For the purposes of this exploration, we will use Sims and Stephens's definition of folklore, which reads: "Folklore is present in many kinds of informal communication, whether verbal (oral and written texts), customary (behaviors and rituals), or material (physical objects). It exists in the physical world and in virtual settings online. It involves values, traditions, and ways of thinking and behaving. It’s about art. It’s about people and the way people learn. It helps us learn who we are and how to derive meaning from the world around us" (2011, p. 2). Folklore traditions are widespread and are applicable across cultures, and Appalachia is no different. Appalachia is located along the Eastern United States, from lower New York to Northern Mississippi. The traditions of Appalachia have been formed as a direct result of the melting pot, with the original inhabitants the Cherokee nation and later, English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Dutch, German, and French immigrants moved to the area in the 1800s (Mary, 2023). Traditions are wide-ranging, with an emphasis on material and verbal folklore. Verbal folklores include the passing of traditions through story via knowledge bearers; the bearers are able to impart the knowledge between generations and those interested in keeping heirloom species alive as well as regionally specific gardening knowledge. Material folklore is largely seen through the plants and gardens themselves as well as written accounts.
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