Burns Best Farm

oover's farm at 449 W. Maple Grove Road on a recent Thursday was like stepping back in time.

Geese honked in the muddy lane. A buggy sat unhitched by the barn. But no one answered a knock on the front door.

The 47-year-old Hoover belongs to a small Mennonite sect that rejects modern trappings and immerses itself in the teachings of Scripture.

Recently, though, the group's loyalty to God's law got it tangled up with man's.

Police arrested Hoover in December along with Rachel Starr – his 54-year-old sister and a resident of the same rural community in Brecknock Township — for concealing a 15-year-old girl who wanted to join their church.

Police also took into custody 23-year-old Alda Martin, who stands accused of hiding the teen in a chicken coop on her property at 165 W. Maple Grove Road.

The Martins' 55½-acre steer and horse farm is up for public auction March 30; six or seven other farms in the vicinity are also for sale. Church members are in the process of migrating to Kentucky.

The defendants are presumed innocent as always, said Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman. However, he added in an e-mail, "the charges are extremely serious."

District Judge Rodney Hartman, of New Holland, said each defendant has been charged with criminal conspiracy/concealment of the whereabouts of a child. In addition, Starr has been charged with interference with the custody of children.

Hoover and Starr were each jailed two days in January, according to Hartman. Hoover was released on $150,000 bail, Starr on $250,000.

Martin remained free on $75,000 unsecured bail.

Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Franz is prosecuting the case.

A preliminary hearing has been set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 15, at Hartman's office at 745-B E. Main St.

The three attorneys representing the church members did not return phone messages left with their offices Friday.

The defendants themselves have remained reclusive.

Hoover could not be located for an interview.

At the Martin farm, a young man who emerged from a barn wearing a headlamp identified himself as Alda Martin's husband, but politely refused to discuss the case. "I don't think [another story] really needs to be in the paper," he said.

The defendants' congregation is known as the Daniel Hoover group, one of many latter-day spinoffs from the Old Order Groffdale Conference.

Donald B. Kraybill, a local expert on Plain culture, said he believes the church is a tiny sectarian community "that is not representative of most Old Order Mennonites."

People who know the Hoovers and their friends describe them as good neighbors, but even more socially isolated and technologically backward than the better recognized Old Order Amish.

They drive horses and buggies and don't use phones, petroleum fuels or motorized farm equipment.

"They're people that live off the land," said a Hoover neighbor who resides near Fivepointville.

"They have little insight" into the larger society and are likely shamed by the way their case has been portrayed in the media, added the neighbor, who asked that her name not be used. "They have their own little world."

Strange case
Plain culture has long marched to its own passively resistant drum.

After religious freedom advocates sprang to their defense in the 1970s, for example, the Old Order Amish were exempted by the U.S. Supreme Court from sending their children to high school.

But the situation in Brecknock's placid, rolling farm country is a real oddity.

"I am not familiar with any similar case in Lancaster County," noted Stedman, who said state police worked at top speed to find the girl.

"They knew time was of the essence and the longer things went on, the less likely she might ever be found and restored to her family."

According to a Jan. 27 affidavit of probable cause filed in Hartman's office by state police Trooper Chad S. Roberts, the girl had been attending Aaron Hoover's church for several months before she disappeared in the middle of the night Dec. 9.

Her father, Douglas Ramsey, told police she'd left a note revealing her intent to run away. Ramsey, who had earlier forbidden the girl to continue going to church, worried that she was being hidden.

The girl's name has not been released by police.

The Ramseys were tenants of Aaron Hoover's and lived in a nearby house.

When troopers from Ephrata showed up at Hoover's door after Ramsey called them at about 5 a.m., Dec. 10, according to the affidavit, he wouldn't tell them anything.

Church members complained that the girl's parents were blocking her from practicing her faith; troopers told them it was illegal to conceal her.

"They wouldn't cooperate with us in any way," Trooper Roberts said.

The search led to Alda Martin's farm some 19 hours later. Troopers took custody of the teen from the woman after about 15 minutes.

