JPAC Latest Issue Out Now: Michigan Amish, PA Dutch, Old German Baptist Brethren, “Ukrainian Amish”, & More

JPAC Latest Issue Out Now: Michigan Amish, PA Dutch, Old German Baptist Brethren, “Ukrainian Amish”, & More

ByJoe Donnermeyer

The Journal of Plain Anabaptist Communities has released volume 4, issue 1. In this issue of JPAC, we begin a new series introducing Anabaptist research centers and their holdings and management. We begin with the Ohio Amish Library and the Geauga Amish Historical Library and will feature additional centers in the coming issues. From the fields of legal studies, demography, socio-linguistic scholarship, and ethnographic religious…

Amish Stand Robbed At Gunpoint

Amish Stand Robbed At Gunpoint

ByErik Wesner
6 Comments

When you see a crime report about an Amish roadside stand, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking it was someone stealing money from the honor system cash deposits that a lot of these stands use. Not in this case, though. From WBKO: BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – The Simpson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery that occurred Thursday, Nov. 30. According to a press…

Amish Start Community In Middle Of Nowhere

Amish Start Community In Middle Of Nowhere

ByErik Wesner
5 Comments

And I write “Middle of Nowhere” with affection, because I happen to be quite fond of many middle-of-nowhere places. But in reality, this is somewhere – specifically the Sandhills of Nebraska. Amish who appear to be a part of the Michigan Circle (that group has been showing up a good bit here lately) have started up a new settlement in the area of a town…

Inside Country Corner Bulk Foods – Mio, Michigan (12 Photos)

Inside Country Corner Bulk Foods – Mio, Michigan (12 Photos)

ByErik Wesner
5 Comments

We learned about Mio, Michigan recently here as a part of the Michigan Circle Amish churches. Now in this photo set by Jim Halverson, a look inside an Amish bulk food store in the community – Country Corner Bulk Foods. This is one of a number of Mio-area businesses. As you can see by the map here, there are quite a few Amish businesses in…

Indiana Man Receives 8-Year Sentence For Fraud Targeting Amish & Mennonites

Indiana Man Receives 8-Year Sentence For Fraud Targeting Amish & Mennonites

ByErik Wesner
1 Comment

An Indiana man who schemed Amish and Mennonite investors out of millions of dollars has been sentenced after being found guilty of fraud in May 2022. From WNDU: SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – A Goshen man has been sentenced to just over eight years in prison and has been ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution for his role in an investment fraud scheme….

Is Amish Life Hard? One Amishman’s Answer

Is Amish Life Hard? One Amishman’s Answer

ByErik Wesner
3 Comments

“Don’t feel sorry for us, no,” John says with a chuckle. “We’re having a good life.” In this video I interview John Esh. John lives in Nittany Valley in central Pennsylvania and runs the Goot Essa cheese & food company. John sat down for a longer conversation with me a week or so ago. I’ll be posting that full video soon. But in the meantime,…

An Amish Cannabis Company? Amish Owner Riehl, 29, Explains

An Amish Cannabis Company? Amish Owner Riehl, 29, Explains

ByErik Wesner
8 Comments

Back in 2019 we had a look at the Amish and hemp farming, a trend that emerged after Pennsylvania legalized hemp cultivation. Now four years later, a new piece at DailyMail.com looks at “the booming business of Amish cannabis farmers” with a visit to the retail location of Lancaster County Cannabis, owned by a 29-year-old Amishman who goes only by his last name in the story…

Inside A Small & Fancy Amish Home (15 Photos)

Inside A Small & Fancy Amish Home (15 Photos)

ByErik Wesner

Right off the bat, this home has two things that stand out about it – its small size for an Amish home (1,192 square feet), and its fancy design. In fact, it reminds me of the style seen in the million-dollar Amish home we looked at last year. This home has a Garretsville, Ohio address. Garrettsville is in northern Portage County, which would make it…

John Esh Podcast on Cheesemaking (Goot Essa Amish-Made Cheese)

John Esh Podcast on Cheesemaking (Goot Essa Amish-Made Cheese)

ByErik Wesner

I was happy to see that Goot Essa owner John Esh appeared on the “Seen Through A Glass” podcast recently to discuss his cheese & food business. John has a nice casual discussion with podcast host Lew Bryson. He explains how he came to cheese-making, and specifically European-style cheeses. In case you were wondering about the Amish and cheese, John notes that there is a…

Happy Thanksgiving – How the Amish Celebrate It

Happy Thanksgiving – How the Amish Celebrate It

ByErik Wesner
6 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there. You know when I manage to pause and think for a bit, I usually find there is a lot to be thankful for. I found Gloria Yoder’s words in her previous column inspiring on that matter. How do the Amish celebrate Thanksgiving? I’m reposting below the video I made last year on this occasion. You can also check out…

Amish Autumn Scenes, Pumpkins, Halloween & More (29 Photos)

Amish Autumn Scenes, Pumpkins, Halloween & More (29 Photos)

ByErik Wesner
12 Comments

With the air crisp and the calendar about to leave October behind, I thought it would be a nice time to look back at fall-related posts we’ve featured here over the years. Check out these beautiful photos by Bill Coleman and others, a look at the Amish and Halloween, and more below. I hope you’re enjoying this autumn season – it has been absolutely beautiful…

A Swartzentruber Amish Barn-Raising (11 Photos)

A Swartzentruber Amish Barn-Raising (11 Photos)

ByErik Wesner
11 Comments

Jim Halverson checks in with a photo set from a Swartzentruber Amish barn-raising. This took place back in the summer as should be obvious from these photos. If you missed it, we recently took a closer look at the Amish barn-raising via Burton Buller’s excellent film The Amish Barn-Raising Day. In it, we see footage of two separate barn-raisings (in Ohio and in Pennsylvania), done…