By Kevin Williams
Everyone wants to know how the Amish are during this coronavirus crisis: are they aware of the virus? Are they taking precautions? I can give you a pretty good breakdown on how this is shaking out: most Amish are aware of the virus and the churches are taking precautions such as shuttering schools and cancelling auctions.
Most Amish worship at home, but some church districts have buildings, this is an Amish church meetinghouse in Oakland, Maryland...many Amish churches are still open during this coronavirus crisis
Many Amish are still holding church services, though. Basically, the larger the settlement, the more precautions are being taken and the less gathering you are finding. The larger settlements - your Lancasters, Holmes Counties, your LaGrange Counties - tend to be more "plugged in" and receptive to public health overtures. I think you will find less awareness and less practicing of social distancing when you get into the smaller, more rural communities.
AMISH AND CORONAVIRUS: This is a pretty good article in the York, Pennsylvania newspaper that I think probably captures the Amish attitude towards coronavirus. Click here.
And this article talks about some of the efforts in New York's rural North Country to reach the Amish there with coronavirus information. Click here.
The actual town of Arthur ...hardly a loaf of bread to be found
MILLIE OTTO/SMOKED SAUSAGE SUPPER: Check out the latest from Illinois Amish columnist Millie Otto. No mention from her about the virus, but she mentions how bread was difficult to find in her community this past week. Click here to check out her column and a super sounding recipe for smoked sausage supper!
Delicious dandelion gravy, it was very, very "bacony" in its taste, so if you like bacon, this dressing is for you...any bitterness from the dandelions were smothered by bacon.
HOMEMADE HOT BACON DRESSING: This is a recipe for homemade hot bacon dressing that is a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition in the spring when it's whipped up and labeled over greens. This article is interesting and if you want a tasty way to enjoy some spring greens, you'll want to try this recipe...you do have to scroll to the bottom and click over to where it says to get the recipe. Click here.
GERMAN BAPTIST CANDY FAMILY: I missed this story when it first ran but,geez, with all the coronavirus coverage, I thought we all needed a sweet escape, so read about this Old German Baptist Brethren family deep in the Virginia hill country that still makes old-fashioned hard candy by hand. Click here.
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