The Foxfire 40th Anniversary Book: Faith, Family, and the Land [Paperback]

An anthology of Appalachian crafts, culture, and wisdom of simple living.

In 1966, an English teacher and students in Northeast Georgia founded a quarterly magazine, not only as a vehicle to learn the required English curriculum, but also to teach others about the customs, crafts, traditions, and lifestyle of their Appalachian culture. NamedFoxfireafter a local phosphorescent lichen, the magazine became one of the most beloved publications in American culture.

 For four decades,Foxfirehas brought the philosophy of simple living to readers, teaching creative self-sufficiency, home crafts, and the art of natural remedies, and preserving the stories of Appalachia. This anniversary edition brings us generations of voices and lessons about the three essential Appalachian values of faith, family, and the land. We listen to elders share their own memories of how things used to be, and to the new generations eager to preserve traditional values in a more complicated world. There are descriptions of old church services, of popular Appalachian games and pastimes, and of family recipes. Rich with memories and useful lessons, this is a fitting tribute to this inspiring and practical publication that has become a classic American institution.

The Foxfire Center brings together students and teachers to preserve the folk wisdom and values of simple living that reach back across centuries of life in the Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Georgia. The students and teachers publish a quarterly magazine and have written fourteen books over the years.

I advise you not to be carried away with the ways of the world. The Bible says, “Love God, and love your neighbor.” That’s the commandment that Jesus gave: Love God and love your neighbor. In order to do that, you’ve got to study the Bible a whole lot, and you’ve got to go to church and hear the Gospel preached. You’ve got to mix and mingleló2