This week, we’re revisiting our episode “What Is Appalachia?” from December 2021. Appalachia connects mountainous parts of the South, the Midwest, the Rust belt and even the Northeast. The Appalachian Regional Commission defined the boundaries for Appalachia in 1965 with the creation of the Appalachian Regional Commision, a part of Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. It was legislation that sought to expand social welfare, and some localities were eager for the money, while others resisted the designation. The boundaries and definition of Appalachia can now only be changed by an act of Congress.
Home » Planting Seeds Of Change Inside Appalachia — Plus New Hosts!
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Planting Seeds Of Change Inside Appalachia — Plus New Hosts!
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We have exciting news. This week on Inside Appalachia, we’re introducing our two new co-hosts, Mason Adams and Caitlin Tan.
Most of the time, you’ll hear one host or the other. Special shows, like this one that serves as their debut, you’ll get both hosts at one time. Jessica Lilly will continue to report, so you’ll still hear her voice on Inside Appalachia.
Caitlin Tan has been reporting for the show for two years now. She has been the folkways reporter bringing you lots of really cool stories. Caitlin is originally from Wyoming and has reported from there and Alaska before joining West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Mason Adams joined the Inside Appalachia team in 2019 with the first group of our Folkways Corps reporters, and has produced several fantastic stories for the show in the past year and a half. Mason is a freelance journalist and goat farmer who lives in southwest Virginia.
It’s been quite a stressful couple of months for most of us. For this episode of Inside Appalachia, we wanted to slow down, take a breath, and talk about one of our favorite foods — cookies!
We’ll get some baking tips on a very special kind of cookie, made with local buckwheat and stone-ground flour.
Rachel Greene, one of our Folkways reporters, has been talking with bakers who make pies and cookies with flour that’s ground the old-fashioned way — at a stone mill. One of the bakers shared a recipe with Rachel for Buckwheat Chocolate Chip cookies.
A Tale Of Two Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes
There is a story about a special type of heirloom tomato, called the Mortgage Lifter. These tomatoes are big, pink and sweet. And they were so popular in southern West Virginia — sold at $1 a pop, no less — that they helped their creator pay off his mortgage.
A farmer named Radiator Charlie bred two tomato varieties in Logan Country, West Virginia and sold the plants at his local famer’s market to great success.
Except, that’s not the end of the story. There is another “mortgage lifter” tomato. Folkways reporter Zack Harold looked into how we ended up with different tomatoes with the same name.
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Healing For Families
Much of our national attention has been focused on the coronavirus pandemic in recent months, but the opioid crisis hasn’t gone away. During the pandemic, extra stressors have made it especially challenging for people who struggle with substance-use disorder. Emily Corio brings us the story of how several parents are trying to maintain sobriety to get their children back.
If you or someone in your life is struggling with substance-use disorder, and you want to find treatment, here’s a number to call- 1-800-662-4357.
Buzzing Insects Of Summer
This year, millions of cicadas emerged for their once-in-17-year mating season in Appalachia. They exploded out of the ground and produced an ear-splitting noise that drove locals inside their homes. The insects split out of their shells, leaving the older shell behind.
Caitlin Tan found a West Virginian who decided to turn those shells into art.
We had help producing Inside Appalachia this week from the West Virginia Folklife Program at the West Virginia Humanities Council.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Dinosaur Burps, Guy Clark, and Anna and Elizabeth.
Roxy Todd is our producer. Eric Douglas is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Andrea Billups. Kelley Libby edited our show this week. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode.
This week, we’re revisiting our episode “What Is Appalachia?” from December 2021. Appalachia connects mountainous parts of the South, the Midwest, the Rust belt and even the Northeast. The Appalachian Regional Commission defined the boundaries for Appalachia in 1965 with the creation of the Appalachian Regional Commision, a part of Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. It was legislation that sought to expand social welfare, and some localities were eager for the money, while others resisted the designation. The boundaries and definition of Appalachia can now only be changed by an act of Congress.
Another year's legislative session is now behind us, but news of a special session this spring means the West Virginia Legislature won’t be gone for long. In the meantime, we’ll dive into stories on education, including stories on a new study on special education and a group of West Virginia principals visiting the United States Capitol.
On this West Virginia Morning, Erika Howsare is the author of The Age of Deer: Trouble and Kinship with Our Wild Neighbors, a book that takes some of the mystery out of the white tail deer that have lived on the edge of humanity for a very long time.
On this West Virginia Morning, it was a shock when author, musician and West Virginia University professor Travis Stimeling died abruptly in November. They were 43. Folkways Reporter Zack Harold collected remembrances from colleagues, former students and friends. He shared them recently on Inside Appalachia.