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Laurel Fork Farm strives to find recipes for soaps, salves, lip balms, etc., that can help people. So far staff are doing a pretty good job with 28 stores carrying their products as far away as California.

According to the owner of Laurel Fork Farm, there is nothing better than finding an old time recipe that has a history as rich as the rugged mountains we live in. Along with many of the old logging and coal boom towns, these recipes are fading into history, soon to be completely forgotten. This could have been the fate of a salve handed down now for five generations in the Waybright family, but fortunately there are still a number of women in the Harman area that have kept this recipe alive.

"When our children are grown and the recipe is again handed down, it will be the sixth generation," said Marsha Louk, who owns and operates the farm. "Kendall's (Waybright) family has been making this salve for over a hundred years."

This salve was concocted by a woman born more than 100 years ago, know as Aunt Barbara. Her full name was Barbara Cooper Harman. She was born in 1839 and died in 1914. She left a legacy of healing that has never been forgotten by her family. She was a school teacher and midwife who reared her own and her sister's children.

As an herbalist midwife, she provided an invaluable service to the Harman community where she served as doctor and midwife to most of the Dryfork Valley, especially the poorer folk who could not afford to pay for medical care. There was only one licensed doctor in the area at that time and he could not tend to all the needs of the residents. Her knowledge of the use of herbs and other home remedies was considerable and she may have saved the lives of many in her day. She is still fondly remembered in the Harman area.

Barbara created a salve, a drawing salve for infected wounds. It is said to be good for boils, cuts or any inflamed skin. Many people claim it draws out the soreness and heals wounds faster.

After perfecting the exact recipe used by "Aunt Barbara," enlisting the help of Dorothy Waybright, Caroline Dolly and Mary Mae Henderson, Louk took a sample to the Chua Family Practice to let them try it and see what they thought of the salve.

"I've occasionally found a need in my practice for a drawing salve," said Dr. Mindy Chua, "but it has become hard to find. I'm excited to have access to 'Aunt Barbara's' salve. I've used it and it works wonderfully."

Laurel Fork Farm has breathed new life into this remedy and has made it available to the public.

"I wonder what 'Aunt Barbara' would say if she knew that her salve had withstood the test of time and was still helping people so many years later?" Louk said. "Thanks 'Aunt Barbara' for your many sacrifices and sharing your knowledge with those that would carry on your legacy and thanks to a community who cared enough to keep this recipe in their families."

"Aunt Barbara's Salve" is available for purchase at The Chua Family Practice; log on to www.laurelforkfarm.com to view the entire line of Laurel Fork Farm products and order online; or call Laurel Fork Farm at 304-866-4992. Those who have old family remedies they would like to share are encouraged to contact Laurel Fork Farm.

"Perhaps we can continue to use a little bit of history to help people," Louk added.