By Laura
Ever since we started carrying Justin Rothshank’s wonderfully original pottery and tableware at Tabula Tua, I have been intrigued by the juxtaposition of the artist’s youthful and unique style with his home in the heart of Midwestern Amish country. After hearing a recent NPR story about The Electric Brew in Goshen, Indiana, I was inspired to take advantage of the incredible October weather, and two Saturdays ago two friends and I made a visit. The drive from Chicago was only 2.5 hours, but we could have been a million miles away.
Some of Justin Rothshank’s unique mugs (available at Tabula Tua).
We rolled into the sleepy town and headed to the Goshen Farmer’s Market, which sells all things local, from free-range meats and dairy to quilts and jewelry. We then checked into the Rose Lane Farm Bed & Breakfast, which is owned by Stephen and Rosetta Schmidt and sits on six acres of gorgeous farm- and wood-land about 15 minutes from downtown Goshen. We had a relaxing picnic of bread, cheese, and tomato salad from the farmer’s market, and then took a stroll around the property, crossing paths with the chickens that would be responsible for Sunday’s breakfast eggs. After eating we went back into Goshen to visit the Old Bag Factory. Once a Midwestern industrial centerpiece, the factory has been transformed into an artist hub, with sculptors and craftsmen using the space as a public workshop, while also having the opportunity to sell their goods. Our final destination on Saturday was The Electric Brew, where we joined a crowd of all ages listening to singer/songwriters Caralie Raymond and Dave Johnson - I particularly enjoyed the latter performer, who sounded a bit like Neil Young.
View from the B&B.
Sunday we awoke to the clip-clop of horses leading carriages of Amish and Mennonite folks to church. We enjoyed a breakfast made with ingredients directly from the farm, and returned to town where we visited one of the only places open on Sunday morning, the Olympia Candy Kitchen. Another “throwback” to a different era, they make hand-dipped chocolates and have a diner in the front where hard-working teens serve eggs and coffee (and a delicious homemade fruit lemonade that I had with apples and oranges). We finished the trip with a visit to Kercher’s Sunrise Orchard, where we picked perfectly ripe apples to bring back to Chicago.
DELICIOUS homemade fruit lemonade!
As I arrived back home, I was struck by how I have consciously moved in the direction of eating more locally-produced foods and supporting local artisans, and yet I had no idea that such an idyllic notion of “local” really even existed. But it certainly does, and it’s not very far, at all, from our doorsteps.
A scene from the orchard.
