Product-Review Monday

Today’s product review departs from some of the things we’ve touched on in past reviews. Instead, I’ll review one of the best homestead purchases we’ve ever made: Our Gorilla cart.

As we’ve gotten older, our philosophy is to work smarter, not harder. This Gorilla cart puts that philosophy into real-life practice. It holds something on the order of 1500 lbs., turns on a dime, and has a dump feature. It also takes a tremendous amount of abuse without complaint. The larger version is also designed to pull behind an ATV (all terrain vehicle).

Look at the size difference between the gorilla cart and our biggest wheelbarrow. Now ask me which one totes heavier loads more easily.

Here is the cart’s “dump truck” feature.

These carts aren’t cheap, but they’re sturdy, well made, and well worth the price. They come in two different sizes: A 10-cubic-foot cart (which is the one we own, with its 1500-lb. capacity), and a 7-cubit-foot version (which has a 1200-lb. capacity). If you’re looking for a universal multi-use work aid, we can’t recommend these carts highly enough.

Now for some book recommendations.

In 1966, a high school English teacher in Georgia came up with a brilliant idea: To capture the traditions, skills, and legacy of the original pioneers of the Appalachian Mountains before this remarkable generation (and the knowledge they possessed) died out. Accordingly, he led his students into increasingly comprehensive interviews with people all across the region. The resulting series of books, called Foxfire, was one of the most remarkable and seminal collections of first-hand pioneer knowledge ever assembled. If you’ve never read them, you should.

But in 1972, another very similar project was begun by a different high school class, this one located in Missouri and organized by Ellen Gray Massey. Like Foxfire, it was a collection of first-hand old-time knowledge and skills, but focusing on residents of the Ozark Mountains. This lesser-known companion project resulted in a two-book series called Bittersweet (Bittersweet Earth and Bittersweet Country).

These volumes are absolutely fascinating and chock-full of traditional ways and skills. Here are the description:

• Bittersweet Earth: A description of the folklore, handicrafts, and customs of the Ozarks includes discussions of cooking, camping, moonshiners, and exploring caves

• Bittersweet Country: A collection of articles that were originally published in “Bittersweet” magazine, concerned with individuals, customs, folklore, and the way of life of the Ozarks

We’ll never know why these books never achieved the same level of fame as the Foxfire series, because they’re truly wonderful. They seem to be out of print and there are no new copies available, but Amazon has quite a number of used copies.

(Obligatory disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, we earn a small commission.)

Happy reading! Or carting!

Source: http://www.rural-revolution.com/2025/04/product-review-monday_21.html