Wild Edibles & Medicinals of Southern Appalachia. Summer Series Video 1 ($24.00) is a summer excursion through the bounty of nature in one of the more exceptional International Biosphere Reserves in the world, the Great Smoky Mountains. Because of the unique growing conditions in the varying altitudes of North Carolina and Tennessee, the diversity of plant life that is found in the whole of the Appalachian Trail as it stretches from Georgia to Maine is contained in the Smokies.

Ila Hatter has, for many years, lived in the Southern Appalachians and has had the opportunity to study with the Cherokee Indians to understand how these early Native Americans prepared foods and used plants as medicine. While on nature walks, we are shown close-up views of wild edible plants and medicinal herbs so we can easily feel confident with plant identification. The herbs and plants of the Appalachian Mountains, together with selected wildflowers of the region, make for a highly informative video tape series. The beautiful scenery is enlivened with authentic nature sounds and a background of traditional Appalachian music.

The plants Ila talks about in this video are: Revolutionary Tea, Lamb's Quarters, Mullein, Monarda, Mountain Mint, Spearmint, Plantain, Purslane, Jewelweed, Yellowroot, Ginseng, Blackberry

Authentic background music provided by: Archivist, David Brose, John C. Campbell Folk School

Summer Series Video 1 also features Dr. James A. (Jim) Duke Phd., singing "Ginseng" from his CD Herbalbum.

Appalachian History Series
1241 Lower Stecoah Road
Robbinsville, NC 28771
telephone: 828.479-6960
EMail: info@AppalachianHistory.com