I think that with the direction we seem to be heading in now, these skills could once again prove to be very useful.

I sure miss those neighbor helping neighbor days..things sure have changed. Thanks Donnie, love the Appalachians

I remember our little community store , mama always paid our bill at the end of the month . I remember daddy ceiling a deal with a handshake, and neighbors watched out for each other. Those days may be in our past but not forgotten because of you and your videos. Thank you Donnie for keeping memories like these alive. May God bless you and your family.

This is the best channel on KZfaq. Donnie could talk about practically anything and I'd listen!! He has the most comforting voice to me.❤

If only we could go back home!!! But we can't so at least we have the memories of Growing up like this in the Country in our Younger Days! I Miss Those GOOD OL' DAYS!!!! God bless you Donnie and your Family!

That's the way I was raised.when told someone something u stuck to it and if something did come up to where u couldn't do it u go to him and tell him.people needs to get back on the old path.Thanks Donnie for the videos.God Bless

Great job taking us back in time. There was a lot of love for each other to back in those days. I was born in 1971 and just know I was once in those mountains in an earlier life. It’s so familiar to me in my heart. Cheers !

Thank you brother Donnie for sharing these precious pictures and stories! I wish our young people could experience some of this life. They don’t understand the difference between a need and a want. God bless and thank you! ✝️

Thank you once again for the memories, brother Donnie! As a sharecropper's son, these memories are so familiar, and they are definitely sweet memories. ❤ I long for those days when a man's word meant far more than a signature on a piece of paper, and that remains true for me today. My word is my bond, and I'll walk through fire, if need be, to make sure I keep my word, just like my daddy before me. Thanks again, brother, and I wish you and yours Shabbat Shalom and the richest of G-d's blessings! Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem, brother!

Thank you for sharing this Mr Donnie ❤ It was a hard, simple, but beautiful way of life back then. That was before it was decided to take God out of everything. When the light is kept out, only darkness exists. This world needs to get back into the light. God bless you ❤

My Grandpa traded a lot when he was younger and raising his family. Grandma used to say, he made better trading than trying to work a job. A lot of people in our region,in those days often raised Caine to make sorghum and robbed Bee Trees for sweetener.

Morning my friend. It's sad how this is disappearing

My grandmother told me about her childhood, but it was in Michigan..up north from here. Yes, trading for services and what ever still goes on today. Thank you Donnie. God Bless!

Oh I loved this Donnie ! Bring back those times indeed. A simple happy life even thru all the hardships Thank you for sharing!🐿

Another fine story Mr.Donnie that is so true. I remember my great grampaw remarking on these things many times.I know my great grandmother made fresh butter in wooden molds and churned butter because she let me help her with that and with her eggs. Grampaw made molasses too. It's hard to remember exactly what all they did tell me about. See you on the next one until then God Bless.

Very interesting, Donnie... I get the feeling we'll be doing some of this trading soon enough. God Bless you 😊💕

This really hits home about why the small communities in my neck of the woods are 8 to 10 miles apart.

Thank you Donnie what a great video. I wish there was a time machine. It was hard in those times but it seemed people were more grateful and appreciative. You are the best Donnie! Keeping history alive. Blessings to you and your family. 🙏🏼🌟🥰🕊️

I'm now 68. Grandaddy Morgan told it that his family only needed salt and sugar from the store. The rest they raised or swapped for. His big job was driving the cattle off the mtn to the cove come summertime and driving them back come fall. He said he had to walk that whole distance (there & back) by himself cause the only other boy in the family, Uncle Glenn, was too puny.

Good morning friend 😊 I love the simpler times thank you for bringing us this piece of history. My neighbors and I barter for veggies and eggs.. during the past few years eggs were expensive so my older neighbor gave me a basket of veggies for 2 dozen eggs not the same but it was a good deal.

I always enjoy your videos. I seriously think these days of community are going to come back much sooner than anyone could imagine.

