Before the Industrial Revolution and even for decades after that, homesteading wasn't just a small trend among a sliver of Americans. It was how everyone lived. They had to provide for all of their own needs, and if you could not provide for yourself, you likely didn't make it through the winter. It was as simple as that.

For a short list of the top skill, they would have needed — and you will need these skills if you plan on living this way — take a look at the list below.

1. Canning all your garden produce.
2. How to compost.
3. How to bake bread.
4. Make homemade remedies for naturally treating ailments.
5. Make homemade laundry detergent.
6. How to make cheese from scratch.
7. Grow plants in your climate.
8. Know how to save seeds for future harvests.
9. Know first aid and CPR.
10. Learn how to tie various knots.
11. Learn how to forage for wild herbal plants that can be used as medicine.
12. Know how to properly handle, shoot, and clean a gun.
13. Know basic mechanic skills so you can fix your tractors and other vehicles.
14. Know how to hunt wild game.
15. Use a smokehouse to smoke and cure meat.
16. Know how to milk a cow and goat.
17. Learn how to fish.
18. Know how to clean and cook fish.
19. Make your own candles.
20. Learn how to sew clothing.
21. Learn how to wash clothes without using a washing machine.
22. Learn how to bake without any power.
23. Know how to humanely kill, gut and clean an animal.
24. Know how to properly kill and pluck a chicken.
25. Learn how to make homemade cleaning supplies.
26. Know how to knit, quilt, or crochet.
27. Make your own greenhouse.
28. Grind your own wheat for baking.
29. Prepare your homestead for wildfire.
30. Prepare your homestead for tornadoes.
31. Prepare your homestead for blizzards.
32. Wax cheese for long term storage.
33. Make your own dog food.
34. Know how to properly cut down a tree.
35. Know how to propagate plants through root cuttings.
36. Learn how to assist with foaling, kidding, lambing and calving.
37. Learn how to keep bees and harvest honey.
38. Know how to purify water in different ways.
39. Learn basic carpentry skills.
40. Learn how sharpen a knife, ax and other cutting tools.
41. Make meat stock from scratch.
42. Make your own vinegar.
43. Learn the importance of Gray Water.
44. Learn how to pasteurize milk.
45. Learn how to read the weather.
46. Learn how to forage for wild edibles in your area.
47. Make your own yogurt and butter.
48. Learn how to handle eggs and tell if they are fertilized or not.
49. Know how to properly tan a hide.
50. How to Make Your Own Soap

While you may think that gardening and raising livestock will be your most useful skill when homesteading, in reality, #29-#31 will be your greatest skills. Having a successful homestead will mean nothing if the entire place goes up in flame with a wildfire or you lose half of your livestock to a tornado.

No matter how traditional you want your homestead to be, make sure you at least have a weather radio and a way to keep it powered all the time. Staying on top of threats to your way of life is the greatest way you can successfully maintain your homestead.

There are a lot more skills that will no doubt come in handy to the homesteader. For a complete list, visit DIY Ready.