Mountaintop Removal Concerns, "Food Tourism," Nostalgic Rebirth and more

A young yoga skeptic finds interest in the exercises.

Kentucky farmers are testing the nutritional value of hay.

And a music camp carries on the tradition of ole time Appalachian music.

Residents concerned about environmental impact. After approval for a mountain top removal site near Kanawha State Forest, the safety of people living in the area are not the only red flag being raised. As Ashton Marra of West Virginia Public Radio reports, the possible effects on plant and animal life are drawing criticism.

Encouraging “Food Tourism”: It’s an increasingly popular type of attraction that the Appalachian region is giving a try. A new culinary map has been debuted that hopes to showcase the many food spots of the region. Roxy Todd reports on the unveiling in Charleston.

Ginseng as a revenue option: The plant brings millions of dollars annually into the region. But the future is far from certain.  At the 2014 Ginseng Summit, stakeholders discusses a possible future for the medicinal root. Glynis Board has the latest.

Taking Root: Oriental medicine is increasingly becoming a popular source for healing and preventing disease.  WVTF‘s Robbie Harris takes us to Floyd, Virginia, where a new project is under way to vitalize these herbs.

Nostalgic Rebirth: Back before website banners, television or radio commercials, there were murals. While a lot of these have faded over time, Coca-Cola is working to revitalize these faded memories. Jessica Lilly shows how these signs can have both strong marketing and sentimental value.

Discovering new activities: A summer program in Hinton gives children a chance to have fun while learning valuable life skills. Jared Kline showcases one youngster who has discovered a new hobby.

Band Camp for Old-Time Musicians. “Allegheny Echoes” is a workshop in Pocahontas County that provides a place to learn something new, even for experienced musicians. Dan Schultz of the Traveling 219 project produced this piece.