Old-Time & Bluegrass Music of the Southern Mountains

Rural Americans have always loved a good tune played on a banjo, a fiddle, a mandolin or a guitar. Here are the very songs and square dance tunes that have moved rural Americans to tap their feet and make their voices ring. Many of these old melodies conjure up images of a simpler America where a good tune, a good tale and a good laugh were all it took to be entertained.

Here is a veritable rodeo of the songs, tales, lies, jokes and slang of the fearless and sometimes reckless men and women of the Old West. The books are packed with authentic music and colorful folklore of cowboys and outlaws and include insults, lingo and cowboy wisdom. The recordings take you to a cowboy campfire where the smell of coffee and the taste of beans make you wish you were in some saloon or dance hall in some far off western town. Instruments include banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass, mandolin, harmonica, washboard, spoons, jews harp and dobro.

Wayne Erbsen's books are your gateway to learn traditional old-time Appalachian and bluegrass music. After teaching for 40 years, Wayne has has figured out how to make things simple, so struggling beginners can learn to play clawhammer banjo, bluegrass banjo, old-time fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer and guitar.

"Thanks for helping those of us who love old-time music but have absolutely NO musical talent whatsoever!" --Greg Sheppard

"Your books literally opened the door for me. They are simply the best out there." --Matt Edwards

"I must admit that I was a bit skeptical when you guaranteed that you could teach anyone to play the fiddle, especially me, but dang if you didn't!  --Mike Evans

"On behalf of all the closet pickers like myself , thanks for all your instruction and historical materials." --Noreen Long

"Your books are just so easy to follow. I just can't tell how much they inspire me." --C. Vann

These Civil War ballads and songs will take you into the hearts and souls of both Confederate and Union soldiers. In these recordings, you'll hear authentic renditions of Civil War music that will make you smell the gunpowder and feel the homesickness of soldiers on the eve of battle. Historical instruments include minstrel banjo, 5-string banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bones, spoons, Jew's harp, drum, harmonica, tambourine, accordion, washboard, mouth bow, hambone and feet!

19th & Early 20th Century Cooking, Historic Recipes and Folklore

For information on Barbara Swell's cooking classes, click HERE!

Step into Barbara Swell's kitchen as she dishes up delicacies from times past. Her ever-popular cookbooks are packed with historic old-time recipes and cooking methods, kitchen proverbs, folk remedies, romantic advice, autograph rhymes, food insults, table manners, vintage photos, and even a cup full of homegrown humor. Barbara's books make GREAT gifts!

"Your books sell like homemade pies." --Fort Walla Walla Museum

"Dont cha just love Barbara Swell cookbooks?? Honey, they are the best. I just love reading about all of the old time recipes and kitchen lore she includes in each one." --A Fan.

"Thanks for writing such great books that bring delightful memories to ALL of us." --Sandra Wood, Life Enrichment Director

"After reading Barbara's books I feel like she's been a friend of the family for years. Thanks for keeping these traditions alive"  -via email

"I love these books and I'm so glad I got them." --Brandi Varness

"Thank you for putting into print what has been in my heart for so long." With great admiration, --Kathleen Druger

Listening to Wayne Erbsen's recordings of authentic railroad songs and reading his railroad books will make you relive the moment you saw your first train. With Wayne as the engineer, you'll practically feel the ground shake as the air fills with the sounds and smells of a passing locomotive. The railroad music recordings feature banjo, fiddle, mandolin, National Steel guitar, harmonica, dobro, piano and bass. The books are jammed with the complete lyrics to authentic railroad tunes, and the melody line to numerous songs plus entertaining railroad superstitions, weird laws, tall tales, trivia, slang and more!

If you're ever lost deep in an alligator swamp, a desert or a mountaintop, Doug Elliott is the man you want to guide you safely out. If you can't find Doug himself, his recordings and books about nature are the next best thing! With Ranger Doug Elliott as your trusty naturalist guide, take a wild adventure into the swamps, fields, woodlands, mountains and to the sea shore. Discover the songs, stories, myths, histories and tall tales of every imaginable critter. The recordings of animal stories, lore and tales feature harmonica, banjo, guitar, fiddle, trombones, bass, buckets, bells, bottles, cans, drums and rattlesnake rattles, plus many authentic recordings of birds, alligators, owls and frogs. Click HERE for a pdf of a heart-felt testimonial from a 6 year old fan of Doug.

Open your heart and soul to Native Ground's books and  recordings of your favorite gospel songs and Christmas carols. Our recordings feature old-time and bluegrass banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, hammered and lap dulcimer and bass (not all at once!)