Inside Appalachia Folkways Project

A Traditional Japanese Garden In Virginia Tethers A Family Story To The Land

Elk Creek, Virginia, is a small, unincorporated community located in Grayson County, about a half hour from the North Carolina border. Many people in Elk Creek have deep ties to their land, and for one family taking care of their land and honoring their ancestors meant creating a traditional Japanese Shinto Garden. From Elk Creek, Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us the story.

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Open Door Café Supports, Destigmatizes Unhoused Community

At Open Door Café in Wytheville, Virginia, gardening is a way to feed the hungry while breaking down the stigma of homelessness. Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch visited Open Door Café and spoke with the volunteers.

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Roadside Farmstand Gets An Upgrade

Roadside farmstands with fresh eggs or tomatoes are a common sight in Appalachia. They can be a way for people, especially rural women with kids at home, to support themselves economically. They often work on the honor system; there’s nobody there. But the humble farm stand is changing to keep up with an increasingly cash-free society. Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch recently visited a stand in Wythe County, Virginia.

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Virginia Playwright Brought 'Jack Tales' To Hundreds Of Thousands

Rex Stephenson, a theater professor at Ferrum College at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, has died at the age of 81. He was best known for telling Jack Tales, in performances that mixed drama, humor, and musical performances to entertain and engage their audiences.

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