Author: Erik Wesner

Erik Wesner is the creator of amishamerica.com, and author of Success Made Simple: An Inside Look At Why Amish Businesses Thrive. Erik began visiting Amish communities in 2004 – eventually meeting thousands of Amish families while selling books.

He began writing about the Amish on this website in 2006, and is often cited in national media, including USA Today, The New York Times, and others on a wide range of Amish topics. A native of North Carolina, Erik has visited dozens of Amish communities across the country, and loves spending time with Amish friends and discovering new Amish places.

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Inside A Rustic & Spacious Amish Home (22 Photos)

Inside A Rustic & Spacious Amish Home (22 Photos)

I love the photos of this Amish home, on the market in southern Indiana. You’ll see some really neat interior pics below – a mix of plainer rustic charm and spaciousness. These are pretty fresh photos as well going by the snow (it’s only been on Zillow for about three weeks). The community is at Vevay, Indiana (home to two separate Amish groups). The description…

11 Stunning Amish-Style Coffee Tables to Transform Your Living Room

11 Stunning Amish-Style Coffee Tables to Transform Your Living Room

Amish furniture makers across the nation build furniture in a wide range of styles – including timeless varieties like Mission and Shaker – as well as more modern and contemporary designs. This list of 11 Amish-style coffee tables gives you a good sense of the types of tables the Amish are capable of producing. Check these examples for inspiration and ideas for your own living…

10 Timeless Amish Cooking Secrets You Need to Try

10 Timeless Amish Cooking Secrets You Need to Try

The Amish have a well-deserved, rich cooking heritage, with a combination of Pennsylvania Dutch tradition cuisine – such as sauerkraut, butter noodles, and shoofly pie – side-by-side with more contemporary recipes – like Italian or Mexican-inspired dishes. Try this list of ten Amish cooking secrets to add a bit of Amish tradition to your next meal. ~Erik If you’re curious about the wholesome goodness of…

10 Gorgeous Amish-Inspired Kitchen Ideas to Transform Your Space

10 Gorgeous Amish-Inspired Kitchen Ideas to Transform Your Space

The kitchen is one of the most-used spaces in the typical Amish home. Amish kitchens are spacious, practical, and often filled with handcrafted furniture and cabinetry, reflecting their woodworking tradition. Those elements – along with some other Amish-flavored ideas – appear on this list of 10 ideas you can use to create an Amish-inspired kitchen in your home.  ~Erik If you’re drawn to the charm…

Amish “Wannabe” ASSAULTS & KIDNAPS Amish Girl – Saved By Brave Amish Woman

Amish “Wannabe” ASSAULTS & KIDNAPS Amish Girl – Saved By Brave Amish Woman

This is a crazy story which somehow flew under my radar the last two days. In Arthur, Illinois, a man who is described as wanting to join the Amish attacked and then attempted to kidnap a 16-year-old Amish girl. I only write “attempted” because she was saved by a 20-year-old female Amish relative – who gave chase and got the abductor to release the girl….

10 Delicious Amish Cookie Recipes That Feel Like Home

10 Delicious Amish Cookie Recipes That Feel Like Home

Cookies are one of the most common Amish baked goods. Typical Amish homes have a steady supply of them, baked up using family or community recipe books. Cookies in an Amish home make for a tasty snack or dessert, sometimes creatively combined with other treats like ice cream. Check out these 10 Amish cookie recipes for a treat on a cozy family evening – or…

Flip The Script: This Time, Amish Rescue ENGLISH From Flood (Video)

Flip The Script: This Time, Amish Rescue ENGLISH From Flood (Video)

In a reversal of roles I should have seen coming, Amish have now rescued an English driver from flood waters. It was just a week ago when we learned of an Amishman and his horse being rescued by EMA responders from flooding in Tennessee. Now in Kentucky, Amish have, in a way, returned the favor – pulling a stranded vehicle with two passengers out of…

12 Must-Have Amish Furniture Pieces Perfect for Small Spaces

12 Must-Have Amish Furniture Pieces Perfect for Small Spaces

Amish homes tend to be on the larger side – reflecting their generally large families of six, eight, or more(!) children. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need to maximize their floor space. These 12 Amish-style furniture pieces – some reflecting traditional Amish styles, others inspired by more modern designs – are meant to help you get the most out of your square footage. Find…

10 Tasty Amish Baked Goods You Can Make with Pantry Staples

10 Tasty Amish Baked Goods You Can Make with Pantry Staples

There’s nothing quite like the smell of baking – cookies, breads, pies – wafting through a cozy Amish kitchen. The Amish are experts at whipping up comforting treats using simple, common ingredients. Amish mothers are helped by their daughters (and sometimes sons) to bake a steady supply of treats for their families – as well as for church gatherings and other community events, like school…

Amish Skier Carves Up The Roadside (Video)

Amish Skier Carves Up The Roadside (Video)

It’s been a while since we’ve had footage of an Amish skier. These videos pop up from time to time. This is one of the better ones you’ll see. It was taken by “J J”, who shares this simple description: I was driving down Mackinac trail in upper Michigan heading to Sault Sainte Marie when I could believe Amish skiing behind their horse & carriage….