Category: Amish Lifestyle
Amish Farming: Traditions Survive in 21st Century
June 15, 2022Key Takeaways: Amish Farming Traditions Today
- Commitment to Traditional Farming: Many Amish farmers continue to use horse-drawn equipment, viewing it as a humane, environmentally friendly way to steward the land and avoid soil compaction.
- Proven Amish Gardening Secrets: Learn organic, generations-old gardening techniques, such as companion planting for biodiversity and using eggshells to deter pests and enrich the soil.
- The Barn Raising Tradition: Discover how the Amish community cooperates during “frolics” to frame and roof a traditional barn in a single day.
- The Shift to Entrepreneurship: While farming remains deeply tied to their rural lifestyle, many Amish have successfully transitioned into family-owned businesses like woodworking, carpentry, and retail.
- Experience Lancaster County Firsthand: Stay at the award-winning AmishView Inn & Suites for convenient access to authentic farm tours, buggy rides, and a relaxing countryside retreat in Lancaster, PA.
A trip to Lancaster County is not complete without getting a firsthand look at Amish farming. Whether you take in the views of the countryside on the Strasburg Railroad, drive down the winding roads of the eastern part of the county by car, or visit the tourist attractions such as Plain & Fancy Farm, Amish Experience, or The Amish Farm & House, you don’t want to miss this very integral part of Lancaster County.
How Do the Amish Dress in Lancaster PA?
August 20, 2021Key Takeaways: Understanding Amish Dress & Traditions
- The Blueprint for Simplicity: Learn about the Ordnung—an unwritten, biblically-based set of expectations that guides the Amish toward a life of modesty, humility, and “non-conformity” to the modern world.
- Symbolic Attire for Men: Discover why Amish men wear patternless, muted clothing held by suspenders rather than belts, paired with iconic straw or black felt hats depending on the season and setting.
- Modesty and Unity for Women: Understand the significance of the traditional Amish woman’s wardrobe, including solid-colored layered dresses and distinctive head coverings like bonnets or white prayer caps.
- A Visible Sign of Faith: Explore how the absence of jewelry, patterns, and modern fasteners serves as an outward expression of inward spirituality and communal equality.
- Deepen Your Knowledge: Visit the Amish Homestead at Plain & Fancy Farm to see these authentic garments and handcrafted items firsthand.
The unique practices of Amish people make them one of North America’s most fascinating religious subcultures. Visitors to Lancaster County, PA, are often intrigued by the simpler way of life embraced by the Amish. Their way of dress is one of the most overt signs of simplicity.
Discover Traditional Amish Food in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
March 10, 2020Key Facts
- Visitors to Lancaster can sample homestyle Amish cooking made with fresh, locally grown ingredients, especially at nearby smorgasbords like Miller’s Smorgasbord, which offer a wide variety of classic Pennsylvania Dutch dishes served buffet-style.
- Amish farms typically provide their own vegetables (such as potatoes, carrots, corn, peas, and tomatoes) along with meat and dairy, including raw milk that is commonly consumed within farming communities.
- Popular Amish specialties sold in local Lancaster shops include shoofly pie, Dutch apple dumplings, smoked cheeses, and rich baked goods made with butter, sugar, and traditional spices like cloves, bay leaves, and thyme.
- Ten staple foods and dishes you’re likely to encounter in Lancaster’s Amish communities include shoofly pie, Dutch cabbage rolls, pot pies, apple butter, chow-chow, cream chipped beef, homemade doughnuts, scrapple, homemade bread, and buttered noodles.
- A trip to Amish Country combines hearty meals with experiences like touring Amish farms, shopping for handmade furniture, and relaxing in accommodations featuring Amish craftsmanship, creating a laid-back, immersive visit to Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
One of the best parts about visiting Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is that you’ll be able to indulge in the savory Amish dishes during your stay with Amishview Inn & Suites. When we think of a home-cooked meal, our go-to thought is a mom n’ pop style preparation, and that’s something you can’t find on just any vacation. Lucky for you, on your Amish Country, Pennsylvania, vacation, you’ll find the care of fresh ingredients in the region is second to none. We encourage guests to dine at Miller’s Smorgasbord for the ultimate Amish experience when it comes to food selection. You can try a variety of meal options made with ingredients that were grown on Amish farms in the surrounding area.
9 Astonishing Facts About the Amish Community
November 28, 2019Key Facts
- Old Order Amish prioritize community, faith, and simplicity; they avoid motor vehicles and grid electricity, favoring horse‑and‑buggy transport and limited, community‑approved technologies like batteries or solar when needed.
- Teen Rumspringa (roughly ages 14–18) lets youth experience the “English” world before choosing baptism and lifelong membership, with most returning to the church.
- Cultural markers include plain, handmade clothing (no flashy patterns, zippers, or collars) and married men wearing beards but not mustaches; children attend one‑room schools through eighth grade.
- Lifestyle choices (homegrown food, no alcohol or tobacco) and strong community ties contribute to distinct health and social patterns observable in Amish settlements.
- Learn more about Amish at Plain & Fancy Farm by taking a Buggy Ride with Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides or taking a tour with Amish Experience
You may find yourself becoming naturally curious about the Amish community while staying at Amishview Inn & Suites. There are two main groups of Plain People in Lancaster, PA: the Amish and the Mennonites. Today we’ll be focusing more on the Old Order Amish traditions. The Old Order Amish community believes in a simple way of life and does not permit the use of technology and electricity. There are many unique things about the Amish community that may make you think twice about daily living. Keep reading to learn eight fascinating facts about the Old Order Amish traditions.
