There are craft malls, and then there are craft malls. You've seen one, you've seen them all. Right?

Well hold on, because there's a new one in the area, and it's definitely worth the trip to discover some wonderful hand-made merchandise.

Berlin Craft Mall is the most-recent addition to Schrock's Amish Farm and Village complex, and just one more piece of the Schrock's puzzle. Honestly, I don't think their puzzle has many "edge pieces," because they just keep adding and adding!

Part owner and operator David Hershberger said the new mall opened in response to both crafters' and customers' demands.

"There are some collectibles, and we have several retail booths, but other than that, everything has to be hand-made," David said. "Each dealer -- we have around 100 -- has their own little store they rent here. They decorate it and display their wares, and we take care of the rest. This area has a lot of unique craftspeople, and I think our mall shows that."

I was very impressed with the wide selection of products and the quality of craftsmanship they showed. I walked around the mall "oohing" and "ahhing!"

The first eye-catching booth displayed a wonderful array of hand-cut slate, just ready for your artistic touch. There were heart-shaped pieces as well as others. Now you won't have to go on a scavenger hunt to find some broken slate from an old roof!

There are multiple booths filled with home-made wooden products, ranging from toys, furniture, plaques and shelves, to beautiful walking sticks.

I found original art work, intricately hand-made jewelry, decorated candles and lots of birdhouses (some, even for birds!). There were several booths of quilted products, ranging from quilts, table runners, place mats, clothing and wall hangings. I found large wooden trunks, decorated milk cans and beautiful, aromatic hand-made soap.

Another booth displayed absolutely gorgeous pressed flowers in many mediums. I discovered booths of childrens clothing, hand-made baskets and woolen yarns in a myriad of gentle colors.

I was very impressed with a booth called "Han Did Threads," that displays the currently popular worn-look embroidery pieces.

Booths also displayed beautiful hand-woven rugs, wrought iron ware and hickory rockers.

Several "collectible" booths displayed Coke products, Ohio bicentennial products and Ohio State paraphernalia.

Some well-known retailers within the mall are Lehman's (selling a wide selection of lanterns and lamps, crockery, splatter-ware, toys, meat grinders, campfire equipment and much more), Troyer's Cheese (selling cheese, of course), Amish Baby (selling a very, very large selection of the famous faceless Amish dolls in all sizes, plus their clothing), Avon, and Amish Wedding-brand food. You'll also find a leather shop, a harness shop, and one that sells windmills! A hat shop provides nearly 2,000 hats at very reasonable prices. I even found an outhouse (I didn't look inside, fearing it was in use!).

The craft mall is just a part of the much larger experience awaiting you at Schrock's Farm and Village. Actually, you could come and spend most of a day here. Some of the activities are available year-round, others are seasonal. I'd suggest calling before coming for a certain event. The farm itself is available for tours, and you can take buggy rides and train rides. Other shops on site are Gramma Fannie's Quilt Barn, Pitty Pat's Porch, Good Ol' Days, and a great antique mall.

"The antique mall and the craft mall are a good match," David said. "Most people who like one, like the other. We get a lot of couples coming here. I see the wife head to the craft mall, and the husband's off to see the antiques. Of course, sometimes, it's the other way around!"

David, an Amishman himself, says he really enjoys his job, and the best part of it is meeting the people.

"I really like to work with people, helping them find what they're looking for," he said. "I get to be good friends with a lot of dealers and a lot of customers."

David went on to explain why Schrock's Farm and Village employs so many Amish.

"That way, when visitors ask how or why the Amish do something, we can say 'We do' such and such, instead of 'they do.'"

Many other things take place at or nearby the Berlin Craft Mall. From April through October, on Fridays and Saturdays, youll be able to browse through a flea market just behind the mall. Summer Friday nights are alive with the sound of music, plus hayrides and pony rides (weather permitting), and food stands sell sandwiches, French fries and delicious homemade ice cream. In the fall, apple butter is simmered, and in the summer, the farm bustles with "down-home" activities such as milking a cow and using the milk to churn butter, plus grinding corn and other chores of yesteryear.

"We just keep adding things," David said, trying to give people the whole experience. Many people drop by every month or so because every time they come, something new is happening."

Well, you wouldn't want to miss any of this, would you? I didn't think so. Take a trip to Berlin soon, visit the Berlin Craft Mall, and while you're there, spend the day.

And be sure to tell David, or the other very helpful employees, you read this in Amish Heartland magazine.

Berlin Craft Mall, next to Berlin Antique Mall at Schrock's Amish Farm Village, one mile E of Berlin, on SR 39, (330) 893-3051, www.amish-r-us.com; hours: Mon.-Thu., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Fri. Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.