Modern technology has it's uses but there's things that were done in "the old days" that should Never have been discarded. God bless you All and I hope that you can keep making these videos Donnie ! 👍🏻 Today a handshake isn't worth what it once has. My word is All I have and I have people who know that and that they can count on me. Wish more people were that way today.

I love these videos Donnie of life how it was. I have a double barrel shotgun that Grandpa traded a single barrel to one of his brother in laws for. People here used to trade labor at tobacco priming time. They called it "swapping work". I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

This video brought back a ton of memories I have of my poppaw. My poppaw love to haggle over dang near anything. It seemed like every time I would go up there there would be a new car or something. It would be an old junker that he traded something for just for a part or two. The coolest part to me was he would done have someone in mind to trade it to someone else who needs a different part, so he traded it on for God knows what lol. I have a few of his pocket knife to this day. I have his old timer,Henry, and buck.I had his case but I gave it to my nephew. The old timers blade is worn down to dang near nothing lol.

These videos always bring sweet memories of my family and childhood and great joy into my life. Thank you for this work! Merry Christmas Donnie and Family!

I promised with a handshake to buy the 10 acres I live on now. He took it off the market and held it for me until I could sell my house. Just on a handshake. There's still a few people that believe your word is your bond. I like telling that story. I bought my property on a handshake. God bless brother.

Thank you very much Donnie! Great example of integrity among people. Maybe one day we will get there once again. Keep up the great work !!

Hello Donnie, thank you my friend for sharing special video's like this. It really brings back a lot of memories. When I was small I remember going to the barber shop with my dad every Saturday morning and watching all the men trade pocket knives. This video brought a few tears to my eyes from the memories it brought back. No one around where I live trades anymore. It's sad to see it all disappear. Thank you my friend for the wonderful video's you share with all of us. God bless you and your family 🙏🤝❤️

Back then a good man gave you his word it was solid. 9 out of 10 people kept their word to. Great video thank you Donnie sir for sharing this. I heard you was sick I pray you get better very soon Amen 🙏.

Thank you, Donnie, so much for the effort put into preserving the history of appalachian life, we appreciate your videos Merry Christmas

When I was little, the Watkins man came by once a month in an old black station wagon that looked 30 ft long! He always managed to have something every lady in the neighborhood needed. And sometimes he'd give us kids a piece of candy.

This was great! I had never heard or seen a rolling store where I grew up but the little town where we would go visit my parents family when I was young had one. I thought it was the greatest thing ever! The town also had a rolling library! Thank you for keeping these stories and pictures alive for us❤

Outstanding video! My paternal grandparents had an old-time country store in SW VA. I remember granddaddy taking all those things you mentioned in trade. He also traded for ginseng. He strung it on twine to dry until the "ginseng man" came around to buy it. He also ran a tab for many people, forgiving it when he knew they were too poor to pay. Nobody went hungry in his community. I'm sitting in my back porch with two chairs and a loveseat that my other grandfather traded for with some gypsies around 100 years ago - handmade from native saplings and branches. Thanks for reminding us of the old mountain life Donnie.

Nowadays people look down on real money. When it all goes digital I guess we'll all be tradin again. Thank you for the fine memories.

I've said it many times, man why can't time travel be real. I was born way after my time.

A lot of folks today get bent out of shape just thinking about if or how they'd survive in a cashless society as if it was something new. These days many a lawyer written and notarized contract still don't carry the weight of what used to be settled with a man's word and a firm handshake. Thanks for sharing this piece of history.

Thank you for sharing. I love these old stories, they remind me of my childhood growing up near my grandparents who lived in the small town of Kimmell, IN. I grew up with the phrase, "Your word is your bond."