In a Jan. 11 interview, police said, Starr confirmed corresponding with the girl about running away and said that she gave her plain clothes and took her to Martin in the wee hours.

Starr also confirmed that she wanted to take the teen with her when the church moved to Kentucky, the affidavit said.

The Ramseys, who have reportedly moved to Parkesburg, could not be reached for comment.

The family's name remained on the mailbox at 510 Pleasant Valley Road on a recent afternoon but a ramshackle house at the end of the lane appeared vacant. Advertising circulars in plastic wrappers lay scattered on the drive.

The saga has others in the Plain community scratching their heads.

"I don't know what they were thinking," said a Groffdale Conference man who would identify himself publicly only as the Hoovers' distant cousin. "I never heard of [anyone hiding a child] before."

The man said the church is headed by Aaron Hoover's brother-in-law, Daniel Hoover. The Daniel Hoover group includes 12 to 14 families.

"I enjoy visiting with them and talking," noted the cousin, who added that the Hoover clan worships every other Sunday several miles away in a meetinghouse at Martin and Reidenbach roads, Earl Township.

Another man close to the Plain community speculated that the concealment grew out of a personality clash, not church policy.

"They're not like the Moonies," added the man, who asked to remain anonymous.

The Daniel Hoover group is descended from the Reidenbach Mennonites.

The Reidenbachs, nicknamed the "Thirty-fivers" after the initial number of dissenters, split from the Groffdale Conference (Wenger Mennonite Church) in 1946 because they did not want their young men taking part in Civilian Public Service programs as an alternative to military duty.

Another major division took place in 1977 when a new generation of separatists renounced propane gas and motorized farm machinery.

The 15 or so Thirty-fiver splinters are clannish, family-sized units that embrace ancient Swiss and southern German Anabaptist traditions, according to "Horse-and-Buggy Mennonites," a book by Kraybill and James P. Hurd.

The Daniel Hoover group formed in 2007 over a disagreement about biblical interpretation, according to information from the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College.

Observers said the group is likely heading to western Kentucky to get farther away from it all.

First, though, three of its members are bound for court.

"This just doesn't happen very often," said one scholarly observer. "It really is strange."

Amish Classic Banana Cake ~ Recipe

This cake is delicious and easy if you like bananas. I sometimes add 1 1 /2 or even two cups of bananas to give it an extra "banana-y" taste. So feel free to go bananas!

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

3 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup mashed bananas

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 1 /2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Blend in mashed bananas. Dissolve soda in buttermilk and set aside. Ub a separate bowl, sift together baking powder, flour, and salt. Blend dry ingredients into banana-egg mixture alternately with buttermilk. Beat well. Pour into a 9 X 13-inch pan and bake at 350.

Question? (Chas)

Hello from Maine could you please tell me what happen to Chas haven't seen a post from her ?

Whey, Cheesemaking, & the Real Food Challenge Update

Whey is such a good helper in your kitchen. It has a lot of minerals. One tablespoon of whey in a little water will help digestion. It is a remedy that will keep your muscles young. It will keep your joints moveable and ligaments elastic. When age wants to bend your back, take whey ... ~ Hannah Kroeger Ageless Remedies from Mother's Kitchen (taken from Nourishing Traditions)

I think I should definitely start including more whey into my diet; young muscles, moveable joints and elasticity of ligaments will come in handy!

I purchased goat's milk and organic non-homogenized cow's milk yesterday for cheese and yogurt making, so now I'll be able to have some good quality whey, as well. I'd rather have raw milk; but you do the best you can, and at the moment, this is the best quality milk I can get.

Now, to decide what to make with my milk, suggestions anyone? I will definitely make a quart of yogurt from the cow's milk, probably some buttermilk, and I was thinking of trying one of the soft cheeses ... I saw a recipe for lemon cheese in Home Cheesemaking that sounded very interesting, and I already have the ingredients for that one. Those of you who make goat's milk cheese, please tell me what type of soft cheeses are simple to make and the tastiest. Recipes would be most welcome, of course!

