One of the reasons Lancaster County is a unique, vibrant place to live is because of the history of the County. One piece of history are the groups of people who live within Lancaster, the Pennsylvania Amish have been a community since the 16th century. The Amish are a religious community that live amongst one another within a simple way of living. The blend between communities amongs Lancaster County is a reason why we all love to live here. Through food, produce and materials there is a wonderful community within Lancaster County where the Pennsylvania Amish and other members in the community work together to use the local land to create and provide for one another. This week’s article I am going to dive into the Pennsylvania Amish and the wonderful items they provide for so many! A great day in Lancaster is experiencing the Pennsylvania Amish markets full of food and wonderful gift ideas!
Pennsylvania Amish is the largest and oldest Amish community within the United States. Their religious beliefs come from within the Mennonite beliefs, though different. Their traditions focus on farming, worship within homes and not moving with modern ways of being such as use of technology or electricity. They arrived within Pennsylvania in the early 1700’s settling creating their community. The Amish community can be spotted within Lancaster County by many distinctions such as driving a horse and buggy on the streets!
One of the ways our communities flourish is through the Amish Markets, there are no better places to pick up fresh produce or delicious baked goods. Stopping over to a market on your way home from an early morning walk or to stock up for a weekend family gathering is your best bet to ensure everyone is eating with a smile on their face! With so much to choose from you are sure everyone will be satisfied. A few of my favorite market finds are
- Fresh Flowers
- Homemade Jellies
- Fruits
- Homemade Root Beer
- Seasonal Vegetables
- Whoopie Pies
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Baked Breads and Sweets
What is wonderful about the Amish markets are that we can buy fresh and local produce that is truly tasty! Being able to buy the local and fresh produce also gives us the advantage of consuming healthier produce since the food we are buying are not traveling to us. A few markets to check out for some Amish delicacies are:
- Darrenkamp’s Market
- Bird-In-Hand
- Green Dragon Farmers Market & Auction
- Kissel Hill Fruit Farm Orchard & Market
- Lancaster Central Market (a historic farmer’s market in downtown Lancaster City)
While going to a market is a great way to get an array of items at one stop be sure to stop at a Roadside stand next time you pass one! Roadside stands are stands on the side of the road where you can pick up produce – literally farm to table shopping. Most roadstands are on the backroads a few of my favorite stands are:
- Sheep Lane Produce Stand
- Fisher’s Festivals
- The Corn Wagon
One way to enjoy the Amish markets or Roadstands is take your family there and pick out your produce to then create a meal together, this makes it a family affair and also a great learning opportunity for young children to cook while also learning about seasonal produce and the nutrients that come from the foods you choose to cook with. Consider trying this out, a great way to get the family together, learn a new recipe and enjoy one another’s company!
While the markets and roadstands meet your needs for food and beautiful floral arrangements it is important to learn about the Amish delicacies and craftsmanship that you can also enjoy when in Lancaster County or take home! Let me share a few of my favorite handcrafts for you to check out:
- Peaceful Valley Furniture offers wooden handmade furniture such as tables, chairs, bookshelves, bed frames and more! If you are new to the neighborhood or wanting to mix up your house decor look no further! Wellmade and long lasting furniture your whole family can enjoy~
- Family Farm Quilts & Handcrafts put aside your blankets and grab an Amish quilt they are beautifully made with colors and patterns galore as well as incredibly warm. As the winter days get colder these quilts are a great gift for your holiday shopping~
While these two stores have wonderful items there are more homegoods you won’t want to miss as you explore Lancaster’s Amish shops and markets. A few of my favorite buys are:
- Brooms
- Baskets
- Soaps
- Linens
- Pottery
- Potholders
- Birdhouses
A few things to know when shopping at Amish markets or Roadstands is that the shops are closed on Sundays as well as certain holidays due to their religious faith. Be sure to bring cash when shopping because credit cards are typically not accepted (when stopping at a roadstand look for where to put your money, if someone is not there you will typically find a jar, container or box for you to pay for your items).
Whether it is a day in Lancaster County or you are looking to move into the area Pennsylvania Amish provide wonderful fresh and local food as well as incredible craftsmanship. Their markets and learning about their community is a must see and do! Head to Lancaster County to experience it for yourself, the perfect way to spend the day as a family or to get out with your friends for some holiday shopping, a wonderful way to support locally and experience Lancaster flavor!
Contact Mary Sue Wolf to look at homes and properties that could bring you to experience the farm to table food and locally created home goods of Lancaster County’s Pennsylvania Amish whenever you hope. You will love it here!
For more information on wonderful homes call Mary Sue at 717-333-9653 or visit her website at www.WolfandWebb.com
Lancaster Local Secrets 