Winner of a regional Emmy Award and two Telly Awards!
Bridging the past to present, we celebrate the rich culture and history of Virginia's Appalachia by seeing how treasured traditions are kept alive and are thriving today.
This series takes you on a journey exploring the multitude of Appalachian traditions.
Stream them on ECHO and PBS Video
Mondays 7:30pm
COMING UP:
June 2 - Biscuits & Cornbread
What is Appalachia without some biscuits and cornbread?! We talk with historian and expert, Leni Sorenson, all about cornbread and its roots in Appalachian culture. We also visit a couple of restaurants in SWVA to see their success with biscuits and cornbread.
June 9 & 16 - Farming
In this episode, we explore the rich agricultural traditions of Virginia’s Appalachia. We visit Scott Barrett at Riner Ridge Farm and Hethwood Market to see modern farming in action, chat with the mother-daughter team behind Stormbrew Farm about the power of family and resilience in farming and sit down with Dixie Dalton at her family’s tobacco farm to uncover the deep-rooted history of agriculture in the region. From past to present, this episode celebrates the people and stories that keep Appalachian farming alive.
June 23 & 30 - Flatfooting
Lace up your dancing shoes because in this episode of Life in Virginia's Appalachia, we head to the iconic Floyd Country Store to experience the energy and tradition of flatfooting up close! We sit down with Becky Hill, a professional flatfooter and passionate advocate for Appalachian dance traditions. Becky shares the roots, rhythms, and stories behind flatfooting, and even gives us a demo you won’t want to miss. We're also joined by Jason and Gina Dilg, a talented duo who bring Appalachian music to life with every performance. They share how music and dance connect communities across the region and beyond. We also visit the Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax Virginia to witness their flatfooting competition. Come along as we dive into the heart of Appalachian culture through music, movement, and conversation.
THANK YOU TO OUR SEASON TWO PROGRAM SPONSOR!
Season One Epsiodes:
101 - Moonshine
We explore Franklin County, Moonshine capital of the world, to get a better look at the history of white liquor. We travel the backroads with Henry Lee Law, Roddy Moore and Bethany Worley as they share their expertise and stories of the past and the economic outlook for this now legal favorite of Virginia’s Appalachia.
102 - Food
Appalachian cuisine is a great cultivation of different cultures; so, we travel to Bristol, Abingdon, Cedar Bluff and Castlewood Virginia to get a taste for what’s cooking in Virginia’s Appalachia. From food trucks, a BBQ joint, fine dining, and Grandmas kitchen – we cover it all.
103 - Logging
We spend time with Jason Rutledge at Ridgewind Suffolk Farm in Floyd County, Virginia to dig deep into the old practice of logging with horses. We also learn about restorative forestry and bridge past to present with a visit to a logging mill.
104 - Quilting
You might have a cherished one on your bed or know someone who’s made one or maybe made one yourself- it’s all about quilting as we visit quilting bees, meetings, shows, and talk with a quilt historian along with other local quilters about the art of quilt making.
105 - Canning
Canning has been and continues to be an important part of living in Appalachia, either in the home or now industrialized. Join us on a visit to local canneries to learn about the history and see the way the time-honored tradition is thriving today.
106 - Hunting & Fishing
Hunting and fishing have always been a big part in Appalachian culture. We learn more about the history of hunting in SWVA, along with going on a coon hunt in Boones Mill, a turkey hunt out in Wytheville, fishing a creek in the same area, and learning more about how Elk were re-introduced to Southwest Virginia.