The sun-drenched, pine-forested landscape of south-central Mississippi is deeply rooted in historic southern agriculture, sprawling timber tracts, and classic hospitality. However, a brand-new arrival is introducing a unique blend of old-world heritage and high-quality rural craftsmanship to the region. The Magnolia Ridge New Order Amish Community has officially established a thriving new settlement, inviting local residents and travelers to experience the exceptional quality of their scratch-baked goods, hand-hewn woodwork, and farm-fresh produce.
Stepping onto the central homestead site offers a refreshing change of pace from modern life. While New Order Amish settlements uniquely permit certain modern adaptations—such as the utilization of rubber tires on tractors and telephones for business purposes—the core of the community remains firmly anchored in quiet faith, meticulous hard work, and deep neighborly connection.
The Backstory
The journey of the Magnolia Ridge community began in the crowded, rapidly expanding Amish settlements of Ohio and Indiana. As land prices soared and available acreage for young families became increasingly scarce, several family elders began looking south toward affordable, fertile agricultural land. Drawn by the long growing season, welcoming local communities, and the beautiful, rolling terrain of Covington County, a core group of seven families decided to make the historic move southward.
Establishing the new settlement required an immense amount of faith and collective physical labor. Together with neighboring Southern farmers who eagerly welcomed them, the community cleared timber, built traditional homesteads, and raised a centralized community pavilion. Because New Order congregations encourage sustainable economic interactions with the outside world, the families designed their central farm store to serve as a direct bridge to their non-Amish neighbors. By combining timeless agrarian skills with an appreciation for Mississippi’s local climate, the community has successfully adapted their traditional northern farming techniques to thrive in the warm, hospitable Southern soils.
Favorite Items to Try
Whether you are stopping by the central homestead market to pick up seasonal provisions or commissioning a custom build, visitors have already fallen in love with a few standout offerings:
From the Bakery & Pantry
- Sweet Potato Sourdough Loaves: A brilliant regional adaptation of a classic family recipe. The bakers combine a century-old sourdough starter with locally harvested, roasted Mississippi sweet potatoes. The result is an incredibly moist, vibrant orange loaf with a perfectly blistered crust and a subtle, earthy sweetness that makes phenomenal morning toast.
- Copper-Kettle Peach & Ginger Butter: Simmered slowly for over fourteen hours in massive copper cauldrons over an open flame, this rich spread pairs sun-ripened Southern peaches with a sharp, warm kick of fresh ginger. It contains no artificial preservatives or high-fructose corn syrup and has quickly become a pantry staple for locals.
From the Workshop & Farm
- Hand-Roped Country Sage Sausage: Prepared fresh every week at the homestead butcher block, this signature pork sausage uses premium, pasture-raised trimmings seasoned with heavily rubbed garden sage, cracked black pepper, and a touch of local cane syrup.
- Custom Southern Pine Rocking Chairs: Utilizing the abundant local timber, the community’s woodworkers craft stunning, heirloom-quality porch rockers. Hand-planed from durable Southern yellow pine and treated to withstand the intense Gulf Coast humidity, each chair features contoured seating designed for a lifetime of comfortable evening relaxing.
Address
- Magnolia Ridge Amish Homestead & Market3142 Kola Road, Collins, MS 39428