What Does It Mean To Be An Appalachian ?

Appalachia has been considered a specific location on our map although there is differing opinion of even that statement.  It was interesting to me to find that this particular mountain range flows down from as far north as southern New York to northern Mississippi and iinvolves some 13 states in our country.  It was origianlly created during the Ordovician Period roughly 480 million years ago.  This range is a continuance of what is known as the Caledonides of Ireland and Scotland. Thus many of us are a Scots and Irish mix with some German folks too.  Even our Blue Grass music heritage can be considered a flow down from Scots and Irish roots in sound.  Some folks around these parts don't think too much about too many generations back on a day to day basis.  They just know they have roots and good ones at that.  Others are very interested in just why we are as unique as we are and are interested in finding out the whys and the hows to continue the Appalachian traditions.  This goes along with my desire to continue in the "old ways" .  I love the "old ways" and I think that our great country needs to go back to their "old ways".  Not just our ways in the southeast Tennessee area but those ways that help form our exsistance in many corners of this great land we live in.  I find myself reflecting on many things that my father and mother spoke about and how living in the country was such a grounding experience in their lives.  Let us take a look back to see just what our lives are formed from!

The goal of so many at this time is to be self sustaining so that no matter what comes their way they can still survive and do that well.  A good example of this can be taken from the great crash of 1929 when  much of everyday life was affected by job loss, assets loss, and even food availability.  I have heard several accounts of that time when folks in these parts never knew anything had crashed.  They still had their livestock  chores to accomplish as well as tending to the garden which included canning and drying, helping with the wash and whatever they were told better be gittin done around the farm.  Pocket money was scarce and no one else had any either much.  People didn't go to town often if there was a town that is.  Clothes were handmade and handed down.  Boots might be an annual purchase but were needed on the farm for sure.  There was no shortage of things to keep folks busy when firewood kept them warm and chickens didn't come in nice clear plastic wrap.  There was a plan and a schedule for all of life's needs and many of life's enjoyments after all.  The people of Appalachia just kept on working, kept on going, kept on.

This is why many are turning to these mountains and the folk therein to find out just how to live and live well in troublesome times.  I will be thinking about such trails as we go along.   Later Sweet Taters   Blondie