A way of life long gone. It's sad to me, that you can no longer run up a tab or seal a deal with a handshake. I remember those days. God bless you, Donnie.🙏❤️

When I get to HEAVEN my real home after everything is squared away I’m going to ask JESUS CHRIST if I can go back to them times just for a little while a few minutes to see them again. GOD i sure miss them times so bad even though most of them times were very rough I’d still go back. We didn’t realize how poor we was. Daddy worked at a full service garage and mama worked at a small restaurant down the street from daddy’s job. They made sure we had a little bit of food in the house. I can bout feel a tear welling up in my eyes I sure do miss them times so bad that there should be a law saying a person can’t get down in their memory’s like this. I sure enough miss them days so bad.

Mr. Haney wasn’t a shyster. He was an independent supplier trying to help his fellow man. 😆

I was fortunate to live near a real country store, sold everything and super nice people!! Made me feel welcomed ... Himes country store in Knoxville MD .

When mama was young there used to be a goat man they called him he had a bunch of goats and they pulled his wagon of goodies around to sell.

Donnie, youngins these days won't be able to cipher this and understand how on earth anyone could survive without cash or credit cards. And it's quite possible they got more friends on their phone than they actually see in person. Have they ever heard a whippoorwill at night to lull them to sleep? Have they ever shot and ate squirrel dumplings or been to a hog killing? I'd like to think more yes than no. Either way, I'm proud of these things in my own life and won't trade them for what we've become today. Thanks again for a down home great video!!

Thank you for reminding us that a hard worker is a good person and that your word should be worth more than all of the money in the world! I have lived by those beliefs all my life and have many friends because of it. The people of the Appalachias understood that their neighbors were the most important things they had after family. When you look after each other, you live well! Thank you for these videos Donnie! They lift my spirits every time! May God bless you and yours. 😊

Thank you, donnie another great story. Another time gone missed,Never to be lived again, god bless

I remember them days Bro. Donnie. I remember many a time my mom going to the IGA and just on her word getting groceries and us being able to eat that night. Then at the end of the month dad paying the bill. Or getting the vehicle or tractor fixed and dad paying the bill later on his word. Those days are long gone now sir. Thanks for the memories.

Good morning Brother Thanks for taking us back to those wonderful days when we loved the wonderful Blessing of everyday life and didn't take them for granted God Bless You Buddy, and thanks again

I love that you showed Mr. Haney from "Green Acres." I was already thinking about him... great minds think alike!

My Pap used to say, “If you break your word, you will break my heart, then I will break your bottom.”

Often wish we could go back to simpler times. I was born in the wrong time period! Great video we really enjoy these!

Enjoyed it Donny, your right years ago all us men and boys carried a pocket knife

I always enjoy your stories sir they brang back great memories and for that I thank you so much. I’m praying for you and your family sir GOD BLESS Amen 🙏

Good morning Donnie. I lived in Middleborough when I was very young. My ancestors lived in Claiborne and Union Counties in east Tennessee for over 150 years. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if we were cousins. 🤣🤣 Do you remember back before the 1960's the cosl mines didn't pay in cash, they paid in company coins. The people were, in effect, slaves because the "money" was worthless except in the company stores. There was no regulations about the prices the company store placed on those items. The US Congress had ro rule that practice as illegal.

Thanks so much Donnie my grandpa was like that and my family. We lived in Kentucky that the way is was. I miss it so much we need more of that way in this world.

Donnie thank you for sharing this with us I really enjoyed it the best part was the pictures of the old cars because I've liked cars since I was a kid I'd like to have some of them that were in the pictures

This is how I was raised. Your word and your hand shake was our bond!

Yessir, we did a lot of trading when I was growing up. My husband and I still trade things with our mountain neighbors. Love the video. ❤

I remember some of this but mostly stories my dad told keep up the good work thanks for all the videos keep the past alive

In the 70s when I would visit family in WV. I had friends there down the road. They had ponies. We went all over that holler. Would ride on the main/dirt road and find bottles when it was town day. That's how we got our treats. Makes you wonder though...litter or throwing out a treat for us to gather!? Earning our goodies. It was fun and exciting. We enjoyed gather, dreaming, we got joy out of the whole process.😊❤

Im only in my 40's and miss the old days. Since i was little ive enjoyed the stories from my grandparents and other older folks. As much as i despise Walmart, dollar general is destroying the few mom and pop stores across rural ohio where im at. It disgusts me seeing those black and yellow stores popping up everywhere. Theyre well lit and clean with cheap prices at first. As soon as the local store turns their closed sign around for the last time, they get rid of most of their staff, dim the lights and jack the prices up.

