Along with several other Floyd Countians, I met with Jinny a week or so back and told her I'd pass along her request for interviews. It's a very interesting topic and there are great sources out there among blog readers in the southern Appalachians. Give her a call if you are genuinely interested in helping out and have personal perspectives on this topic.
Back-to-the-Land Community Study
The Back-to-the-Land Community Study is an examination of the late 20th century back-to-the-land movement in southern and central Appalachia. It will document the recollections and experiences of current and former back-to-the-landers, their children, and other regional residents who observed the movement. The hope is that this project will shed light on what attracted back-to-the-landers to the region, what motivated them to live more agrarian lives, how they integrated into their local communities, and what influence they exerted on their local communities in terms of economic development, education, and environmental awareness.
The author of this study, Jinny Turman-Deal, is a doctoral student in history at West Virginia University. This project is intended to provide valuable first-hand information for her dissertation, which, she hopes, will someday be turned into a book. She has worked as a folklorist for a number of organizations throughout western North Carolina and considers recording people’s stories as one of her life’s passions.
If you are interested in participating in this project or would like more information, please feel free to contact Jinny at jturmand@wvu.edu. You may also reach her by phone at 828-320-8134.
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