Popular Posts

Share your thoughts with the Amish America community

Amish TopicsBelow you’ll find over 100 of our most popular discussion posts, covering a vast range of topics–from controversial issues to a lighter look at Amish life.  Scroll down to browse individual posts.  Or use the links list to jump to a category of your choice.

Categories

Newly Added: Amish Lists (10 largest communities, favorite pastimes, top names & more)


Amish Woman Topics

Amish Women
The Amish Woman
Do Amish women have rights?
Ada the quiltmaker
One man’s view of Amish women
How do Amish women put up their hair?
Why don’t Amish discuss pregnancy?

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Joining Amish Topics

Joining the Amish
When a son joins the Amish
When a son joins the Amish: What about photos?
Do Amish evangelize?
Joining the Amish after 50
If you “left the English”, what would you gain?
Joining the Amish: 45 years later

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Amish Family Leaving

Leaving the Amish
Leaving the Amish
The Ex-Amish community
Ira Wagler
Saloma Furlong
Mose Gingerich
Amish out of the Order (Nat Geo)

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Amish Health Topics

Remedies, vaccines & health
Do you believe in natural remedies?
Burn remedy or emergency room?
How to beat a summer cold?
Amish dentures
Are vitamins and supplements worth buying?
Why Amish vaccinate less
Dr. Holmes Morton and Amish genetics

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Amish Food Topics

Amish Food
What’s your favorite Amish food?
The Riddle of Amish Scrapple and Other Mystery Meats
Amish peanut butter
What do Amish eat?
What’s your favorite Amish restaurant?
Would you buy food from an Amish salvage store?

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Amish Romance

Amish Fiction
Who reads Amish fiction?
How important is authenticity?
What’s your favorite Amish book?
Amish fiction characters–just plain stereotypes?
Valerie Weaver-Zercher on Amish Romance

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Amish Tourist Trap

Tough Questions
Are Amish “saved”?
Do you know these 10 Amish terms?
What do Amish think about atheists?
What if it says “Amish” and it’s not?
Is Amish clothing really “Plain”?
Do we romanticize the Amish?

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Amish Child Walking

Tougher Questions
To spank or not to spank
Saints or animal abusers?
Ban buggies?
Pledging allegiance to the flag–or God?
Is Amish life more dangerous?

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Amish TV

Amish on TV
Breaking Amish
Amish: Out of Order
Mose Gingerich discusses Amish: Out of Order
Amish: A Secret Life
“The Amish” on PBS
Leaving Amish Paradise
Trouble in Amish Paradise

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Amish Farm Community

Communities
What’s your favorite Amish community?
8 reasons Amish may be headed your way
7 million Amish by the year 2100?
Which Amish community will you be visiting?
5 Fast-growing settlements
State-by-state Amish guide

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Amish Home Kitchen

Inside an Amish home
Amish Kitchen
Conservative Amish Kitchen
Amish Living Room
Amish Bedroom
Swiss Amish home
Inside an Amish…outhouse

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Amish Dolls

Inside an Amish business
Amish quilt shop
Amish clock shop
Amish toy shop
Amish bulk foods store
An Amish doll maker
Amish shoe store
Amish book store

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Wedding Rings

What do Amish think about…
Voting
Birth Control
Divorce
Guns
College
Banks
Doctors
Wedding Rings
Other Religions
Dancing
Smoking

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Amish Controversies

Controversies
Amish guns & photo IDs
Amish beard cutters
Rumspringa
Amish shunning
Amish raw milk
SMV triangle

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Photos Amish

Photos
Lancaster County 50 years ago
Bill Coleman’s autumn Amish photos
10 Tennessee Amish photos
What do Amish think about photography?

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Quilt Amish

Quilts, soap, canning & more
Amish soap
Quilt questions
Amish canning
Amish hair pins
Amish dolls

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Amish Basketball Hoop

The Lighter Side
Falling asleep in church
Largest Amish family ever?
Cornhole (the game)
Another flying Amish horse
The Ohio Amish mud basketball tournament
Funny Amish signs

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Greyhound Bus

Worth Pondering
Does anyone still write letters?
Which technology could you give up?
Do you ever use mass transport?
Why do we treasure old books?
Would you give up the internet for $1 million?
What does “wealth” mean to you?
———————————

Photo credits: Joining the Amish- Cindy Seigle/flickr; Amish fiction book- A Promise for Miriam by Vanetta Chapman; Amish dolls- Brenda Henry; Wedding rings- MyTudut/flickr; Camera- ilco/sxc.hu; Bus- Karyn Christner/flickr

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    70 Comments

    1. Janet

      contact with respect

      How does one respectfully contact an Amish farmer in order to buy straw? It will be used as a house building material, which has certain different qualities than commercial straw bales.

