Features

The following is an account of the daily activities in the life of Katie Schlabach, a young Amish woman in Holmes County. We published this series in Amish Heartland magazine several years ago, and we've gotten many requests to repeat it. Week one appeared in our January-February issue, week two in the March issue, and week three in the April issue. This is the final week.  Read Story.

The Wooster area is buzzing with excitement these days. The city has begun to celebrate its 200th birthday and has many bicentennial activities planned (see Calendar of Events). Residents of the Wayne County area are enjoying the spring weather by getting out in their yards and gardens to plant, trim, mulch and weed. Are you doing the same thing? One local business, The Greenhouse Shoppe, will not only help you grow your gardens, but it's growing, itself!   Read Story.

Are you on your spring or summer vacation in Amish Country? Or are you just on a day trip to our area? Or are you actually a resident here? Regardless of your status, you'll want to make a point to get on US 250 and head toward Apple Creek and go to Troyer's Home Pantry.   Read Story.

Harrison Road, (Wayne County Road 2) one of the southernmost east-west roads in Wayne County, is a beautiful drive all by itself. It winds around the gorgeous countryside, through one Amish farm after another. No matter which season it is, you'll be treated to many unique scenes. In the spring, the farmers along Harrison Road are glad to be out in the warm breezes turning the soil and getting ready for planting. Just a quarter mile off US 250 in Mt. Eaton, Harrison Road will take you by the Mt. Eaton Greenhouse. For goodness sake, pull into the parking lot and take a look around.   Read Story.

The Wooster area is buzzing with excitement these days. The city has begun to celebrate its 200th birthday and has many bicentennial activities planned. May 10 & 11 Trolley Tours of Historic Wooster, departing from downtown at 11 a.m., 1, 3 & 5 p.m.; $3. May 17 Jamie Howey Memorial "Dogwood Dance," at City Maintenance Building, 6 p.m.-1 a.m.; $40.   Read Story.

A listing of events happening around Amish Country in May.  Read Story.

The Amish of Wayne/Holmes counties share these specific beliefs and practices with all other Amish: 1 " They own horses and buggies, instead of cars. 2 " They worship in their homes, rather than church buildings. 3 " They have plain dress (no prints for the women, and no zippers or belts for the men's trousers.  Read Story.

A listing of some shops and places you might find useful or interesting while traveling in this area.  Read Story.

The following is an account of the daily activities in the life of Katie Schlabach, a young Amish woman in Holmes County. We published this series in Amish Heartland several years ago, and we've gotten many requests to repeat it. Week one appeared in our January-February issue, week two in the March issue, and week four will be in the May issue. This story, in its entirety, was originally published in a book, "The Amish of Holmes County," published by Spectrum Publications in 1996. It is currently out of print, but can sometimes be found in used-book stores.  Read Story.

Orrville is usually known for two things: it's the home of the J.M. Smucker Company, and it's also the home of legendary basketball coach Bobby Knight. But, Orrville is also home to three great businesses I think you'll enjoy learning more about and visiting soon: Audrey's Attic, a unique gift and home-accessory establishment; PackShip USA, which offers an outstanding way to get your large or small purchases shipped anywhere; and Bunker Hill Furniture, which offers specialty home furnishings and maintenance-free outdoor furniture.  Read Story.

Have you begun thinking about what kinds of flowers you'll plant this year in your flower gardens? Now that the snow piles are melting and the perennials are poking their heads through the ground, we get the itch to get out and get our hands in the soil (especially our green thumbs!). What types of new flowers should we put in this year? What can we plant that won't take too much work? Where should we go to get them? Wayne and Rita Zidonis have just the answer for all your questions: beautiful daylilies from Daylilies & More, just north of Lodi.  Read Story.

Orrville's history began in 1814 with the arrival of James Taggart Jr., a Revolutionary War veteran who came to the area and staked out a claim near what is today downtown Orrville. A year later, his sons, Samuel and Robert Taggart, came to settle on his claim, and they were followed by numerous other settlers, primarily of Pennsylvania Dutch and German heritage.  Read Story.

Look at all the activities planned in the Heartland during the springy month of April!  Read Story.

If you're looking for quality furniture and a quality place to stay, check out these places!  Read Story.

Don't be hesitant about driving off the main roads and into the country; this is where you find the real essence of Amish Country. Take this little trip and discover a wonderful furniture shop, a place to purchase a great storage barn, and a very relaxing place to spend the night (or weekend ... or the whole week).  Read Story.

A trip to Amish Country usually involves two things for sure: shopping (and more shopping) and eating (and more eating). A trip to Mt. Hope can accomplish both of these experiences with ease.  Read Story.

I can't tell you how many letters, phone calls and e-mails I receive from people inquiring about how they can become Amish. The number has to be in the hundreds, I'm sure. Most of these folks have done some research about the Amish lifestyle and admire the simplistic qualities by which the Amish live. Although I'm sure some are totally sincere, I often get the feeling many of these people are inquiring because they are looking for a "quick fix" to their hectic, over-materialistic, fed-up-with-the-way-things-are lives.  Read Story.

Located in Millstream Plaza, just west of Lehman's in downtown Kidron, World Crafts has been an outlet for handicrafts from 35 developing countries. This is not, mind you, an "outlet" store, full of over-runs, seconds and unwanted items, but an outlet in the sense of being a means of getting fairly traded hand-crafted items from all around the world to our area.  Read Story.

It's hard to imagine the Amish as revolutionaries, and even more difficult to see them as a threat to the government. But that is the way the ancestors of today's Amish and Mennonite communities were described almost five centuries ago.  Read Story. (1 comment)

The following are our advertisers in Amish Heartland magazine, along with their addresses, directions to their establishments, phone numbers and Web sites. Remember, many Amish businesses have no phones, but some have an answering service where you may leave a message, and they will return your call.  Read Story.