Lancaster County is widely known for its large population of Amish residents and other members of the Plain community. Horses and buggies are an iconic part of the area's distinct character, and although the Amish are especially fond of their privacy, local residents and tourists are able to observe several customs that are unique to the modest group. But there are many Amish traditions that few people outside the Plain community are familiar with, including the topic of Beth Oberholtzer's new book, "Amish Gardens of Lancaster County."

Oberholtzer's latest work explores the time-honored Amish tradition of cultivating a kitchen garden, which is maintained by the women of the household to serve a variety of purposes. The gardens are used to feed large families with a diverse range of vegetables, fruits and herbs that serve as integral parts of family recipes, many of which have been passed down through generations. The kitchen gardens are also utilized as places for members of the household to plant flowers and foster different types of artistry and creativity.

"One of the pleasures of researching this book and talking to the gardeners was learning how the gardens are really portraits of the women who create and sustain them," Oberholtzer said. "It is how they nourish their families, a way to connect with their children, and an expression of their own creativity."

Oberholtzer had the idea to write "Amish Gardens of Lancaster County" while she was visiting local Amish farms and conducting research for her previous book, "Working Horses of Lancaster County." Oberholtzer said she noticed that each Amish home included a large garden, and she began to learn about them from the wives of the horse owners she was interviewing. "I got an inkling of their responsibilities and joys in gardening and preserving food for their families," Oberholtzer added. "Some information I gleaned was common across most gardens, while some was unique to a particular gardener."

Oberholtzer will discuss "Amish Gardens of Lancaster County" on Thursday, July 25, at Mennonite Life, 2215 Millstream Road, Lancaster. The free event will begin at 6:30 p.m., and no registration is required to attend.

For more information, visit https://mennonitelife.org/events.