In Home/Land he examines the small, remote, Pennsylvania valley where he moved as a child and later returned as an adult, after living in California and the southwest. His mother used to joke that the valley was like the 18th century, with a small population of Pennsylvania Dutch and surnames that went back centuries. In the time between his departure for college and his return in his 30s the valley shifted even more out of time, with a large influx of Amish. Home/Land is slowly exploring this old and somewhat odd community and how things have changed. The new reality is a mix of Amish assimilating with the longtime population, while the landscape and towns remain remarkably the same.
Amish neighbor children Dorothy and Mary playing in the newly cut grass. Dorothy decided to bury her sister
Amish neighbor children Dorothy and Mary playing in the newly cut grass. Dorothy decided to bury her sister. The sunglasses were bought from yard sales by their mother
Mennonite children waiting for the school bus
Amish neighbor getting jars of jelly
Amish often have chest freezers located in the basements of their English (non-Amish) neighbors. They pay a small rent for the electricity use
Dorothy and the Glasses
Dorothy playing with a pile of sparkly sunglasses her mother bought at a yard sale for the girls to wear while doing gardening and yard work
Snow Day
Three Amish boys walking home from school in the fields across from my farm.
Dorothy and the Duck
My Amish neighbor Dorothy and her pet duck. I was visiting the farm to see her father and photograph some of their sheep when the children began showing me their various pets. I asked the father if he minded me taking a few photographs and he agreed.
Amish children on scooters going home from school
Amish Schoolhouse
Amish Schoolhouse
Amish Cemetery
The land this small cemetery is located on was owned by my great grandmother. The cemetery is located directly across from our farm.
Lykens Valley
Lykens Valley
Lykens Valley
Mahantongo Valley
The town of Gratz, population 740
Route 25, Berrysburg Pennsylvania
Pillow Gap
My Grandmother's Farm
Farm Road, Mahantongo Valley
Gratz Tree
Dobbins Lane
Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
Amish families watching the high school football game
Many Amish volunteer for the local fire department
Parking Lot, Gratz Fair, which has been an annual event since 1873
Spectators, Gratz Fair
Funnel Cakes, Gratz Fair
Tall Cedars of Lebanon Lodge's stand at the Gratz Fair
Gratz Fair
Gratz Fair Queen and court watching the tractor pull, Gratz Fair
Families watching the tractor pull, Gratz Fair
Volunteer firemen watching the Demo Derby, Gratz Fair
Trees being cut on Mahantongo Mountain
Shade's Market, Gratz
2020 Pandemic Shutdown
Erdman
Mahantongo Valley
Mahantongo Valley
Short Mountain, Lykens Valley
Lykens Valley
Anthracite coal, Lykens Valley
Demo Derby cars parked, Lykens Valley in background