Nothing rates with homemade... (from the Introduction)

{HISTORY}

Meet Jerry Mack Johnson, jack of all trades and master of them too. 

What happens when you live an adventurous life that takes you from military service in World War II to a traveling salesman job in the South to a script writing job in California to entrepreneurial stints selling an array of agricultural products around the US?  You become a man like bestselling, Pulitzer-Prize-nominated author Jerry Mack Johnson (1927-2001).

A good listener with an energetic spirit and a personable demeanor, Jerry met a lot of interesting people along the many paths of his diverse employment travels. With an interest in folklore, fun facts, and stories about old-fashioned, do-it-yourself ingenuity, while engaging with a wide assortment of people from all areas of the U.S., Jerry picked up a lot of handy information about life skills that were long forgotten in the mid-20th century. These practical, tried and true methods of homekeeping and cooking were the sorts of tidbits that inspired Jerry's fourth book Down Home Ways, first published in 1978. 

Including helpful tips covering all areas of homekeeping, Jerry's book includes projects for the Renaissance homeowner interested in the handmade way of life. From cooking to crafting, cleaning to organizing, decorating to building, Jerry shares the wisdom of earlier days for a new generation.  

Diverse topics on the how-to front include how to make a braided cloth rug, how to paint your house, how to tan hides, make paper, cure and split wood, make candles, make lanterns, make snowshoes make a collapsible fishing net, make fishing flies, make toys for kids, and make beauty products, balms and wellness aids for the whole family. 

Interesting recipes include Honey Mayonnaise, Southern Fried Corn, Onion Sourdough Bread, Chickpea Coffee, Unique Eggnog, Applejack, Zucchini Pickles, Spiced Crab Apples, Cracker Jacks, Tomato-Apple-Ginger Marmalade, Potato Beer, Graham Crackers, Country Dandelion Wine, Pumpkin Butter, Wassail Bowl, Peanut Butter Loaf, Hemlock Tea, and Cherry Brandy.

The cover of Down Home Ways was designed and illustrated by well-known New England artist, Eric Sloane (1905-1985), a fellow traveler, folklore collector, and appreciator of handcrafted rural lifestyles.

Packed full of interesting information, Jerry's book offers thoughtful insight into how tasks were once accomplished on the home and farm front. The simplicity of the materials used in these projects and the confidence garnered in making something yourself versus buying a ready-made product will appeal especially to homesteaders, self-sustainability seekers, and home cooks looking for unique country-inspired recipes from long ago. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• 1984 Edition published by Greenwich House, New York
• 240 pages
• Illustrated throughout with line drawings by A. Peschke
• Broken down into 19 chapters with the following titles... 1. Ways with Wood 2. Ways with Paint and Paper 3. Ways with Fibers and Fabric 4. Ways with Clay 5. Ways with Leather 6. Ways with Wax 7. Outdoor Gear 8. Playthings 9. Scents, Salts and Such 10. Spick-and-Span 11. One Thing and Another 12. From the Springhouse 13. Grains and Sprouts 14 Breads, bread Spreads, Pretzels and Crackers 15. Racoonberry Wine and Other Potables 16. Garden to Pantry Shelf 17. From the dry House 18. Meat, Fowl and Fish 19. Sweet Things 

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition, this book is clean and bright throughout with no spots, stains or notations. The dust jacket is in wonderful shape with just one tiny rip along the bottom edge on the front.  The inside flap of the dust jacket in back contains one wrinkle where a portion of the flap was folded over. The spine is tight and all pages are intact.

{SIZE}

Measures 9.25" inches (length) x 6.25" inches (width) x 1" inch (thickness) and weighs 1.4 lbs.