Winter in Appalachia can be harsh, but the people of the region have developed unique survival hacks over generations. In this video, you'll be introduced to some of these time-tested techniques and learn how to stay warm and safe when the weather turns cold.
In Va I heated only with wood for twenty couple years. Ten of those years in the winter I cooked on a 1938 Home Comfort cook stove, gray metalic with overhead warmers. It was a thing of beauty. Only thing I made in the kitchen not on the stove was coffee. I want coffee quick in the morning. I cut and split my own wood. I always put mine up in the spring. Stacked it in the woodshed I built from cedar log off the land and let it season all summer. I did buy tin for the roof. Those were good days. As the man said aint nothing like food off a wood stove.
ReplyDeleteAs a small child, into the ages of 5,6, and 7 I’d stay with my MaMa Aaron some winters in Arley Al. Her old house place is now smack in the middle of town. She kept an old pot belly stove fired with wood and what coal She could get at the Wadsworth Supply store. I’d spend nights under 6 or 7 quilts the she sowed together from sacks of meal, any cloth she would trade for. LOL, the worst part of staying with her was having to go to the outhouse if you had to go. This was around 63 to 67. All she had for electricity was an old pull chain light. I have her old light bills from that time, the minimum was $1.50 and she never went over on her monthly bill. In the kitchen all she had was a hand pump for water. Simple times, my MaMa lived to be 92. Dippin that snuff every day, ole long dresses, long sleeve blouses and a straw hat, even in the heat of summer. Raised all her own food to, they’d try to put you in jail if you wanted to live like that again.
ReplyDeleteDipping snuff was more ladylike than smoking, according to my great aunt Hazel.
Deletebut take care and don't tip over Aunty's #10-can spit cup!
DeleteAlex, Sounds terrific. The hand pump you mentioned. I remember my grandma had one. A self primer! Before the self primer was put in you always had to keep a pan of water by the pump and pour it in the cup on top of the pump to prime it. I also remember the wax seals on all the jams or preserves as she called them. I could go on as I'm sure you could.
Deletewe got running water/indoor toilet when i was 6 yo in 1969. my great grandma refused to have it in her house next door, thought it was unsanitary to have a toilet in your house. she let us put a hand pump by the kitchen sink is all she'd allow. burned wood in an old boxwood stove, kept the sides cherry red hot even in summer. she lived to be 98.
DeleteRiverrider, reminds me of a story my friend told about his grandmother. She emphatically stated, "Ain't nobody gunna shit in my house!"
DeleteLiving off the grid is harder in civilized places. There are some places in the conus you can still do it but it is both harder and easier than some people can handle. My grand parents used to heat with coal. But had running water with electricity so things where good for them.
ReplyDelete