      1. Hi Janet, I don’t think you’ll offend anyone if you just drop by a farm and ask about it, or even anywhere you see a sign indicating hay. Do you have Amish farms in the neighborhood? Amish do get visitors and you shouldn’t offend anyone, I always tell people just to have proper dress in mind. Otherwise Amish do business with outsiders on a pretty regular basis.

        1. Janet

          Thank you for your reply. I see the Amish on the roads when I go to and from work, but do not know exactly where they live. As someone who lives out in the country myself I would find it very creepy for a stranger to just come knock on my door, but will try it if that is normal business in their eyes.

          1. Allyson L

            Janet,
            They COMPLETELY expect people (typically fellow Amish but English too) to just stop by! I stopped in to buy eggs at a local Amish place and it was 3 hours and having met the entire family before I was on my way! Oh and they gave me an entire tour of their farm!
            I kept saying “oh I better get going and let you get back to canning the chicken” She kept telling me and that the girls were doing a fine job and she was not needed!
            Look for signs on posts pointing to the sale of eggs/onionns/garlic etc and no Sunday sales and you will locate their homes!
            Allyson

    2. Speaking Engagement?

      Hello Erik,
      I stumbled across your site in search of those who work regularly with the Amish. I help run a program called HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership) and we are looking for someone to speak to a group of high school sophomores on diversity. Central New York is home to several Amish families/communities and many of our students see Amish children regularly. Would you be able to connect us with someone who might fit that description?
      Thanks
      ~Danielle

      1. Hi Danielle, I sent you a message by email in response a while back which I hope you received.

    3. Lori Harding

      I live in Osceola, Ind, and I just have to drive 10 min south ,and I am now in Amish country, I go to Nappannee, and Bremen to my vet, I love the drive, and have stopped at a farm for fresh eggs, The young Amish man was not upset, but very nice to me, and friendly. I love looking at their farms and way off life when I go to the vets. So peaceful, and I feel I am really in gods country. The only thing that bothers me are the way other people drive, they fly down the road, they need to have more respect for the Amish,

      1. amish topics

        Does anybody know how to introduce a new lamp oil to the Amish?

        I have a great product to sell to them but do not know how to contact any of them.www.burnmystuff.net

    4. Mike Scott

      Need help contacting a community

      Hi- I’ve been working with a group of ranchers in Montana for some time to help them fight a railroad that is proposed to go through their land. Now the railroad has been rerouted, and it goes directly through a small Amish community. From what I hear, they are overwhelmed and don’t know what to do. I’d like to extend an offer to help, but I am not sure what the proper protocol is. Please feel free to contact me directly via email, this could be a tragedy for these folks.

      1. Mike you might want to re-post this on the Montana Amish page:

        https://amishamerica.com/montana-amish/

        Also no one can see your email unless you yourself insert it into your comment.

    5. Mike Scott

      Thanks

      Will do Erik.

    6. Chris Schaefer

      Newspapers

      I am interested in advertising in an amish newsletter/newspapers. I have manual scales for sale. Can you provide contact information for the Newspaper for Columbia Co. and other Amish Counties in Wisconsin.

      Thank you,
      Chris Schaefer

    7. Brenda

      Concern

      Why are the Amish being exploited on the Discovery Channel and other networks? “Breaking Amish” was the first program I noticed. Now I notice a program entitled Amish Mafia. What is the reaction among the people? Are these who are exploiting themselves allowed to be in the community? These programs are troubling.

    8. Allyson L

      All of my Amish friends think the shows are ridiculous. Of course the youth are all talking about them.
      The parents are disgusted by it and do not understand the fascination with them. The shows are of Amush mainly in Lancaster, Pa as Holmes Cty are not nearly as “wild” if you will.
      I know a man that works with one of the cast members of Amish Mafia. Of course he grew up in an Amish home NEVER joined the church. It is very demeaning to the Amish what these “imposters” if you will are portraying and making the Amish Culture look like.
      Very very little is the way any of the Amish that I know live. I have good friends across Ohio, in west Pa and here in Ontario and very little is the same as anything depicted.
      Sad and kinda unreal.

