I am a motorcoach…

. . . Two Seven Five, of German make – Setra – and traveling territories rich in the influences of Deutschland. Holmes County in North Central Ohio is Amish country, where the mother tongue is Pennsylvania Deitsh (a German dialect), German architectural accents are common, and evidence of German discipline is ubiquitous.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

Gardening and quilting are signatures of Amish community. This hill outside Dutch Valley restaurant brings both together in a quilt-patterned flower garden.

Though not an Amish creation, The Farm at Walnut Creek is Amish run. The farm is full of surprises, including Ring-tailed lemurs that occupy an island within a small lake, ostriches and emus, and a host of four-legged exotic animals.

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

NEWS ON A SIGN: Ohio’s Holmes County is home to the largest Amish population in the world. In 1809, Jonas Stutzman left Pennsylvania and moved with his wife Magdalena to the region that would later become Holmes County. Today, nearly half the population of Holmes County is Amish and more than 35,000 Amish live throughout the area’s picturesque rolling hills.

NEWS IN TELL-TALE SIGNS: There are three tell-tale signs of the Amish homestead; two are by their prevalence and the other by its absence.

Home-grown (and home-made) is the Amish way. Whether cultivated in the garden, canned in the kitchen, or crafted in the woodshop, the prevalence of home-grown is a sign of Amish tradition and Amish values.

For most visitors to Amish country, the horse and buggy are the most anticipated sightings. Aside from various forms of horse-drawn buggies, the Amish get around by foot and bicycle. It is a preference that preserves a slower pace of life. (An important side note: though they do not own or drive them, the Amish allow for riding in automobiles, and they do make use of motorcoaches for long distance travel.) The Absence of power lines also distinguishes the Amish house from the typical modern residence. More than a fact of infrastructure, it is a statement of values. As with the automobile, the Amish see no evil in electricity itself, but manage life without it as a choice of nonconformity to a fast-paced lifestyle that compromises peace-of-mind and family connectivity.

If there is a phone, it is located in a booth outside the house, so not to disrupt the communication inside.

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about places you’ll want to visit.)

The three most prominent names among the Amish of Holmes County are Miller, Yoder, and Troyer. But you only need to remember one of them if you’re in the area and have an interest in homemade candy. At Troyer Homemade Candies you can watch the multigenerational tradition of crafting delectable treats. You can also taste a variety of free samples while you decide which ones you want to take home.

In Walnut Creek, Ohio, the hills are round, the roads are windy, and the draft horse still has a job on the farm – in front of the plow. When you want to go where quiet is as beautiful as the manicured landscapes, head to Walnut Creek in Holmes County. (Well, there is an exception to the quiet factor: in the fall, Holmes County is the #1 destination in the U. S. for color seekers.)

Please come aboard, join me and my passengers for a trip through the countryside to a local marketplace. We’ll encounter a few buggies, see some calendar-worthy farmlands, and even pass by an Amish wedding.

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