March 2015

Spring Cleaning — Then and Now

Ray Access — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 17:06:11 +0000

No matter how easy it may have become, its origins grew out of concern for the family’s health and well-being. Back in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Appalachian families kept their log cabins and brick abodes locked up tight during the winter to keep out the elements. Homes were heated primarily with wood stoves, fireplaces and potbelly ovens. Oil lamps and candles chased shadows from the corners of every room, providing light for the long nights of winter.

Appalachian Llamas & Alpacas

Ray Access — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 17:07:33 +0000

They came from the Andes to conquer the Appalachians. It’s no surprise that you can find llamas and alpacas in the Appalachians. These are mountain animals, after all, accustomed to cold weather and rugged conditions. Both species originated in the high mountainous plains of South America: in Chile, Bolivia and Peru. Domesticated by the Incas, they have been bred for gentleness.

Appalachia Adventures: Take part in a Southern tradition

Ray Access — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 17:05:51 +0000

If you have ever wanted to hunt quail, grouse, deer, wild boar or even black bear, find your way to the mountains of eastern Tennessee. If you’re an experienced hunter looking for new challenges, Appalachia Adventures is for you.

Tennessee's 2015 Shamrock City Festival

Becky Rogers — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 17:04:57 +0000

The Irish were among the first settlers of Central Appalachia; celebrate their culture! Rock City — just outside Chattanooga, Tennessee — is a fun place to visit any time of the year. It features natural rock formations, gardens, a waterfall, animal shows, exhibits, and panoramic views from on top of Lookout Mountain.

Sow True Seeds

Becky Rogers — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 17:04:10 +0000

Farmers going back to the future for natural planting techniques.

Some Seedy History

Agriculture in the early American reaches of Appalachia kept families alive. They grew what they could, hunted when they could and gathered whatever they could find. No matter what they planted — tomatoes, corn, beans or beets — they always saved some seeds for replanting the following year. It was the only way to maintain a crop year after year.

Nothing Like an Arsh Potato to Fill Your Belly

Ray Access — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 17:03:50 +0000

“Arsh potatoes” is what you might hear an old-timer in the Appalachians refer to when talking about Irish, or white, potatoes. Arsh potatoes are different from sweet potatoes, which also are quite fondly eaten in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Roots of Ancestry

Copper River Grill: Potatoes on the Menu!

Ray Access — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 17:02:08 +0000

Copper River Grill is fast becoming a staple on the restaurant scene running all over the mountains of northwestern South Carolina. Founded in 2005 in Seneca, SC, the eatery pegs itself as the “Last Frontier.” They use only super high-quality ingredients and provide a causal atmosphere and a menu with pretty reasonable prices.

2015 Easter Egg Hunt Round-Up

Becky Rogers — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 17:01:09 +0000

Easter activities are beginning to show up on area calendars as the snow in the higher elevations melts and the spring clothes come out of the attic. Easter is a special time of year for Christians who honor the resurrection of Jesus as a signal of new life.

Americans of all religious leanings enjoy the holiday as a sign of new growth, budding opportunities and renewal. Children like Easter for the mythical bunny who brings them baskets of chocolate and painted Easter eggs. In the Easter tradition, adults hide colored eggs for children to hunt down.

The Wildflowers of Spring

Becky Rogers — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 02:44:28 +0000

Whether you plant them yourself or not, the wildflowers of the Appalachians give visitors and natives alike a glorious beckoning of warmer, brighter days to come. Enjoy viewing these buds as they bloom around the mountains in the earliest parts of spring:

Bloodroot

Attain the Perfect Yard with Naturescapes

Ray Access — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 20:20:13 +0000

Attain the Perfect Yard with Naturescapes

A new way to look at an old problem.

Mystery at the Mark Addy

Becky Rogers — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 20:16:14 +0000

Fun and excitement in a cultured setting This warmly accommodating homestead offers rest and refuge to travelers or a merry place for friends to rendezvous for a weekend. But it is also an exciting destination in its own right. Its many perks and special events have made the Mark Addy an unusually exciting place to lodge. Drawing on a rich tradition of hospitality that has been refined over generations, the inn goes several steps beyond simply elegant rooming.

Sharp As Ever

Becky Rogers — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 19:44:49 +0000

Beth Lebhar: Needlepointing’s champion shares her passion.