Amish Life

Photographer Don Burke has been taking pictures of the Amish for many years, and we have featured his photos here on the site on many occasions since 2014. Don has kindly answered some questions about his photos, interest in the Amish, what the Amish think, and more. This is part one of a two-part interview.  […]

Continue Reading Picturing The Amish – Q&A with Photographer Don Burke (Part 1)

Homeschooling is uncommon among the Amish. Why? Karen Johnson-Weiner suggests in her book Train Up A Child that it conflicts with the concept of community, so important to the Amish. But, some do homeschool. I know at least one Amish family who has. They happen to be members of a New Order Amish church. Amish […]

Continue Reading A Day In The Life of a Homeschooling Amish Mom

Yesterday in LaGrange County, Indiana, a large group of Amish came together to help a neighbor in need. From WNDU 16 News: A group of about 100 Amish were out helping a friend move a huge pole barn. 16 News Now is told the person who owned the barn recently died, and the man who […]

Continue Reading 100 Amish Help Injured Neighbor To Move Barn – By Hand

A danger of depending on appliances and lighting powered by fuels such as propane and natural gas, as many Amish do, is the risk or fire and explosions. An Amish boy has lost his life due to what appears to be propane igniting and causing an explosion and fire in a home in Kentucky. Here’s […]

Continue Reading Amish Boy Loses Life In Likely Propane Explosion Fire

With the announcement in July of a guilty plea in the Linda Stoltzfoos murder case, it was expected that Justo Smoker would spend the rest of his life behind bars. Smoker admitted to kidnapping, killing, and burying the 18-year-old Amish girl. He received a sentence of 35.5 to 71 years for charges of third-degree murder, […]

Continue Reading Justo Smoker Gets Additional 17+ Years; First Parole Hearing Will Be At Age 87

Amish in Rosebud County, Montana have been ordered to evacuate the area in the face of the Richard Spring fire. The fire in the southeast of the state is about 150,000 acres in size. From the Bozeman Daily Chronicle: The Richard Spring fire was discovered on Sunday, according to Inciweb, a wildfire information service. As of […]

Continue Reading Amish Community Ordered To Evacuate In Face Of Montana Wildfire

I did a video looking at the question of Amish family sizes. How do they compare across communities? They can vary by a good bit – differing by several children on average (I give some examples from Indiana settlements). What can influence that? I also look at the question of what Amish think about birth […]

Continue Reading Amish Family Size: How large is the Amish family? What do Amish think about birth control? (Video)

Justo Smoker today pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, kidnapping and other charges, admitting to killing Linda Stoltzfoos in June of last year. He will serve a sentence of 35½-to-71 years in prison as part of a plea deal. Smoker is 35 years old. He will avoid the death penalty. He also faces further charges over […]

Continue Reading Justo Smoker Pleads Guilty To Killing Linda Stoltzfoos; Will Serve Up To 88 Years. Plea deal made “to bring Linda home”

It’s being reported that Justo Smoker is expected to plead guilty tomorrow (Friday) in the Lancaster County Courthouse. Smoker has been charged with homicide, kidnapping and false imprisonment regarding the disappearance and death of Linda Stoltzfoos. However, one – wrinkle? – in this report is the fact that it’s not being made known to which […]

Continue Reading Guilty Plea Expected Friday In Linda Stoltzfoos Case

Amish in Farmersville, New York have threatened to move if a wind farm is built in their area. They are involved in a conflict between Alle-Catt Wind Energy (owned by energy giant Invenergy) and local residents organized as the Coalition of Concerned Citizens fighting the proposed 117-turbine farm. So it’s not just a case involving […]

Continue Reading Recent Supreme Court Decision Could Help Stop Wind Farm Threatening Amish Community