I know I neglected to post the last update on the Real Food Challenge; but as only a couple of people seemed to be participating, and I didn't do so well with the last weeks of the challenge I decided to skip it. Let's just say that I keep my food as real as is practical, and still have plenty of room for improvement

! Val, and anyone else who participated, feel free to comment and share how you fared in the last week of the challenge.

(WomenWithin) great site

Good morning from cloudy Maine. I get this catalog and thought I would go on the web site for the first time. It is geared for plus size women. And I would like to share with you.

Plus size clothing & plus size fashion for plus size women at womanwithin.com. Plus size tunics, plus size dresses, plus size tops & t-shirts. plus size shirts, plus size swimwear, plus size jeans, plus size pants, plus size skirts, plus size shorts & capris, plus size jackets, plus size coats, plus size evening dresses, plus size sweaters, plus size cardigans, plus size petites clothing, plus size tall clothing, plus size halloween costumes. Plus size intimates, plus size lingerie, plus size pajamas, plus size bras, plus size panties, plus size sleepwear. Wide width shoes, extra wide width shoes, wide width boots, wide width sandals, wide calf boots. Handbags, luggage, jewelry, frangrances and beauty products

up date on C Farm Sisterbrenda

I would like to thanks all the (HSB) that said a prayer for me while I had my hip operated on.. I had the stitches out yesterday things have been going OK..

This past week been in the ER twice two different hospitals.. All so had a UTI this week..

So the first visit to the ER ---I called my Dr I woke up my right side hurt really bad thought I broke some ribs cause I've been laying on my right side cause I couldn't lay on my left cause of my hip and I don't lay on my back well.

So I went and they did some tests they thought I had a blood clot in my right lung..They had me so scared and they are a small hospital and couldn't help me much so the following day I went to a bigger hosp in the city and they did an EKG and two different blood test and a CT scan of my chest..

Well the good news no blood clot praise god but I had what they called ( Costochondritis) inflammation of the cartilage joining the ribs to the breast bone.. that was were I was getting pain.. So they wrote up a script for some meds for pain and prednisone... And to apply heat..

Now to yesterday had staples out of the hip ouch..they were concern cause it was very swollen and red so they said ice it not better in a couple of days to come back for a follow up..

So here I am heat on one side and ice on the other with a UTI ... Why is God dealing me this hand????

Long story short hip still swollen and red I will see what happens over the weekend and off to bed I go now..

Chewy Molasses Cookies

These are yummy cookies, very rich in flavor, with molasses, and lots of spices. Yummy winter cookies.

To start, you need 1 stick (1/2 cup) soft butter and 1/4 c shortening.

And 1 cup Brown Sugar

Mix those until creamy.

Beat in an egg

Stir in 1/2 cup Molasses

Now add 1 tsp salt

Two teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon each of cinnamom...

Nutmeg

Allspice

and Ginger

Now mix together, adding 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour. Be sure to scrape the sides occasionally. Mix well.

Now if you use plastic wrap, cover the dough with the wrap, pressing against the dough. I don't buy it, so I am placing my dough in a smaller bowl with a lid. Put it in the fridge, and chill 1 - 2 hours.

While I was making the dough, Hickory was sitting on a little table, intently looking out the window.

Of course.

...

Now after an hour or two, heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Line your baking stone/sheet with parchment paper. And put some sugar in a small bowl. 1/2 a cup or so.

Then using a spoon or small scoop, scoop out about a rounded Tablespoon of dough, and roll it into a ball.

Roll the ball in the sugar to coat.

And place on the baking stone.

Bake the cookies for 9-10 minutes. They will crack slightly and still be somewhat soft.
Let them cool a couple minutes before removing from the paper, and let them cool completely. Using a couple sheets of parchment paper makes this job very easy. I just use one baking stone, and keep it in the oven. when one batch is done, I slide the paper and cookies onto a cooling rack, and using another rack, slide the next batch right onto the stone. While one batch is baking, I can be preparing the other. It cuts down the time that the oven is on.