5 Top Reasons to Take a Trip to Amish Country, PA
September 27, 2019Key Takeaways: Why Visit Amish Country, PA
- Experience a Slower Pace: Escape the daily grind and relax among the breathtaking landscapes and picturesque farms of Lancaster County.
- Shop Heirloom-Quality Goods: Discover one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted Amish hardwood furniture, authentic quilts, and artisanal keepsakes built to last generations.
- Enjoy Farm-to-Table Dining: Taste traditional, hearty Amish cuisine and baked goods made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
- Take an Authentic Buggy Ride: Tour traditional farms and properties via horse and buggy for a firsthand look at Amish heritage and daily life.
- Stay at AmishView Inn & Suites: Combine a peaceful countryside escape with modern amenities, featuring a complimentary morning breakfast overlooking an active Amish farm.
Lancaster Amish Community
June 11, 2019You’ll pass by numerous buggies and farmlands while staying at our Lancaster hotel in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The Amish community takes a slower approach to life, which will give you a new found appreciation for quality time. While in Amish country, you’ll notice the variety of handcrafted one-of-a-kind items while shopping in Lancaster, PA. There’s an abundance of Amish owned stores where you can pick up handmade quilts, furniture, baked goods, and more! Once you bake a pie with freshly-farmed Amish ingredients, you’ll never look at baking the same again! The beautiful side of the Amish community is that they cater to faith, family, and farming, which is fascinating to the modernized world today, and will leave you with a better understanding of the important things in life!
Transportation and The Amish
December 12, 2017Key Takeaways: Understanding Amish Transportation
- The Goal of “Slow Travel”: The Amish use horse-drawn buggies and scooters to encourage a slower pace of life, allowing more time for contemplation and family connection.
- Community-Building Through Travel: Because traditional travel takes longer, it fosters a “culture of dependence” where neighbors rely on one another to help with childcare or chores, strengthening community bonds.
- Modern Exceptions: While they do not own or drive cars, many Amish will hire drivers (often called “Amish Taxis”) or use trains and buses for long-distance business trips or time-sensitive emergencies.
- Unique Vehicles: Beyond the iconic dark gray buggy, you will frequently see the Plain community using pony carts, non-motorized scooters, and even tractors (limited to farm use) around Lancaster County.
- Preserving Heritage: By limiting high-speed technology, the Amish protect their close-knit traditions and prevent the “rushed” influence of modern secular society from encroaching on their values.
The Amish are often recognized by one of two things: their dress, or their buggies. The Lancaster landscape is peppered with gray and black-topped buggies as well as the sound of hooves on asphalt. Visitors to Lancaster are awed by the sight, and surprisingly little is known about the Amish outside their towns. As a result, visitors often ask about how the Amish get around, and we’d like to oblige!
Transportation Preferences
Plain folk prefer modes of transportation that are slower, it’s true. But they’re not limited to horse-drawn buggies – they also use pony carts, scooters, and tractors. Their vehicles usually don’t utilize electricity, and are limited in distance capability. The reasoning is far more complex than its surface implies.
The Amish prefer slower, lower tech transportation because it encourages introspection and community. The longer the trip, the more thinking. Traveling in horse-drawn buggies or scooters allows more time for contemplation. Not consistently being busy zooming here and there leads to fuller, richer living.
Additionally, the Amish heavily depend on each other as neighbors and friends with each trip. Imagine a typical errand trip for you: groceries, appointments, and shopping. It might take three hours, tops. But for the Amish, that same trip would take triple the time. They must rely on the community to watch the kids, or feed the livestock, or even manage the business.
These requests foster relationships, and in turn trust. Having a tight-knit community of reciprocated familiarity and trust is integral to the Amish culture. As much as they’d like to completely travel in this fashion, there are exceptions.
Transportation Exceptions
Typically, the Amish will try alternate methods before resorting to contemporary vehicles. Sometimes the distance is just too great, or the situation is time sensitive. For example, say an Amish business owner hears about a last-minute sale on livestock – but it’s in California. If it’s important enough for his family’s livelihood, he must purchase it. He cannot reasonably be expected to travel there and back, with thousands of pounds of cargo, in a more traditional Amish vehicle. He will instead contact a driver with a truck.
Drivers like this exist all over areas replete with Plain folk. The Amish individual will not drive the vehicle, but in keeping with his church’s guidelines will ride as a passenger. He can purchase the livestock and transport it without risking speed or his beliefs.
Depending on the sect, the Amish can contact drivers for much simpler scenarios. They can also travel on boats and trains – as long as the church approves.
It’s All Relative
Ultimately, the Amish decided to take a step back, and to focus on each other and their religion. With this kind of discipline, they have been able to preserve a deep cultural heritage. Their close-knit community thrives despite lacking some modern technology.
So plan your trip to Lancaster County with a stay at AmishView Inn & Suites, a journey by buggy with Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides and a trip to a Amish farm with Amish Experience, all located right here on Plain & Fancy Farm.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Amish Community
July 27, 2017For people residing outside of Lancaster County, the Amish can seem like a mystery. Why do they reject the use of some modern technology? What do they believe? Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions with brief answers. It is impossible to summarize any culture in such a short text, but we’d like to give you some basics.