Bushcraft
Bushcraft is a low-tech tech mod that can help you survive and gather resources, especially in the early game.
Drying Rack
The drying rack can turn leaves and saplings into fibers that can be crafted into string. It can also turn rotten flesh into leather, or even dry coral out if you really want to.
Hand Pump
It takes some time and effort, but the hand pump can be used to move water (or other fluids, be be careful with lava) into a cauldron, washer, crucible, or tank. If there's no tank in front of it, the hand pump will place the fluid source block in front
Washer
The washer can turn dirt into mud, powdered concrete into concrete, or cobblestone into gravel.
Flint
Adding new flint storage blocks and flint tools. Flint tools are almost as effective as iron tools, yet less durable than stone tools. Now you know what to do with all that flint. If you need more flint, just wash gravel in the washer.
Copper bells
You may not sleep well with all the noise, but if you put copper bells around your base you'll be able to hear when creepers are around.
Sap and Pitch
Sap collected from a spruce tree can be turned into pitch. Pitch can be used in place of coal to make torches and campfires. Pitch blocks can be used in redstone contraptions, and will not stick to honey or slime.
Fire and Ice
Crucibles can be used to melt cobblestone into lava and ice into water, or they can be used to cool lava into obsidian and water into ice.