Lumpkin County, situated in North Georgia about 60 miles north of Atlanta, has a rich history. Originally inhabited by the the Cherokee, the white man brought swift change in 1828 when gold was discovered and the first U.S. gold rush began. This brought a tremendous influx of people and development to the area in a very short time.

Today, with Atlanta growing beyond its borders, the area is seeing change and development once again. This time it is retirees and the folks looking for a nice place to have a second home.

The result is the same. For those who have lived here for generations, their families are being either diluted or forced out, and their way of life is becoming extinct. With the help of Heavenly Littleton, a documentarion and oral historian, Bard Wrisley set out to document some of these long-time Lumpkin County residents. During our search we came across a few newcomers who had something to offer as well. Together we set out to find how these people grew, preserved and prepared their food. It became the local component of the Smithsonian's national exhibit entitled "Key Ingredients-America By Food."

Inside are examples of twenty of the residents we found along with a brief quote from the project. These choices represent the selection of images used in the exhibit at the Kryder Gallery on the Square in Dahlonega, Ga.