Amish Country Blog

I went to Kercher’s Sunrise Orchard on Saturday.   It was wet and cold, but we still managed to have the best time.  We were there about 10:30am, and the car lot was almost full.  We went right to the line for the tractor ride to go to the pumpkin patch.  It was a long wait.  I loved watching all the kids running to the apple orchard to pick the apples, and seeing people line up to buy all the great food items.

When we finally made it out the pumpkin patch, the ground was very wet, and I was very glad that I wore boots!  After about 20 minutes, we found our perfect pumpkin.  On the way pack from the pumpkin patch, we met a family who each had a pumpkin.  I found out they had been coming to Kercher’s every year since their daughter was five.  It’s great that families mark this event.

Early Saturday morning, I read a twitter from Kercher’s that they were roasting a hog for their pulled pork sandwiches.  I had to try one.  It was the best!  With apple cider and an apple dumpling, I had the best lunch.

So next year, when you need a pumpkin and want time to enjoy Fall, go to Kercher’s.  If you went to the Kercher’s, what did you enjoy doing?  Do you have a picture of your pumpkin?  Show us what you picked.

-Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

Kercher’s Harvest Festival is coming up on October 10th and 11th.  I’m sure if you go, you’ll have fun.

When I was little, Kercher’s Market use to be on SR 15, and it was one of my first experiences with farm fresh vegetable and fruits.  I can still remember how the place smelled like apples.  They changed a little bit over the years, but it’s still a fun experience.

At the Harvest Fest, you can pick pumpkins and apples.  I love going out to the pumpkin patch and seeing what kinds of pumpkins other people are getting.  Some people wanted the biggest pumpkin they can get, but remember you’re carrying that 15lb pumpkin to the car—without dropping it! It does make decorating for fall enjoyable.

Kercher’s has great food at the Harvest Festival, along with plenty of apple cider. Of course, there are apples, lots and lots of apples.

So go to Kercher’s Harvest Festival and enjoy your day outside, enjoying fall.  If you have any memories of Kercher’s you’d like to share, let me know.  I’d love to hear from you.

-Mindy, Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Specialist

I have a great babysitter. She took my 16 month old daughter, Mina, and her 3 kids, ages from 4 years to 9 months to Kercher’s Apple Orchard. Mina picked up every stick she could find. She loves saying words, and lucky for my babysitter, apple is a new word, which she said every time she saw an apple. (Can you imagine how many times she said apple?) It was also reported to me that Mina also liked to pick up the apples off the ground, as close to the tree as possible. I don’t know how many bites of apple she had to eat, but she wasn’t hungry for the rest of the night. The kids had a great time.

So in return for her taking Mina out to Kercher’s, we’re going to take my babysitters family to another pumpkin patch in October. I can’t wait to see the kids faces when they see pumpkins dressed up and decorated. We’re going to let them pick up their jack-o-lanterns too. Since Mina’s babysitter is new to the area, we are then going to Das Dutchman Essenhaus to eat lunch…dinner… Do you really eat another meal after going to the Essenhaus?

Fall is a great time. There is so much to do, and it’s nice that our attractions focus on the outdoors. So before you go hibernate for the winter, get out and enjoy the outdoors. If you have a fun pumpkin patch story or photo comment now and share it!

-Mindy, Northern Indiana Amish Country Contributor

Fall is my favorite time of year.  The leaves start turning, and going home, I get to drive down east Jackson St., and enjoy the beautiful color. It’s that time when we need sweaters at night or early in the morning, and I get to start dressing my baby in ‘jammies’ that need footies. (They are my one of my favorite things.) 

The morning air is crisp, but doesn’t assault your mucus membranes when you inhale, like January and February air.  You can keep your windows open in at night, put on an extra blanket, snuggle up to your favorite bedtime buddy, and just enjoy the fact you’re not spending money on cooling the house down, or heating it yet.   

There is The Best of Autumn Outing driving tour on the Amish Country website.  Download it from the Special Tours tab, and go to all the places that celebrate fall. Take a walk down E. Jackson St. and sit for awhile at Martin’s Landing. The ducks are use to people feeding them, so when you go, expect to surround by a group or two. Go to Bonneyville Mill, take your last picnic of the year, and enjoy being outside before you have to stay in for the winter. 

Go to Middlebury and find Dutch County Market, Miller’s Apple Cider Mill and Pumpkin Patch Market– buy some pumpkins.  Then head to Goshen and walk the Mill Race, and then go to Kercher’s Sunrise Orchard. Or go to Amish Acers and see all the great things they do for fall and end your day by watching Kiss Me Kate at the Round Barn Theatre. Whatever you do, it will be fun.

If you live here, take all season and discover autumn in our area.  If you’re visiting, take a couple of days to explore the Best of Autumn Outing - it will be worth your time.

Mindy – Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor