The Foxfire Book: Hog Dressing, Log Cabin Building, Mountain Crafts and Foods, Planting by the Signs, Snake Lore, Hunting Tales, Faith Healing, Moonshining, and Other Affairs of Plain Living
by Eliot Wigginton
Foxfire (1)
On This Page
Description
Interviews and essays describe the way of life and crafts of pioneer America still surviving in the Appalachian region.Tags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
Member Reviews
This series is so much more than a “how to” guide for people interested in homesteading or living off-grid. There are, of course the very interesting and useful step-by-step instructions—log cabin building, chair and basket making, and chimney building are all featured in the first volume, complete with diagrams and pictures. There is useful lore that has been collected, such as the use for different types of wood and different recipes. These are, to someone looking to add to their homesteading skills, practical guides.
But there are another set of “affairs of plain living” included in the book. Some of them are downright impractical. For instance, many of the home remedies include the direct application of turpentine, kerosene show more or a mix of the two on to the body. And please don’t follow the snakebite remedies. These sorts of things are included because the Foxfire books are much more about rejoicing in a culture that was much maligned in the first half of the 20th century as a poverty-stricken backwater. This book can appeal to a wider audience outside of the off-grid community because of these other aspects of Appalachian life that are included. Descriptions in firsthand accounts of planting by the signs and faith healing give depth and life to the people interviewed. It can be difficult to read some of the interviews that are not “translated”; it takes a little time to get used to the accents, but I think that the choice of the editors to leave it in dialect makes the books better. The Foxfire books are unconsciously part of a movement to rediscover and celebrate the positives of the Appalachian region old way of life, and in this goal they are successful. show less
But there are another set of “affairs of plain living” included in the book. Some of them are downright impractical. For instance, many of the home remedies include the direct application of turpentine, kerosene show more or a mix of the two on to the body. And please don’t follow the snakebite remedies. These sorts of things are included because the Foxfire books are much more about rejoicing in a culture that was much maligned in the first half of the 20th century as a poverty-stricken backwater. This book can appeal to a wider audience outside of the off-grid community because of these other aspects of Appalachian life that are included. Descriptions in firsthand accounts of planting by the signs and faith healing give depth and life to the people interviewed. It can be difficult to read some of the interviews that are not “translated”; it takes a little time to get used to the accents, but I think that the choice of the editors to leave it in dialect makes the books better. The Foxfire books are unconsciously part of a movement to rediscover and celebrate the positives of the Appalachian region old way of life, and in this goal they are successful. show less
This was a reread for me but once I started I couldn't put it down. My Grandmother lived in Rabun Gap. This had me reminiscing about the less industrial days. So many skills are already lost. I'm so glad someone thought to capture what is left.
This was a reread for me but once I started I couldn't put it down. My Grandmother lived in Rabun Gap. This had me reminiscing about the less industrial days. So many skills are already lost. I'm so glad someone thought to capture what is left.
The book, and the other Foxfire books that follow, was created in the 1960s and 70s by high schoolers in Appalachia for a school magazine. They interview elders and learn techniques for building stills, making rush baskets, building houses, etc., that were then and still are in danger of being lost. Excellent and highly recommended, for survivalists, back-to-the-landers, cooks, and interested folks alike.
The log cabin building, basket weaving and animal skinning and cooking are fascinating but the home remedies are hilarious! Here's one for you....to cure a nose bleed place scissors, points up, on your neck LOL Yup, I can see when your getting stuck in the chin with scissor blades that you would draw so much blood that you wouldn't *notice* that your nose was bleeding!!!!!! LOOOOOOOOOOL
Great insight into old crafts and trades of easy times for humans
This volume, the original anthology, celebrates the home life and creative history of Appalachia, featuring sections on hog dressing, log cabin building, soap making, basket weaving, planting by the signs, preserving foods, making butter, snake lore, hunting tales, faith healing, and moonshining.
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Blue Pyramid 1,276 Best Books of All Time
1,248 works; 32 members
Author Information
30 Works 7,655 Members
Awards and Honors
Awards
Series
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Alternate titles
- The Foxfire Book: Hog Dressing, Log Cabin Building, Mountain Crafts and Foods, Planting by the Signs, Snake Lore, Hunting Tales, Faith Healing, Moonshining, and Other Affairs of Plain Living
- Original publication date
- 1972
- Important places
- Appalachia, USA; Rabun Gap, Georgia, USA
- Dedication
- This book is dedicated to the people of these mountains in the hope that, through it, some portion of their wisdom, ingenuity and individuality will remain long after them to touch us all.
- First words
- Far back in the neighboring mountains, alone in a log cabin with no running water and only a single fireplace for heat, lives an elderly woman.
- Quotations
- Since the days of excise, moonshiners have been forced to hide their stills.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)You could live t'see it.
- Disambiguation notice
- This is for the first book in the Foxfire Series, commonly called 'The Foxfire Book'. Do not combine with series, box sets, or other books in the series.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Anthropology, General Nonfiction, History
- DDC/MDS
- 975.8123 — History & geography History of North America Southeastern United States (South Atlantic states) Georgia Northeast Georgia
- LCC
- F291.2 .F6 — Local History of the United States, Canada and Latin America United States local history Georgia
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 2,385
- Popularity
- 8,152
- Reviews
- 13
- Rating
- (4.11)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 13