March 2018 * Vol. 74, No. 3 24 30 Another sweet old song 34 D E PA R T M E N T S Mead production takes off in Georgia. By Jane F. Garvey 5 MAILBOX 6 PICTURE THIS? Live wires Georgia's EMC/FFA state wiring contest is still going strong at 50. By Jackie Kennedy 8 GEORGIA NEWS Kindness is contagious 34 AROUND GEORGIA Painted rocks circulate goodwill, one stone at a time. By Amber Lanier Nagle Forging ahead 10 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 14 CURRENTS Independent bookstores: Agents of community, not just commerce BRUCE BAILEY 16 20 24 COURTESY HORTON'S BOOKS & GIFTS AMBER LANIER NAGLE C O N T E N T S 20 A new generation leads the resurgence of blacksmithing and bladesmithing in Georgia. By Carolyn Crist 39 MY GEORGIA The color of character 40 THE FACTS OF LIFE ... IN GEORGIA The Sautee Nacoochee Center 42 GEORGIA GARDENS Water-sculpting the garden 46 GEORGIA COOKS Mary Moore and The Cook's Warehouse 50 SNAPSHOT Celebrate the Irish! ISTOCK.COM / TINIEDER ON THE COVER: 42 4 04_TOC_SW_0318_Revised.indd 1 50 More online at www.georgiamagazine.org Young blacksmiths like Chad Matthews of Old South Forge in Wax are bringing new life to this ancient craft and creating works of art with molten metal. (Photo by Tara Matthews.) GEORGIA MAGAZINE 2/14/18 11:34 AMhttp://www.ISTOCK.COM http://www.georgiamagazine.org