The Barn Series - Day 7 - The Mennonites

On Day 7 we travel back to the turn of the century and visit a Mennonite Community located just west of the small towns of Scottsville and Franklin, Kentucky, about 20 miles north of the Kentucky/Tennessee border. The Mennonites of this community call themselves "the plain people". Their simple life does not allow for electric gas power machinery and make their living in agricultural pursuits.

In the Fall, they harvest molasses made the old-fashioned way. In Summer, they grow fresh produce and make leather goods. On one of the back roads, a horse drawn buggy carrying young Mennonite farmers passed me just as a gal on horseback was making her way down the road.

As I drove around the community on this lazy, late Summer, Sunday afternoon, I saw this little girl, with doll in hand, being dropped off at the end of her long driveway.

I traveled to this community which was only about a 45 minute drive from my home, to check out the barns and farms. Most of the farms, however, sat way back off the road where no photograph could capture them. Out of respect for these simple Mennonite people, I tried not to capture an image of their faces. I want to get back to this area this Summer, where the farmers carry out a thriving produce business at Haybegger's Amish Market nearer to Scottsville, and hopefully, pick up some fresh vegetables.

I am a little bit under the weather as I write this post having had gallbladder surgery yesterday. The pain medications are leaving my thoughts a bit clouded. The pain is palpable, but I venture to say in a few days I'll be almost back to normal. And I might add, I can't wait. I hope you all have a great weekend. Let's see where Day 8 takes us. ENJOY!

Amish, Southern Kentucky

Today was the perfect day for a Sunday drive with blue skies, fluffy white clouds and abundant sunshine. My intinerary was simple. A short drive to a small community of Amish farms tucked away just west of Scottsville, in south central Kentucky. I wasn't disappointed as I reached the area in about a thirty to forty minute drive from my home. This community of Mennonites settled here many years past in search of affordable farmland having left their larger Mennonite community in Pennsylvania.

I had thought about visiting here for some time and only wished it were a day their farm markets were open. These people have peacefully co-existed here in southern Kentucky for many years, while our modern technologically-driven world surrounds them. They choose to live a 'plain' life, as they call it, with no electricity, working machinery or plumbing. It was evident everywhere I looked as horse drawn buggies and windmills blowing in the wind were plentiful.

This small community is situated within a mere seven mile stretch of land near Scottsville. They are self sustaining with their farms, school, church and shops all located within that small area. Most of the farmers, however, depend on big box stores all across our country to buy their crops. Those farmers that choose not to sell to the outside world operate roadside stands or markets, such as Habegger's Amish Market, within the community itself which attracts visitors from all over the country.

This small group of farmers settled here many years ago because they felt the modern world was encroaching on their simple way of life in central Pennsylvania where their larger Mennonite community exists.

As I was leaving the Amish area, I passed a farm where a little Amish girl was walking up the lane toward her house with her doll in her arms. I know Amish don't like their photo taken, but she wouldn't turn around so I could just get the back of her, so I finally snapped this image as I wanted a photo of her. I hope your weekend has been a good one. The temperatures and humidity today were much more bearable, yet I know it won't last. With this being the hottest Summer on record, or at best, one of them, I am looking forward to Fall. ENJOY!