Foxfire 6: Shoe Making, 100 Toys and Games, Gourd Banjos and Song Bows, Wooden Locks, A Water-Powered Sawmill (Foxfire Series)

As described. They’re all interesting and easy read.

Honestly I don't spend a lot of time in the woods, or living a pure country life. I'd like to though. It's always good to have knowledge. It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

For those who liked Foxfire 3, which told of traditional instruments, this is a deeper look into the subject. There are detailed instructions on making gourd banjos in this one and I'm surprised just how advanced those instruments really are. There is discussion of traditional shoe making, which is an art I've never wanted to tackle, since traditionally pegged shoes don't do as well on concrete sidewalks as do modern shoes. I particularly liked the sections on the water powered sawmill and wooden locks as one of my grandfather was both a sawyer and made his own wooden locks for his tool shed and barn. But he'd worked on steam powered sawmills, a whole other world. This book also has a section on traditional toys. You'll see some of the same designs of wooden toys at craft shows for 'way too much money, but I remember my father and grandfathers making them for free. I guess I was 3 or 4 when my father made me a corn stalk fiddle, with rosin from pine trees. But many of the toys in the book are things I'd never seen before..

Great condition and a classic book. My mom was so happy to receive it!

Purchased this book as well as Foxfire 5 as a Christmas gift for my guy. He has the first 4 of the set and was wanting to add to it. So far, he is still reading them. I've looked at them and read some, they are interesting in that they represent how things were done in an earlier time by people who had no money but had resources and the imagination, knowledge and time to utilize them. We live on a farm and are attempting to become a self sustaining as possible and these do help understand what needs to be done and how to do it. There are also some pretty interesting stories about growing up in the first part of the 20th century.

This is such a great series, I can't wait until I own them all. But be warned, they are not cheap, they're not even inexpensive for what is out there on the horizon now about historical ways of living. If you can't afford, just do your research and you will find an equal to these books, I promise. Still, they are a treasure to own. Mrs. B.

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.

Good quality book and shipped fast!