When they are all done, you have these.

Enjoy!

***

Printable Version:

Chewy Molasses Cookies

1/2 c butter (soft)
1/4 c shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 c molasses
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg
2 1/2 c all-purpose flour

Sugar for rolling

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, shortening and brown sugar together until creamy.
Beat in egg and molasses.
Stir in salt, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg.
Stir in flour.
Be sure to scrape the sides of bowl to mix well.
Cover dough with plastic wrap, or place in bowl with lid.
Put it in the fridge, and chill 1 - 2 hours.

Heat your oven to 350 degrees.
Line your baking stone/sheet with parchment paper.
Put some sugar in a small bowl. 1/2 a cup or so.
Then using a spoon or small scoop, scoop out about a rounded Tablespoon of dough, and roll it into a ball.
Roll the ball in the sugar to coat.
And place on the baking stone.
Bake the cookies for 9-10 minutes. They will crack slightly and still be somewhat soft.
Let them cool a couple minutes before removing from the paper, and let them cool completely. Using a couple sheets of parchment paper makes this job very easy. I just use one baking stone, and keep it in the oven. when one batch is done, I slide the paper and cookies onto a cooling rack, and using another rack, slide the next batch right onto the stone. While one batch is baking, I can be preparing the other. It cuts down the time that the oven is on.

Enjoy!

Conni is an army wife and homeschooling mom of three, living in North Carolina. You can find out more about her on her blog: MamaHen

2 Birthdays this week in our home....

I can't believe that we have two teenagers in our home now:) My youngest daughter's birthday was on Tuesday we celebrated with a dinner and a movie she turned 13. My oldest daughter will turn 16 today we will celebrate with a dinner and then a shopping trip to the half price book store:) I am so very proud of my two daughters they are growing into beautiful ladies. I know that we have been truly blessed!!

I have been busy getting things done around the house. We have a few trays of seeds growing under lights...spring is almost here! The girls have been working getting their school work done...I think their last day of school will be May 19th. We didn't take many snow days off and we have had only one field trip. I really think this year has gone way too fast.

I am getting excited about being able to get outside as the weather warms up...we pruned our apple trees this week and we marked a few trees that need to get cut down this spring. We are wanting to clean up our tree line so that we will be able to mow more of our yard and in general clean up that area.

We would like to being planting in our garden beds such as potatoes,peas, spinach, lettuce, maybe some broccoli but we want to make sure we don't start to early...we could still get snow? We always wait until Mothers Day to plant our main things such as tomatoes, peppers ect... It makes me excited thinking about having fresh vegetables again:)

Featured Blogger ~ Herbs & Honey

Stop by and congratulate Herbs & Honey for being this week's Featured Blogger, and while you're there be sure to check out her great posts like Kitchen Blessings #1 and #2 and read how she likes to spice things up in Kitchen Blessings #3.

This recipe for Homemade Pasta Dough sounds very tasty, and I think that just might be "what's for dinner" at my house tonight.

Please help me choose the next Featured Blogger. If you have a blogger you'd like to nominate as our Featured Blogger of the Week, send me an email at senioreditor@homesteadblogger.com . Keep in mind that Featured Bloggers must be at least 18 years of age and their blog must be encouraging, uplifting, and/or inspiring.

Shamrock Cupcakes picture and recipe

Hello from Maine.. Now these look really good.. Yummy Yummy for this old tummy..

Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day, so get the family together to make a batch of these festive cupcakes.

Burns Best Farm

A Mennonite splinter, the Daniel Hoover church, heads for Kentucky. Three members face charges of hiding teen who wanted to join them.

Amish Classic Banana Cake ~ Recipe

Question? (Chas)

Whey, Cheesemaking, & the Real Food Challenge Update

(WomenWithin) great site

up date on C Farm Sisterbrenda

Chewy Molasses Cookies

2 Birthdays this week in our home....

Featured Blogger ~ Herbs & Honey

Shamrock Cupcakes picture and recipe

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