My dad would tell me stories about the rolling store we had here in town when he was growing up. He even drove me down our road so I could see the old truck. Thank you so much for bringing back good memories.

I used to go to my great aunt's house and stay in the summer and she didn't have electricity yet and I had more fun with her then I did at home with electric and everything else, she would light the old kerosene lamps at dark, i miss those days , and I still have her house on my property

Good morning my friend. Sending prayers and thoughts 🙏 God bless you brother Donnie

Thank you Mr Donnie. Y'all keep warm up there

I love your stories as they bring back so many fond memories of my youth.. Thank You

Thank you Brother Donnie for sharing these stories. I always look forward to your uploads. May God bless you and yours.

Good morning this one really brought back memories and I'm not that old (at least I don't think so) but today people have forgotten all about trust and honor thanks for all you do

I remember one crossroads store Mary Taylor and her husband owned it. I’d go in with daddy and get me a huge tall Nehi orange sody pop. I still remember the smell in that old chest type cooler it didn’t stink it just had a smell all it’s on. The old tongue and groove floors would pop and crack as I walked to the toy pile in the very back. I had a teddy bear I got from there I barely remember it I put it in my mom’s casket when we buried her. He had one eye i remember that I called him Teddy. Mama kept that bear till the day she passed and Teddy went with her that time.

It’s sad to think that jobs like sharpening saws and a lot of other are pretty much gone

I watched this with my parents. They always taught me your word is everything. We loved this video.

When the country’s only have digital currency (it’s coming), I believe this type of trading will be back in full swing again👍👍👍

Anyone of us who had parents who endured the depression I think realize that we are not far removed from what they experienced. My father in law who grew us in the depression era continued to "trade" for things. He was always happy when he could trade or barter for things he wanted or wanted done without having to exchange cash. I remember as a kid in Oklahoma when discount department stores first came along...before I every know of a K-Mart we had a large department discount store named "Trade Mart" I was completely amazed going into one store that had everything you could think of !

When I was a young man , I thought I had made the trade of the century. I strutted around like a rooster for a week. There was an old man that lived 2 ridges over from us and he had tractors and lots of implements that he had collected. I traded him 2 hogs and 5 quarts of sourwood honey for an 8N Ford tractor and a single bottom plow and a double bottom plow. You gotta have both. That tractor wouldn’t break new ground with a double bottom plow so you had to have a single one to do the the job. The next year I was able to use the double. I plowed 2 new tobacco patches and another garden spot as well as plowing gardens for the neighbors. Years later I was sitting with an old timer and that story of my trade was told. I was bragging a bit you know. Well , that old fella new the man I had traded with and said he was the best trader he ever knew. He said you didn’t pull nothing on Shelby Grant. He then said that Mr. Grant knew we needed a tractor awful bad and he had actually done our family a favor. I felt kind of deflated when he said that. He was probably right. When you’re young you see things as a young person would. When you get older you see things quite differently. I learned that I wasn’t a wheeler dealer and hadn’t gotten the best of anybody on that trade. What I had received was someone’s kindness.

As a boy I’d visit my cousins in Tennessee. They all were always trading knives like you said. My Uncle Melvin after he retired opened up a note car lot. Some of the trading he did would make one laugh. One time he traded a fellow and old used car for a few hundred bucks, a shotgun, and a dozen chickens. That really happened. It truly was a way of life and I’m so glad I got to experience it every summer. Thank you Donnie for reminding me of things that I would not recollect without your stories. God Bless Gary

I saw some case knives the other day very expensive.I remember the rolling store. My Mother could go to the grocery store and spend forty dollars we could eat two weeks off of that.Not anymore.Enjoyed your video.Have a great weekend.God Bless you and your family.

