Interview with Gail Mills, May 14, 2016

Interview Summary

Gail Mills describes growing up on Kinningham Branch on Stinking Creek, in Knox County, Kentucky. She describes how she has always been involved in agriculture and how her family had gardens and livestock. Mills recalls how her mother quilted, canned, and cooked. She talks about using a mule and saving seed. She tells of how she delivered milk to her family and neighbors in the area. Her father sold produce in coal mining areas in nearby Bell County. She discusses the future of agriculture and recalls programs through the Lend-A-Hand Center. Mills tells some stories about Peggy Kemner and Irma Gall and the Lend-A-Hand Center, and comments on the Grow Appalachia program and the Knox County Farmers? Market. She also recalls some War on Poverty programs in the area.

Interview Keyword

Stinking Creek (Ky.) Lend-A-Hand Center Grow Appalachia Knox County (Ky.) Rural children Medical care--Kentucky Community-based family services. Community-based social services.

Interview LC Subject

Subsistence farming Agriculture--Kentucky Traditional farming--Kentucky Appalachia Country life Rural conditions Food habits Food--Preservation Canning and preserving Families Communities Community organization

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.