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*This updated episode first aired on July 3, 2024*

Dog Days are upon us in Appalachia, stretching from July 3rd to August 11, but what does this 16th century phrase mean? Many of us in Appalachia have heard that dog days means avoiding swimming, touching bare feet to the morning dew, and taking care to avoid snakes. But why?

 Joining me in this episode is Shallon Payne of The Appalachian Homestead. For generations, her family has learned and passed on the  "old ways" of cultivating, foraging, hunting, and preserving their food. We'll talk about planting by the signs as well as some Dog Days folklore (and chilling superstitions), and what a dry or wet July can mean for the rest of the season.  

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Unless another artist is featured, acoustic music on most episodes: "Steam Train" written by Elizabeth Cotten and performed by Landon Spain