That is a funny story! I remember when I was around 7 we moved from Detriot to a small farming community . My Mother got 150 LegHorns when it was time to 'process' our flock, we managed to almost do 1 hen before my Mother called a processor!.
I do what you mean about gaining the knowledge and experience to be self sufficient. I make my own bath , laundry soap, softener, do as much 'urban gathering' as I can , I offer some of the processed produce to the owner of the tree in exchange for the fruit. Otherwise in my neighborhood it would rot on the tree..... My co-workers always comment on how crazy it is to go thru all that work when you can just buy it! I respond with " when civilization goes to crap, I'll have skills to trade" that always quiets them pretty quickly.