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. Named Foxfire after a local phosphorescent lichen, the magazine became one of the most beloved publications in American culture. For four decades, Foxfire has 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. Foxfire, the eerie phosphorescent glow emitted by decaying logs in dark woods, struck the Georgia high-school students charged with starting a magazine in 1966 as the ideal symbol of the bright but slowly fading traditions of Appalachia. What began with a small group of teenagers interviewing "local old timers" evolved into a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Appalachian folklore and knowledge, and the renowned series of Foxfire books, each a collection of wisdom both practical and spiritual. To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of this influential cultural movement, Foxfire editors have assembled a treasury of stories, ruminations, advice, natural remedies (for asthma, "swallow a handful of spider webs rolled into a ball"), and recipes (potato candy)--the life lessons of men and women of few possessions but a wealth of know-how, faith, and humor. These self-sufficient folks have lived intimately with nature, finding grace in even the harshest of circumstances, and cultivating dedication to hard work, good times, and, most of all, each other. As Anna Howard says, "Kindness and love is th' main thing." Donna Seaman Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved 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 mingle with Christian people, and you’ve got to worship your Maker. We were put here for a purpose. This world was made for man’s enjoyment—for man’s use. Man was put in charge of the world and everything that’s in it. We don’t realize it, but the Spirit of the Lord is present at any time. You can call on It any time. If you call on It in faith, you’ll get an answer. —Esco Pitts So-called modern folks have faith. We have faith in the sun: When we awaken in the morning, the sun’s rays will be warming the earth. We have faith in gravity: We can step with assurance, for we do not believe we will float away into space. We even have faith that the chair over which we are hovering will hold us if we sit in it. Some have faith in the almighty dollar, in other people, in science. Others even have faith in faith. This faith, however, is not the “faith of our fathers, living still.” Why do so many people in our crowded, modern, technologically advanced world today feel isolated and alienated, depressed, empty, and afraid? Our world seems full of danger: The “nice” man next door is a child molester, robbers and rapists break into our homes, terrorists attack our homeland. The news media reports random acts of violence; the film industry depicts catastrophic forces threatening the very existence of Earth and its inhabitants: Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, War of the Worlds, and so many others. Nuclear weapons, toxic waste, and global warming threaten our habitat. The future looks bleak. Robert Burns wrote about man’s perspective in his poem “To a Mouse”: “And forward though I cannot see, I guess and fear.” Many are indeed fearful of what tomorrow holds for mankind. In the midst of such seeming chaos, many in society today search for some meaning and purpose for their lives. They wonder if the quest for meaning and purpose is realizable. Viktor Fra