Here's an item that we've had on the shelves for awhile now, but felt that it was long overdue to bring to the notice of those of our customers that may not be familiar with it.  Since the publication of its first issue in 1966, the Foxfire magazine series has become the definitive encyclopedia of Southern Appalachian life, spawning a series of books of the same name.  Originally published in 1972, this is the first book of the series.  The articles included are based on extensive interviews with locals from the Appalachian Mountains of Northern Georgia and provide a comprehensive portrait of centuries-old traditions.  The subjects include practical how-to's (woodworking, fruit and vegetable preservation, soapmaking), historical and cultural pieces (moonshining as a fine art, faith healing, folk tales), and general human interest in the form of numerous personal accounts of mountain life.  Gorgeous black and white photographs and hand-drawn diagrams illustrate the text, so simply skimming through the book is a pleasurable experience.  Taken as a whole, Foxfire reads as a meandering meditation on the virtues of simplicity and closeness with the natural world.  A valuable resource for both the connoisseur and the curious.  Learn more at www.foxfire.org.