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Old classic on extreme country living. Mountain people have been parodied and mocked by highbrows for years; this book reveals useful information that can apply to living through times good and bad, written plainly and well. This first volume has a great deal of practical content; those from the rural south will recognize the ways of their elders in the many stories told here.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Well, first of all my grandparents raised me most of the time. Some of the peoples' picture reminders me of my grandpa and grandma. They use to lived on a house and I do not mean one that has electricity and running water. I was made of wood. Similar to a house-boat in one of Huckleberry Fin. My grandpa and them use to pick cotton, by the way we are white folks. The smokehouse, rabbit trap, chimmeys/fire place were the same that my grandparents used. There were certain medicines and others things that also used. When we killed hogs nothing was trown away, except the squeal. I remember as a child I helped churn butter, gather eegs, cut firewood. I could go on and on. The discription of the book is what decided me to buy it, because I and my grandparents and my mom, use to lived just like that. No, indoor water, no bathroom, no lights, only a kerosene lanters. I still have one than is still being used, when the electricity goes out. I was brought during those wonderful years and enjoyed live so much better. I those days we would sleep on the porches during the hot nights. Well it's passed my bed time. The reminds me of my grandparents and mom. I will teach my grandkids some of the things in the book. I feel very blessed to have been able to aquire this book. thank you, randy cottenRead full review
Using the Foxfire book and cross referancing it with The Farmers Almanac you can get accurate information on everything from when's a good date to have a surgical procedure, to transplanting outdoor plants (legal ones of course), down to a good day for getting your hair cut to good fishing days. I was very skeptical about this when I was young, but as I gre older, I watched my mother use it for referances and was ALWAYS right on the money. Now at the age of 52 I use the Foxfire book daily, I don't laugh at the ones that do use it. I recently had knee surgery and went by what days the book said would be perfect for having the surgery, and I was amazed as well was my Drs on how quickly I healed up. In a couple of days I'm having surgery on my left shoulder from injuries in a motorcycle wreck and it shoed Dec 13th would be the best time to have the surgery, so that's when my Dr scheduled it. Even my Dr and his staff have become believers in this book, that's why I purchased 2 of them, one for my sister and one for my Doctor and his staff. A few days ago my fishing buddy wanted to take the boat out and do some fishing, and I checked the book which showed it not being a good day for fishing, But we went anyway and did'nt even get that 1st bite. I tried to get him to wait till the next day but he would'nt. Well the next day he called mocking my prediction and said we'd go again that day. We went and caught more fish then we could keep in the boats livewell. And this book was the 1st one printed in 1972 and is the most accurate. Just remember to buy the new Farmers Almanac, go to whichever month you're in, go to the date, then across to the astrolical sign, then go to page 213 in the Foxfire book and see where the sign is at. The farther away from the body part the sign is, the better.Read full review
I have always wanted to read the Foxfire books series, but put off buying them until they had disappeard from the bookstore shelves. I am in my 80s and some of the material is about life as I knew it, but not always like the life in the Appalachian Mountain area. When life was hard and many things had to be made by hand, not everyone knew how. So certain ones became the expert in that craft and were the advisors or they came to do that job in exchange for money or goods or work. For instance, not everyone was skilled in shoeing horses, so someone in the area would come, or you took your horse or mule to him, for the job. The same with castrating hogs or calves, there was one or two men who were the experts and were called on for the job, most times also looking for the "signs" in the almanac to be sure it was the "right sign" before doing the castration. Lots of neighbors traded/exchanged work with each other since money was scarse. This kind of life was common among folks in the rural areas all across America and the Foxfire books described life as it was. From interviews and pictures, one can read and "live" the way it was. These books are "memories" of some things, and education of others. They should be part of educating todays people on how is was in the life of our ancestors.Read full review
I was very happy to receive the foxfire books and am enjoying reading them and learning some of the old ways. The only problem I have come across is that the printing in some parts of the books appears to have been done with not enough ink on the drums or blankets so there are faded sections or parts recipes missing, which is a bit of a disappointed since these books were not inexpensive.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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