Welcome to Appalachian Country Living Magazine's June/July 2023 Issue

It’s about that time! Memorial Day! Fourth of July! Juneteenth! It’s everybody’s favorite time of year. No ice on the roads, pollen count down, fireworks, barbeques, and families getting together for the Summer season.

We’re all gearing up for the celebrations of the year that express our experiences here in America, but not just as Americans. We’re also celebrating the festivities that express our heritage east of the Mississippi River...

...and speaking of celebrations, preparing this publication and traveling through these mountains, through these forests and along these creeks has been suprisingly healthy and freeing.

This season is a time for reflecting on transformative experiences that leave us feeling energized and rejuvenated. The combination of travel, creativity, and natural beauty has opened up new avenues for exploration and growth.

Observing our eastern terrain makes everything alright. It reminds me to relax. These earth works we call the Appalachian Mountains didn’t develop overnight. These mounds were not built overnight. The cedar trees in our forests didn’t grow to become the tallest trees in the forest overnight.

These mountains have a strange way of pulling you in, don’t they? Majestic, grand, and inviting all at the same time. These things remind me that I’m working toward something bigger than the moment. It is something that will help every human, every animal, every plant in the Appalachian Mountains. That’s the perfect way to describe this journey in the race to preserve the culture, spread the history, and claim the beauty of the mountain range all the way up and down the map.

So, when you visit — anywhere in the Appalachian states — make sure you take full advantage of these mountains! ACLM

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Amethyst Bush El | contact@aclivingmagazine.com

PUBLISHER

Alice Sexton | Blue Ridge Media Group alice@blueridgemediagroup.com

HISTORY EDITOR

Leslie Barker Thomas | PresHist@etcmail.com

AD INQUIRIES

Ikelan Helms El | ads@aclivingmagazine.com

ALL INQUIRIES

Amethyst Bush El | contact@aclivingmagazine.com

LAYOUT/DESIGN

Amethyst Bush El | contact@aclivingmagazine.com

CHIEF OF SALES AND MARKETING WZDM Management Agency LLC

Ikelan Helms El | contact@wzdmatl.com

APPALACHIAN COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE PO Box 1250, Blue Ridge, GA 30513 706. 953. 3272 contact@aclivingmagazine.com www.aclivingmagazine.com Appalachian

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American copyright conventions. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Appalachian Country Living is printed in the United States of America. The articles contained in this magazine are works of journalism and do not represent the opinions or ideas of Appalachian County Living Magazine and the publisher assume no responsibility for the content of advertisements. While we welcome submissions, the magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Please do not send originals. The magazine is given away free by advertisers and at selected businesses in the region. A one year subscription is $20 per year for six issues. For renewals, new subscriptions, or any other correspondence, write to PO Box 1250 Blue Ridge, GA 30513.