Features

Sept. 1 Wilderness Walk Where: The Wilderness Center, Wilmot When: 10 a.m. Join a naturalist on the first Wednesday every month for a walk on our trails. See what's interesting today! All ages welcome.Free and open to the public.  Read Story.

As World Crafts manager Lisa Zuercher prepares for the 20th anniversary celebration of her store, she wants to turn the event into an opportunity. "We see it as more of a celebration," Zuercher said.   Read Story.

As owner and operator of Scenic Hills RV Park, Sam Hershberger finds that the peace and quiet of an Amish country lifestyle is mirrored in the park. Nestled in northeast Ohio, perfectly centered in Holmes County, Scenic Hills sits on 30 acres of Amish countryside.  Read Story.

Walking into Behalt, the history of Mennonite faith envelopes its visitors with the 265 ft. long cyclorama that displays every step and memory of Amish heritage. With Behalt meaning "to keep," or "to remember," the past 485 years of Amish and Mennonite heritage is illustrated for everyone to witness this group's journey.  Read Story.

First and foremost I'd like to introduce myself as the new editor for Amish Heartland. Former editor and writer, Jennifer Ditlevson, has decided to continue her education by entering the master's program at Baylor University in Waco, Tx.   Read Story.

Come see what's going on in Amish Heartland  Read Story.

At first glance, the store is filled with shelves of white, nearly identical Amish head coverings. -- The key word is "nearly." Either an Amish woman or a person with a very discerning eye for pleats and creases will note the differences between the types of coverings found at The Cap Shack just outside Mount Eaton.  Read Story.

The sweet, creamy smell of cinnamon buns hangs above all the rustic home decor in Audrey's Attic and it seems even more like a home with three in-house cats that blend into the scenery. One particular fluffy orange cat named Blaze will walk across the checkout computer, marking a generous line of "f's" across the screen. Blaze is joined by his.  Read Story.

Rita Shisler is the second-generation owner of Shisler's Cheese House, begun in 1958 by her father-in law, John Shisler, she said, had a dream that the business "would be around for many generations, as a small family store, attracting the U.S. Route 30 travelers to a piece of good swiss cheese and a cold drink."  Read Story.

With 53 countries to choose from, it's not difficult for the Mennonite Central Committee to find somewhere to lend help. The devastating earthquakes that struck Haiti this year, however, have given MCC a new focal point for its ministry. "Haiti was one of our big ones this past year and although everyone was doing Haiti, we were quite involved with that.  Read Story.

Help from the locals isn't just reserved for the needy overseas. The Rainbow of Hope Foundation will take care of the local community with proceeds made from its 23rd auction at Mount Hope Auctions on July 24 and 25. Proceeds will aid families struggling to cover their children's medical expenses.  Read Story.

His desk (an ornate, cement picnic table) sits just below an overgrown shade tree between the greenhouse and his home. Excited birds muffle the din of nearby fast-passing traffic, providing a pleasant alternative to generic corporate Muzak. A painted-purple dinosaur guards one side of his "office" while a few other random statues scattered between the roots of the tree behind the.  Read Story.

As she points to items in her downtown Berlin store Harvest Moon, Cathy Coe can talk about many of the vendors who fill her store with handmade goods. Some have become close friends and others are much closer. Her husband, Dale, provides antique window mirrors and caramels sold at the front counter while her mother sells Amish dolls and crocheted doilies..  Read Story.

Find all there is to do in the Amish Heartland!  Read Story.

Elmer Yoder stays busy. He works 35 hours a week at a local leather shop in downtown Berlin; he keeps up with his chores at the house; he calls private auctions when he can; he frames and mats commissioned work; and he paints watercolor landscapes. It sounds like a lot of work for anyone, but especially so for 15-years-old.  Read Story.

Anywhere else, finding clothes for small breed dogs, country western decor, leather wares, custom-painted landscape wall-hangings and horse bits might not make a lot of sense. At Berlin Leather & Shoe at Shrock's Amish Farm, it all comes together. Store manager Firman Hershberger explained that when the store opened five years ago, inventory primarily spanned belts and tack for horses.  Read Story.

When Ole Mill Furniture opened 24 years ago, the Amish Heartland wasn't known for furniture yet. Now, with furniture shops in nearly every small town, the store stakes its claim in offering one-of-a-kind designs. Since owner Leon Mast started in the furniture industry in the mid-1980s, his role in the business has changed with the times.  Read Story.

Amish Heartland Contributor Before planting their gardens, flower and vegetable enthusiasts may want to check out the renovated The Greenhouse Shoppe on Cleveland Road, Wooster. With its large columns, the store's front closely resembles a southern-style plantation house, while its interior features wood trim and light fixtures similar to what customers might find in their own homes.  Read Story.

Find out upcoming events in the Amish Heartland  Read Story.

Traveling the back roads of the Holmes County Amish settlement, it's hard to miss the signs of a thriving entrepreneurial community. Long known for their skills on the farm, in recent years Amish have opened small businesses by the bushel, easily recognized by simple signs proclaiming "No Sunday Sales."  Read Story.