Good morning Donnie enjoyed your video. I remember those old Paddling Trucks that was what my parents call them when I was a child i'm 80 now. Prayers for you and your family God bless each of you keep warn and safe🙏❤

I love These Old Memories Donnie, Great Video's People seem to forget were They Came from. God Bless

A handshake and your word meant everything.You barted with friends and neighbors because it helped the whole community.I want to see them days come back when people were way morehonest and humble.Great Video.

This is a prime example of a wonderful community life. the way our Father commanded it to be like this. Very nice presentation,Donnie. Your friend, Louise

I remember the good ole days when I was a kid. Our little town only had two paved roads. Nowadays, ya can't find a dirt one there unless you from there, and know the backroads. They built neighborhoods around all our fishing ponds and lakes. Just ain't the same down there no more. We grew up country, and my kids didn't get that same privilege. Sad to me. Thanks for sharing this Mr Donnie. Lord bless.

I was raised where a handshake was better than a piece of paper with your signature on it. Your word and handshake was all you needed.

Great video Donnie! Too many spoiled people these days, especially the young. They have no idea!!

I really enjoy these videos Mr Donnie. It was in many ways a better time.

Some of these trading things were still going on in the 70s when I was a child, me and my two sisters used to take old soft drink bottles to the old country store that was near our house, we would get enough change to buy some penny candy 🍬.

Another amazing one Donnie! Love our mountain history and would love to have all them ole pocket knives! Thanks for this'n my awesome mountain brother. God bless and have a good'n

Great Video, my grandpa and grandma lived this way in Oklahoma, their parents came from the mountains and were in the 1889 land run. Thank You for the memories

Thank you for helping to helping to save these memories for future generations. Peace and roses, Deb the TN Scary Lady

Thank you for this informative video Donnie, I appreciate the time you spend making these for us.👍🙂

What a great story!! I enjoy learning about these things !thank you !! You and your wife have a wonderfully blessed weekend! Stay warm!! 😊

I didn't know how they trade the Appalachian people these topics and stories are always interesting fascinating to learn and prosper great pictures and stories buddy

Thank you Mr. Donnie I sure did enjoy this. I really enjoy hearing these stories. Take care and God bless❤

God bless you!

My paw paw worked and ran a country store back in the 40's and 50's for the mine camp he lived in henwas everything from the butcher to furniture salesman I still have his cleaver and apron

I live in a small town in fl and this is still a way of life through my sickness i have traded and barterd n survived

That’s a great story Granny said she had gone as much as a year with out seeing a dollar she wood take her horse & buggy to a country store and trade her eggs for credit on her bill.This was a good story thanks Donnie !!! 😊❤

THUMBS up to this video!!!! 👍👍👍👍👍🎆🎆 back in the day, my grandma would walk around the hill to the town to sale her eggs, creamery butter to the. grocery store or for trade.

Enjoyed again, Donnie Bless weekend

when I was a teen, one of my first jobs was a cashier at a store... everybody paid cash... everybody... except the old farmers.... they would come in and I put all their purchases on a ticket... and they paid later one.

I remember in the very early 60’s, the eastern Ky highways were gravel before they were paved. In the early 70’s, the side roads were paved. I remember because I went barefoot every summer until I was 15. Every weekend my grandfather took s kids to town with him to do “some trading”. He’d take us to the drug store for a fountain soda which was styled from another generation but it was well kept. Otherwise, my grand folks lived off the land as a lifestyle choice. I remember the old tools which were well kept. Most of the pocket knife trading took place at the courtyard on the benches under the shade trees. I enjoy your stories and I thank so much for bringing the past alive ❤️

You got that right Donnie. Our word is our bond in these hills. I miss the old days my friend, I really miss them