Scenes From an Old Amish Farmstead and Some Pie Recipes!

By Kevin Williams

There is a place about 20 minutes away from me that you can just sit in a wooden rocker on the front porch of an old farmhouse and watch the world go by. It's place of peace and tranquilty, steeped in history and beauty.

The Chrisholm Historic Site is a preserved Amish farmstead (named after the Amish community's founder, Christian Augspurger) that allows today's visitors a glimpse into a very different life. Not every Amish community survives, but most just sort of "disappear" without a trace. Chrisholm's kind of out of the way spot in a bend in the river assured that once the Amish decamped for other areas that the estate just sort of sat, eventually falling into disrepair but hanging on long enough for preservationists to one day discover what a gem it was. The farmstead is now part of Butler County MetroParks, and features well-tended gardens, the original homestead and this is the part that intrigues me: a natural play area for kids which will be completed later this year. Man, I am going to enjoy taking Aster to that! Told Rachel when the kids are grown and flown the nest I think I am just going to go to Chrisholm frequently and sit on one of the rocking chairs on the front porch and just watch the world go by, it's such a peaceful place.

To learn all about Chrisholm, this charming, preserved original Amish farmstead 30 miles north of Cincinnati, click here.

Bob And Andy Summer Pie - this is a version of the pie that is on Chrisholm's site, not a stretch think this was a common cool dessert on a warm summer day on this farmstead. Click here for the recipe.

TEARS ON YOUR PILLOW PIE: Similar to Bob Andy Pie, click here.

For now, though, they offer nature type programs each Thursday and Sunday throughout the summer, so we took Aster to one last evening. Aster had a great time learning from a naturalist about the "water cycle", doing some crafts, and exploring the grounds.

I never get tired of seeing, exploring, or photographing the Christian Augspurger home, which was built in 1874 (actually built by Christian's son Samuel) and graces the grounds, along with gardens and a soon to be completed play area.