Foxfire 3: Animal Care, Banjos and Dulcimers, Hide Tanning, Summer and Fall Wild Plant Foods, Butter Churns, Ginseng, and Still More Affairs of Plain Living

This series should be a national treasurer and shows the ingenuity of folks before imported food and mass produced future. Captures the spirit and successes of a nearly lost time.

These books were popular back in the 70s and I went hunting for the third volume because of an article on old Mountain banjos and how to build them. It was very helpful, but what I really enjoyed about the book were the very personal stories about the people of Appalachia. It's an added bonus. The articles are both how to pieces, and cultivate history of the region. Fun and interesting to read. My ancestors were from these mountains, too. The book gave me some insight on how they lived. Great read. And if I ever want to tan a groundhog hide , I know hoe to do it!😬

My son wanted the entire Foxfire collection so I purchased all of the books from Amazon. He has read all of the books now and while some of the volumes he said did not have much practical instructional information he still enjoyed reading them immensely if just for the story aspect. These books are great for anyone who loves to read about old-fashioned ways of living before modern conveniences were commonplace or for someone who wants to learn how many things were done before things were so readily available. These books would be great for anyone who is of the "survivalist" mindset or anyone who just wants to learn to be more self sufficient.

I've been a user of FoxFire books for many years. Now, I'm able to share with my grown children who have interests in proven solutions of the past. My son is in Idaho in the forest in a log cabin, and uses this book to find new (to him) solutions to old problems. A book that should be on everyone's shelf.

I got this book wanting to learn more about banjo building, but I learned so much more. It is not really a how to book. It's more about the people and their way of life. Every page is full of information and great stories. After reading this I think I'm gonna try my hand at huntin' some ginseng and maybe build a purple martin bird house out of some gourds to control the bugs in my backyard. If you are interested in the way life was before t.v. and cell phones ruined everything, you should definitely get this book.

We purchased Foxfire volumes 1-12 in a single purchase and are very pleased. If one is looking to learn skills from the "old school," then this series is a good one to purchase. Whether searching for how to build a log cabin the good, old-school way, learning how to make a natural bed of hay, stitching, or soap-making, this series will be valuable to you. The directions are good, and in many cases there are detailed photos or drawings that accompany the instructions being given. A good read. Worth the money if you are interested in learning many skills that are quickly being lost from generations past.

My decision to try the used option was bad. Book arrived separated from spine into five sections, however all pages were present and in good condition. Having had experience in book repairs I kept the book and enjoyed the reading.

The entire 12 volumn set of Foxfire books are a must read for any historian, survivalist, preper, educator, or just plain folks who want to know what life was like in the so called "Good ol' Days". Lots of useful information on how to live off the land. Appalacian life and country living as it was in the days of our parents and grand-parents. No library, public or private, should be without these wonderful books.

I had the original set, all 12. I believe there's now 14 but the set I had was lost in a fire. I'm starting the collection again and for anyone who hasn't read these books they are fantastic. I'm just getting ready to order the next 3. If I had the money, I'd get em all at once. But after a house fire, there's LOTS to replace! ✌

Being a 'Hobby Luthier' I had often seen reference to the Foxfire books and particularly Foxfire 3 but had not been able to find a copy until I tried Amazon. The book is the result of an American university lecturer's assignment to record country life and customs of the mountain people for posterity and was so successful it grew into a magazine and a series of books. I bought a used copy which came from the States but it was well worth the couple of weeks wait!! An excellent (and moving in parts) record of American backwoods life in the early years of the last century. The chapters and sketches on Banjo and Dulcimer building and builders are outstanding reference works and the other subjects covered by the book are equally full of interest - it is a book to cherish and dip into to enter a more simple yet satisfying life of the people who lived in the mountains and countryside of America.

The Foxfire series, which I first encountered when lent Foxfire 1 and 2 by a friend about 30 years ago, are just wonderful books. They are a fascinating mixture of interviews with older men and women with valuable skills and knowledge and also offering practical instructions on how to do all manner of crafts and food production from, in this volume, making musical instruments to plant lore. They are best suited to those with some understanding of making and doing as they do not always start at the beginning but, let's face it, these people often had to figure things out for themselves as they did not have all the resouces they might have wished for and had to work with what was available. Inspirational.

Excellent!

Tons of old techniques.