pioneering spirits gives us a deeper appreciation for the simple things of life.
Cook From Scratch
As pioneers, the Ingalls cooked from scratch out of necessity. This homemade cooking and baking of affectionately-prepared meals connected them and brought them together. They worked together to cook, serve, and clean. They baked homemade bread, cakes, and pies; gathered fresh eggs, made bacon, preserves, and many other homestead staples.
Grow Food in the Garden
Gardening may appear to be about simply growing food for nourishment, but there are many lessons that can be garnered, especially in the case of Ingalls garden and Pa’s crop fields. The family learned faith, patience, perseverance, the value of hard work, and tenacity. The children cultivated the skills to help grow their own food, weed the garden, sell the vegetables and store some away for winter. They learned about the seasons in their garden and helped alongside Ma and Pa to grow good, healthful food for them to eat.
Explore the Outdoors
The Ingalls family were great adventurers. They went exploring in the wilderness, made long and sometimes challenging trips to find new land, and observed the value of the wild country daily. They lived closely in tune with the land, cared for it, cleared lands and forged a living from it. They also enjoyed some free time, with plenty of room to play outdoor games, being connected to nature and wildlife.
Care for Animals
The Ingalls family loved animals – Laura, especially. She loved her beloved dog, Jack, and the Little House on the Prairie books contain a great many charming tales of her fondness for Jack. In season 3, episode 8 of the TV series, entitled Fred, Laura decides that her family needs a goat. No one can forget the love Laura had for her horse Bunny, either. And although she was a family pet, she was also a fundamental part of the family being able to travel from place to place. Many of the animals the Ingalls cared for also provided them with nourishment, such as milk, butter, and beef. Today, many people still raise their own animals and livestock to provide food and other essentials for their families.
Sew Your Clothes
Ma made all of the clothes for the family. She lovingly stitched each piece by hand. We are a culture of consumerism nowadays and can learn a great deal about simplicity from this one act of the Ingalls family. The Ingalls family was self-reliant and made do with what they had on hand, mended clothing, and repurposed scraps into useful things like quilts. Nothing was wasted.
Go Fishing for Supper
During the pioneer era, food could be scarce and fishing was a major source of food. Pa taught his girls to fish and the whole family was able to contribute to their meals this way. They ate a lot of fresh fish and it helped them to be self-supporting.
Cook Over a Fire
There’s something cozy and meaningful about being able to cook your meal over an open fire. The Ingalls had to cook this way often until the later years when they got a cookstove. Ma was able to create nourishing meals no matter where they were – in a wide-open prairie or in their log cabin. Even today, people get satisfaction when they prepare a meal over a fire rather than using the modern appliances that our homes provide. The Ingalls did not have the luxury of central heat and air. So, they used a fire both to heat their home and to cook and prepare their meals. Aside from the practical applications of having a fire, it also made their small cabin cozy and comfortable.
Hang Clothes on a Line
Out of necessity, the Ingalls hung their clothes on the clothesline each day after washing them by hand. Today, while we have the modern technology of a dryer, many people still use a clothesline to dry their clothes. It not only saves the cost of electricity but also gives them a fresh airy scent. The Ingalls children helped their Ma with the laundry, and being outdoors made the chore more enjoyable.
Learn Woodworking
Pa learned how to do just about everything they needed to do. And if he didn’t know how to do something – he read books and learned through jumping right in and trying to do it. He learned how to be a wheelwright in the Christmas at Plum Creek episode to earn extra money to surprise Ma with a cookstove, he repaired an antique chair, and Pa always worked with wood to create things for the family. He hand-carved their wood mantle and carved CI + CI into it with love and care. He also built Carrie a cradle, Ma a carved headboard, Laura a saddle for her pony, and many more treasured gifts.
What are some of your favorite practical skills that you learned or were inspired to learn from Little House on the Prairie?
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I’m a 56 year old man and in these trying times I watch the series to destress. This world needs more simplicity. I don’t care about anyone’s politics or religion – ethnicity or sexual preference but we need simplicity in our lives again. This is what’s missing in the world.
I love Laura Ingalls Wilder, I wish she were still alive!!
I’ve been rewatching the show lately and wondered what the Cl + Cl carved into the fireplace mantle means. Does anyone know? Would love to know. Thanks in advance 😊
I believe it stands for Charles Ingalls & Caroline Ingalls!
It means, Caroline ingalls & Charles ingalls.
I grew up watching the show , and reading all of the books. My family did most of those things. We even made our own ice cream. Laundry is still my favorite chore because I get outside, and socialize with my friends and neighbors.My mom taught me to embroider, and quilt. We also had a vegetable garden.
I also learned to knit.
All that and embroider, knit,crochet. Learned all from Mom.
Between This Show and Walton’s Show
My All Time Favourite!!! Til this Day I Still watch these show’s even though I seen it thousands of times… Continue to til I’m Gone…I’m 56 years old
I feel the same way Cynthia. I love watching them more now than ever, you don’t see shows like this any more. Good shows with good values and a life lesson in each. I’m 55.