    9. Ruth Anne

      Special Needs People

      Erik, As a mother to a young woman who has Down syndrome I am curious as to how people with intellectual disabilities are accepted and integrated into the Amish culture. I live near Xenia Ohio and I often see Amish people out and about shopping, visiting the doctor, etc., but I have never noticed an Amish person who has Down syndrome or any other obvious intellectual disability. Specifically, I would like to know how the mentally challenged Amish are accepted into their society. Do they receive an education? Are they encouraged to work along side the main community? Are they allowed to marry if they want to? Do the Amish consider them to be a punishment from God or do they respect and love them as they are? Thank you

      1. Ruth Anne, here’s a short answer, hopefully a longer one coming soon–there are Amish with Down Syndrome and other disabilities, they and others are definitely not considered a punishment, and though they may be a burden in some ways, they are generally seen as a blessing. There are special education programs administered by Amish or sometimes in public schools.

      2. Ruth Anne, I just posted a more detailed answer to your question: https://amishamerica.com/amish-special-needs-children/

    10. April

      Horse question

      I am trying to find out how I might go about speaking with someone about two highly bred Mares I have. My health is not good and I have two young 3yr old gaitd Mares that I would love to get into a good working home. They were bred for endurance riding and work. If you could give me any direction I would appreciate it.

      1. April I don’t know your location or distance from an Amish community (I am assuming you are interested in finding a home with someone Amish since you are posting here)…here is some general info on communities around the country: https://amishamerica.com/amish-state-guide/

        Horses are bought and sold at auction frequently by Amish, at both Amish and non-Amish sales.

    11. Deborah

      Produce Auction

      I am looking for an Amish Produce Auction, or an Auction house that sells Amish grown Produce in or around Springfield, Mo. Any help or direction would be appreciated. Thank You.

    12. donald wittman

      How are Amish Ministers chosen

      1. Who chooses someone to be a minister

      2. Of the 2 or 3 ministers you know, how old were they when they became ministers

      3. Can the Minister be replaced? How

      4. Besides discipline what does the Minister decide

      1. Slightly-handled-Order-man

        How are Amish Ministers chosen

        Read this article:
        https://amishamerica.com/who-leads-the-amish-church/

    13. Mike

      Flooded Family in need of Help

      We are hard working people and thought after 35 years on the Job,had this life thing nailed down, but then the unexspected happened, June 8th 2008 woke up at 7am to our police scanner going off hearing our local fire dept talking about how they needed to evacuate people from their homes, then we heard someone knocking at our door, so I stepped out of bed and when my feet hit the floor at that very moment I knew there was a problem,our carpet was soaked and when I opened the front door I could then see our yard was covered in about 2 foot of water, the fireman told me we had to go, quickly that we had 13 ” of rain In 6 hours and the levys had broke and the entire area was at risk, I told them I would get dressed and grab a few things and our cocker spaniel and he then told me you have no time for that and your pet cannot go, I refused to leave without our baby, she was our child in a sense, in fact in many ways, so I stayed and continued to do as needed, and then was able to leave when I walked out carrying our little dog in my arms the water had rose to about 4 and half feet , and rising quickly, before it was all over we had over 6 foot of water inside our home, I had never been so devastated in my life, 35 years of hard and long hours gone in a flash, and it has not ended yet we have hired several guys claiming they were contractors only to get ripped off and faulty work, we have replaced every single piiece of drywall in the entire house,all the electrical, we had new floors put in and now the kitchen floor is swelling and we are at a lost, we were told by our Morgan county flood dept that we would get help from the Amish but that never happened,They were directed to a city officials home instead, all we have gotten is promise;s and faulty work, we have spent close to 15,000 in material from lowes and even our carpet and floors, but they tell us they cannot do anything, then after this all had happen like it wasn’t enough my wife gets sick and lost a kidney and still not doing real well, then this past winter I go to the Va Hospital in Indianapolis for a colonopsy and they find 13 pylops and five of those were cancer so I’ve been going through treatment for that, we have asked our state for help and was approved but then they told us we would have to update our furnace and upgrade tp 200 amp service, so we done this and then received notice that due to cut backs, the program is no longer offered, so we continue to go through this nightmare, living everyday looking at bare green drywall, and living in a construction zone,we have material and wallpaper,but now after all the sickness and hiring of bad help,and being taken advantage of, our funds are short,we do have our Social Securtiy to help where we can and we pray daily that God would send someone to come our rescue, your welcome to look at the devastation on you tube just type in flood martinsville,In , this devastation affected 9 countys.we are not looking for fancy just clean,respectable and safe, please we our at a point of begging for help. Thank you and God Bless !

