Last year, I posted this tweet: “Appalachian folks: I’m hunting for some @InAppalachia story ideas. What’s something your momaw made that’s unique to where you’re from?” It got dozens of replies, a large number of which mentioned pinto beans and cornbread. I found that strange because beans and cornbread are the […]

In a quiet neighborhood in southeast Ohio, Talcon Quinn and her 12-year-old apprentice Juniper Ballew have revived an age-old tradition with just three ingredients: a deer skin, some water and a handful of animal brains. They have transformed a hairy, fleshy animal skin into buckskin, a buttery soft material stronger […]

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have been making baskets for centuries. While it is an old artform, basket makers are resilient — adapting to changes not only in their craft, but their traditions too. From imagining new designs to dealing with hard-to-come-by materials, basket makers are dedicated to keeping their craft […]