I have a friend here in the Amish settlement at Holmes County. He’s relied on a wheelchair for some years. Whenever I stop by ‘Aden’s’,I get a fresh dose of perspective. I don’t think I know a more positive person. ‘We have so much’ Aden tells me. ‘You can’t walk’, I think to myself. ‘How can you be this upbeat about life?’ Aden makes a…
I’d actually planned to post this photo today anyway. As I drove to an appointment this morning I came upon a slowdown on Highway 39, the main thoroughfare through Holmes County. Turns out it was caused by a head-on car-buggy collision. The remnants were still in view by the roadside. As I arrived at my 9 am meeting at the home of an Amish business…
Amish, at least the ones I run into, always seem to like sharing. Besides the stick-to-your-ribs meals and cool drinks of water, I always seem to be getting takeaways from Amish friends–homemade wine, books,gourds, inspirational CDs for the car. Yesterday’s haul comes in the middle of canning season, following a bumper crop of tomatoes–a jar each of homemade ketchup and salsa. ‘Ervin’, my friend and…
My two-month excursion in Lancaster County is over. I’m back in Ohio now. Lancaster was a fantastic experience but now that I’m back here, I’m reminding myself why Holmes County is perhaps my favorite of all Amish settlements. Holmes County is more diverse, (much) more rural, arguably a smidgen more beautiful, and I guess I just have known more people here for longer so that…
I winced when I saw the cover. I was sure this book would be another lightweight voyeuristic Hollywood look at the Amish. Yet Shachtman seems to reserve judgment and present the Amish even-handedly throughout Rumspringa: To be or not to be Amish. He seems to have a heart for the kids involved, presenting their tales with compassion and respect. At the same time, like a…
An imaginary line runs through Lancaster County. Some say it follows the route of highway 30, the old Philly artery which bisects the county. This theoretical divider splits the settlement’s Amish into conservative and more progressive groupings. The north-south division may not be that cut-and-dry, but it is a real thing. Some say a stricter Ordnung and less contact with outsiders tend to make southern…
Lancaster County has some amazing stone barns. Many of these barns are owned by Amish. One of my customers let me take a few shots of his. I love the scents and sights and the whole feeling of being inside one of these old barns. The pungent hay strewn across the floor; mustiness countered by fresh breeze blowing in through open barn doors. The nooks…
I was invited by one of my customers to attend Amish church tomorrow. We’re going to meet at the farm and buggy over to the neighbor’s where it’s being held this week. Church is consistently held at 8, standard time, which these days means 9 am. I’m looking forward to the fellowship and food. I asked what to wear–‘Amos’ suggested regular Sunday attire. ‘Unless you…
Selling books to the Amish is a pretty cool job. I’m doing my deliveries now. I had about 270 Amish families get books from me this summer. So it’s been a busy week. As I was leaving one family earlier today, the dad looked at me and said ‘we’re going to think about you when we read them’. And I think that hearing that is…
‘A hog farmer and a teacher!!’ Hog farms are few and far between in Lancaster dairyland, and hog farmers who deal with Amish ‘ninth-graders’ on a regular basis even fewer. Perhaps that’s why ‘Ephraim’ nearly shouted at me in glee when describing his odd occupational mix. He’s been handling vocational school duties for his area for twenty years now. You can tell he enjoys it….