    14. Angela Wilson

      Amish Pen Pal

      I very much would like to have an Amish lady to be willing to be my pen pal. I am the mother of 3 children and I am a stay-at-home mom. Letter writing is a dying art I truly enjoy. Please let me know how I can find one. Thank you and God bless1

    15. Caroline Hatley

      Bishops

      I read about the ministries and how the ministers and deacons are chosen, but I did not see anything on how the bishop was chosen? As new communities are formed, it becomes necessary for a new bishop to be chosen, so how is it done. Does he need to be a minister or deacon first?

    16. Marcie

      Amish-Mennonite

      Hi Erik,
      I apologize if this has been covered before, but I didn’t find it.
      I am searching for an Anabaptist church in my area to attend and one of them is an Amish Mennonite Church. I know basically what Amish is and I understand what Mennonite is, but what makes a group Amish-Mennonite?

      Thanks!

    17. Gyles Lawley

      working on a amish farm

      I wanted to know if I could actually go stay with an amish family and work on the farm.

      1. Marcie

        Working on a amish farm

        Hi Gyles,
        The Amish and Mennonites are very private people. I’m not saying that it couldn’t happen, but in order for you to do something like that you’d probably need to meet them first, then build a rapport, get invited to church and let them feel comfortable with you, then you could maybe ask. Otherwise it would be like just walking up to someone selling their goods in a market and asking if you can come live with them for a while. You know, the stranger-danger scenario.

    18. Donna

      Lancaster - Tabacco Barns

      At a craft show last week, my husband and I were told that there are old tabacco barns in Lancaster where we could purchase old wood. Not sure how to find the location, could you please help us with this? Thanks

    19. Bob

      Solar Powered Amish Buggy

      I live in Oklahoma. I am not Amish. I’m moving to a community where they would prefer you to park your car and use golf carts to travel throughout the community. Then I had a thought of getting an Amish buggy, place a solar panel on top with battery packs and a steering wheel conected to the front axel. One, would this be offensive to the Amish community to retro fit a buggy? and 2) are there buggy sellers in Oklahoma (or other States) that would retro fit a buggy?

      1. Bob I think you might be interested in what Larry Yoder of Illinois has been doing. See this post for more on his solar-powered buggy: https://amishamerica.com/horseless-solar-powered-buggy/

        He may have done the work for you already. I don’t know how offensive it might be, my guess is that your Amish neighbors would be more amused than offended.

    20. Anna

      amish farmers markets

      when I am in Pa. I always make a point of going to The Green Dragon market on Friday or the Roots market on tuesday, I fill my car and travel back to NY. I have heard that there are many Amish now in NY state and I was wondering are there any large farmers market that the Amish participate in right here in NYS? I would be wonderful to lessen my drive. Or for that matter, just try somewhere new.

      1. Keith Brown

        farm market

        There is a produce auction in Romulus and Penn Yan N.Y.

      2. Linda

        Graham Avenue Farmers Market, Brooklyn, New York

        Anna,
        Some Amish people from Snyder County, Pennsylvania, go to Brooklyn, New York on Saturdays to sell baked goods, produce, and honey.

        “The Graham Avenue Farmers Market, located on Cook Street at the corner of Graham Avenue, sponsored by the Graham Avenue Business Improvement District, begins its season the first Saturday of July from 8 am to 5:00 pm. The outdoor market runs every Saturday until the end of October. We feature produce, herbs and fruits, many organically grown items. We also feature home baked Amish cakes, pies breads, honey and other goodies. In addition to cash, the market accepts EBT payment, Farmers Market Nutrition Coupons and Health Bucks.”
        Contact: 718-387-6643
        Location:
        Graham Avenue and Cook Street
        Brooklyn, NY 11206

        “Cook Street is 2 blocks north of Broadway on Graham Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Take the J/M train to Flushing Ave. and walk up the Graham Avenue retail district. Metered parking is available in the area and a parking garage is located on Varet St. between Graham and Manhattan Avenues.”

        http://www.localharvest.org/graham-avenue-farmers-market-M17771

        http://grahamavenuebid.net/event/farmers-market-begins-on-cook-st-graham-ave (updated 2014)

        ————-
        The Windmill Farm & Craft Market
        3900 New York 14A
        Penn Yan, NY 14527
        http://www.thewindmill.com/
        The Windmill is open every Saturday from the last Saturday in April until the second Saturday in December PLUS: MEMORIAL DAY, 4th of July, & Labor Day HOURS: 8:00 to 4:30.
        (Some Plain Mennonites sell produce at The Windmill.)
        Happy shopping!