Love it
My girls and then my grandchildren grew up watching this show. Loved it.
I grew up on LHOTP, both the books & tv show (probably the best set of books my babysitter ever gave me). I gave my daughter her own set when she was in grade school. One of the things we were able to bond over, was using Ma’s receipt (we call it a recipe these days) to make bread & my daughter excels at it. In this age of ‘gotta have it now, gotta have it new’, it’s nice to take a step back & do like our forefathers. Far too many skills have been lost & it’s sad.
I’m 14 years old and LOVE Laura Ingalls. If she were still alive we would be the best of friends. Me and my family do all these things above. I love to embroider but my little sister is much better than I am. Me and my little sister took sewing lessons last summer and made Laura Ingalls dresses, we play Laura Ingalls all the time I’m always Laura and my sister is always Mary. If i was given the option to go back to the Laura Ingalls times I would do it in a heart beat.
I am 13 and feel the exact same way, although unluckily only me and my mum enjoy little house on the prairie, my brothers and sisters say it is boring.
You took the words right out of my mouth. I feel exactly the same way!
If Little House was part of school curriculum…The world would inevitably, in my opinion, be a better place. And our children would have survival skills, compassion and morals along w/ creativity.
I use a lot life time skills.i love little house on prairie..try make my life simple I do clothes by hand still cook homemade soups try store food during winter months I sew when I can I was raised in country so if I go without I make do..but love pioneer life
I’m a big fan of Laura Ingalls, I think knowing these skills helps us to be hard workers and knowing that Laura did them once encourages us to want to do them cause we are doing some of the things Laura did. And you never know you might find it to be rather fun.
One of biggest fans, watch everyone I can and age 80 1/2, like to relax watch it.
My 4th grade teacher read the entire Laura Ingalls Wilder series to us during the school year. I fell in love with the simplicity their life held and to this day have this aspect for my life, just to be outside by the water, taking a deep breath while observing the scents of the air, etc. Appreciating the simple aspects of life, and to embrace being content are important lessons to impress upon our children and grandchildren!
I read the series to my children and now I’m reading the series to my grandchildren, for the third time. Love it.
I love making homemade yogurt, granted it’s in my instant pot but it makes me feel closer to Laura knowing it’s from scratch without additives. I also like to cut my own hair, something I learned watching YouTube videos. Someday I would love to live off the grid. I’ve visited any such places as a child, before it was “cool.”
I so badly wanted to be Laura and totally identified with ma and pa as if they were my parents. I feel like they raised me. I can do wverything on the list above but don’t really like to sew but I can do it. My husband is a carpenter. Does that count? We run a farm and I preserve all our food and cook over fires and from scratch! Love this lifestyle! We all work…even rhe little children!
Surprised to see I know and use all of these skills except for woodworking. Many more skills were important, and would make great hobbies if not immediately useful, including candlemaking, soapmaking, playing an instrument, and foraging for wild vegetation.
I can’t wait for the “Little House” reruns to premiere on Cozi TV next month. It’s been nearly six months since I saw the Ingalls family and their friends in late 19th century Walnut Grove on the Hallmark Channel because I couldn’t afford to keep the cable on. I also grew up on that show, seeing the first run episodes on NBC every Monday night from 1979 (which was the start of Season 6 when Laura met Almanzo), to the two-hour movie finale in 1984.
I watch “Little House…” All the time and still enjoy all the re- runs. My kids grew up on that show!!
Considering the trash on TV these days I’m so grateful that we can still enjoy these episodes.
May they never end.
So true! Little House was my first peek at what a real family could be like!
Thank you!
Knitting!!! Mostly in the TV show, Ma crochets but she has been known to do the odd knitting as well. That was my inspiration to learn how to knit a couple of years ago. I love watching Little House on the Prairie! There are lots of things I’ve learned from that show and still learning!
Love, love, love Little House on the Prairie!!!! Even after all these years, just love to watch the show!!!! It doesn’t matter how many times you seen the episode that is on, you still love to watch it!!! I would rather have it on & be a repeat, instead of not being able to watch it at all!!!! Please, please keep a channel just for Little House on the Prairie!!! How great would that be to be able to watch Little House on the Prairie when ever you put the tv on!!! No matter what time of the day or night 24/7!!!! Please make this happen!!!!! Thank you so much
Im the biggest fan of LHOTP Deb is right please make a channel for it. Even though I already have all 9 Seasons and 4Movies. they need to put “The Little House Years” episode on DVD. Does anyone else seen that episode. Its from season 6 but not on the DVDs
Hope so, love them all, I am almost 80
All things to know and practice doing. Unfortunately, in our world today so many people with that “got to have it now!” mentality will not bother learn these things. But even if you know just a few of these skills, you’re better off if/when things dramatically change in your current environment. Put in the time and effort to learn these skills and you’ll have peace of mind even if you never need them.