Paint Creek Orchard

An Amish man plows the field at the Pain Creek Farm, an organic farm in Highland County.

By Kevin Williams

If you ever find yourself in the rural Highland County area you'll have to stop and check out Paint Creek Orchard, 9479 SR 771, Leesburg, OH.

Coaxed in by a sign for fresh eggs and homemade noodles, I stopped there the other day. I had a lot of questions about this relatively unfamiliar (to me) Amish community tucked away in the rolling hills of Highland County.  Paint Creek Orchard is an Amish-run organic farm and they have a shop on site, a good old-fashioned Amish variety store selling everything from hats to noodles.  I love, love these types of stores and this one is really neat.

Homemade noodles, fresh eggs and seasonal produce is at Paint Creek Farm.

It was getting late, around 5:30 p.m. and while the store's posted hours says it closes at 5 p.m., there was still an OPEN sign in the window.  A young Amish girl who couldn't have been more than 10 bounded out of the house to ring up my purchase.  I told her that in addition to my purchase that I'm a journalist and I had some questions about the area, "maybe you could get one of your parents?"

Unfortunately, her parents were away at a wedding in Michigan.  She offered to go get her 19-year-old brother but he was out plowing a field and I didn't want to bother him for my questions.  I also didn't feel comfortable asking a 10-year-old girl for permission to film the shop or ask her any questions so I left.

Open buggies are common among the Amish of Highland County

But a short drive up the road I'd meet an interesting Amish man who'd answer my questions about the community.  Stay tuned to Monday for my story about him!