      3. Linda

        Amish at Bronx, New York on Wednesdays

        Amish go on Wednesdays to New York to sell at two places:
        Co- op City Farmers Market
        Location: Asch Loop and Aldrich St., Bronx, New York 10475
        Subsidies: Accepts WIC, Seniors FMNP, Health Bucks, Youth Bucks
        Hours: Wednesdays 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, July 8th – Nov. 25th
        “Located in the North East Bronx, Co-op City, a naturally occurring retirement community (NORC), offers long-time shoppers and newly inspired browsers a meeting space to shop, catch up on neighborhood news and share family inspired recipes. This much-loved Bronx market since 2009 brings local and fresh foods from farms directly to the homes of residents and visitors in the community.”

        North Central Bronx Farmers Market is Wednesdays, 8 am – 4 pm.
        Location: Mosholu Parkway North & Jerome Ave
        Bronx, New York 10467

        Harvest Home Farmer’s Market Calendar:
        http://www.harvesthomefm.org/calender.aspx?id=3&d=08052015

        Harvest Home Farmer’s Market, vendors:
        http://www.harvesthomefm.org/vendorsfarmers_profile.aspx

        Hostetler’s Produce of McClure, PA
        “Hostetler’s Produce was founded by Noah Hostetler about five years ago in McClure, Pennsylvania. We are dedicated to growing peaches, corn, watermelon, cucumbers, and other fruits and vegetables during the season. We have a market at North Central Bronx Market.”

      4. Linda

        Amish at Western New York Farmers' Markets

        Anna,

        Western New York Farmers’ Markets:
        1. Salamanca Farmers Market
        Jefferson Park at Park Avenue, Salamanca, NY
        Tuesdays, 11 am – 5 pm., Amish baked goods
        Cattaraugus County

        2. South Dayton Farmers Market
        Village Park @ RT 322, South Dayton, NY
        Saturdays, 9 am – 1 pm., Amish products
        Cattaraugus County

        3. Sherman Farmers Market
        Main Street, on both sides of the main block, Sherman, NY
        Saturdays, 10 am – 2 pm., Amish baked goods
        Chautauqua County

        4. Allentown Farmers’ Market
        440 South Elmwood Avenue
        Buffalo, NY 14201
        Honey, jams, jellies. Friday, 4-7 pm
        Erie County

        http://www.bestofwny.com/farmers_market/

        Amish baskets and Amish donuts, are mentioned at the Westfield, New York, Farmer’s Market.
        http://www.westfieldny.com/farmers-market/
        https://www.facebook.com/WestfieldFarmersAndArtisansMarket

    21. Lisa M

      Hiring Amish workers

      Hi there,
      I have quite a few remodeling jobs in my house, and I have been unsuccessful in hiring anyone local who will show up and do a good job. I would love to hire Amish contractors bc I know they are reliable and do excellent work. However, I have no idea how to go about this!

      I’ve seen several ads in the Pittsburgh area of companies that employ Amish contractors, but I would prefer not to have a middle man!

      Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

      Thank you, Lisa

      PS Twenty-eight years ago, my father gave me a rocker made by an Amish friend of his and it still looks brand new!

    22. Kevin Reid

      Amish Made Feather Down Pillows

      Hi there,

      I live in Ontario, Canada. I have been searching online to find a real hand made Amish Feather Down pillow. Everything I find seems to be a factory made, labeled Amish or Hutterite pillow. Hoping to find a small shop online I can order from. If anyone knows that would be great.

      Thanks
      Kevin

    23. Kathy Hamilton

      Amish Pen pal

      I would love to have an Amish pen pal. How would I go about that? I think the Amish people are so God and family loving and so simple in there living.
      I was raised that way. No inside plumbing, carried our water, No running water, had an outhouse. Heated by a wood stove. I have always thought that if children were raised that way today our country would be ALOT better off.
      Thank you, Kathy Hamilton

    24. Johnna L. Gordner

      I am available for driving to and from locations for your transportation needs.

