Couple only has few days left to raise $10,000 in Kickstarter campaign to preserve Appalachian history

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

1

Here’s the word from loyal readers Beth and Doodle Chester of Asheville, regarding their Kickstarter campaign to save Appalachian history:

Hi Western North Carolina!

My husband and I have been residents of Asheville for several years, having been “born and raised” in Appalachia’s Northeast Georgia foothills.  We grew up on small, family farms – pigs, cows, gardens, home canning, smokehouses, handmade quilts, etc. – and we’re proud of our traditional, mountain heritage.

Though sometimes stereotyped and unfairly caricatured, most native Appalachians are strong, self-reliant people … some of whom still practice the traditional way of life of our ancestors.  They possess valuable knowledge, intriguing tales and a unique skill set – which many in our own generation, as their descendants, did not fully appreciate or master in our youth.   

We believe Appalachia’s remaining elders have particularly timely lessons to teach … comical tales to bring smiles to our faces; inspirational memories of neighbors helping neighbors in the midst of a depression and skills we might just decide to explore in our modern homes today.

To help us launch a movement to keep authentic Appalachia alive – while also creating a path to bring income to descendants who don’t want to leave the mountains where they were born – we have posted a Kickstarter project, titled Finding Appalachia.  We hope you’ll take a look at our project video to sample the flavor of our mission and hear the voices of our own inspiration.

We have two initial goals:  First, we’ll travel the back roads of Southern Appalachia, recording front-porch chats and how-to lessons with Appalachians, region wide – editing those recordings into an ongoing, video-based web series at FindingAppalachia.Com – together with articles and still photos.  

Second, in addition to webisodes featuring Appalachians’ tales & skills, a separate section will act as an online directory and market for crafters/mountain musicians/folk artists, etc.