      I am currently unemployed and looking for work. I had been employed under Energy Construction Management as a lead, chase, high pole and traffic director. I have a clean driving record, valid driver’s license, and open schedule. I own and can operate a GPS for long hauls.
      My Cell# is 570-220-9652
      Home phone# is 570-322-7990

      My location is Williamsport, PA Lycoming county

    25. Anis Kotia

      PhD studies: request for contact

      Hi,

      I am a PhD student with Middlesex University, UK and my thesis includes the creation of a modern day ‘village’ with specific social objectives and aims.

      I recently saw the following documentary recently which has inspired me with hope that my initiative might take off:

      https://amishamerica.com/amish-a-secret-life-bbc/

      I would be very grateful if I could get in touch with members of the Amish community who would be willing to provide me with some further details of how the community survives and could even act as consultants in my project in some way.

      I look forward to hearing from you.

      Thanks and regards,

      Anis.

    26. michael flueckiger(adopted name)

      just looking for my birth mother hershberger(swartzentruber) I was born 2/13/1969 she was living in holmes county and I was told she wanted me back but it was to late. Searching I hope someone may know the woman that gave me up.Any information please amyflinner@yahoo.com

    27. Robert Osenenko

      Family Oriented Book on Societal Myth

      Is there a readership among the Amish interested in a story about the intersection of family-faith-land from a historical point of view?

    28. Tina

      Real Truth

      I respect the Amish, they make beautiful products. And don’t bother any one I would love to live like them, but one thing that is bothering me is that is there a Amish Mafia. I my self don’t think so they are so hush hush about there bussiness so why would these Amish ppl tell all about them. Plse tell me this truth. Thank you.

    29. Sandy

      A friend told me I should contact the Amish.. Do they trade items/work for supplies ?

      My good friend told me about how the Amish trade items for other items that they need.. She had mentioned this to us, as we have many huge trees that were logged and left sitting on our property. She said that maybe the Amish would be interested in trading for our huge(and I mean huge) pine trees, or other wood that had been left on our property.. Is this something that the Amish do to get needed supplies? We live in upstate NY..would like to see if that is truly a option..

    30. Phil

      Retrofitting Amish Home (Electric & Heat)

      I’m considering the purchase of an Amish home and am curious if anyone has information on retrofitting to add electricity and heat (other than the existing wood stove)? I realize the this can be accomplished and the cost dependent upon the home size, etc., however, I am interested in the various options and the least intrusive ways. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

      Thanks and regards,

      1. ShipshewanaIndiana

        Amish house

        Phil,

        Before we decided to build a house we looked at several Amish houses with the intent of adding forced air furnace + A/C and electricity. Our 2010 quotes on an two story Amish house were as follows, 5k to add electric service not including the cost for the utility to bring service to the house. HVAC LP furnace, A/C and ductwork for 7k, geothermal upgrade at 15k. This was a large +4000 sq ft house. We were quite impressed with the quotes and I would not be afraid to purchase an Amish home and do the upgrades. You will likely need to build a chase up through the structure to run the ductwork in. What community is the house in?

        1. Phil

          Amish Home

          Thanks for this helpful information. We are looking at homes in various Missouri Amish communities.

          1. ShipshewanaIndiana

            A lot will depend on the community you are considering. In our community homes are fairly modern with LP or natural gas ranges and proper plumbing and septic systems. Plan on getting a submersible electric well pump. We also do business in Berne, Indiana. In berne houses do not have running water, no gas lines and outhouses are the norm. Converting such a house would be much more involved. Also, we have learned to heat with coal and will not go back to using a forced air furnace. Don’t be afraid to try out coal if it’s available in your area. I wish you the best on your adventure!

            1. Phil

              Amish Home

              We are also considering building, so it sounds like you have been through this exact process. I saw on this site the home you built and it is quite impressive – so wonderfully simple and the size being more in line to what we would actually need. However, health issues are problematic with the outgassing of “new” materials. I’m sure I’ll have additional questions in the future and perhaps you would consider responding at that time. Until then, thanks for your insight into to this … adventure.

              Regards,
              Phil

    31. Mary Jo

      St Anna Strawberry Shortcake Brat Fry

      The Amish community in the St Anna WI area will be having a
      Strawberry Shortcake and Brat Fry
      With homemade pies and ice cream
      Wednesday June 25, 2014
      4:30 to 8:00 PM
      St Anna Fireman’s Park
      N126 School St. (rural New Holstein)
      Proceeds will be going towards major hospital and medical
      expenses recently incurred by a family

    32. Regional variations in PA Deitsch?

      Got an out-of-the-blue question: With (1) there being Amish from different “lineages” (e.g., “Swiss Amish”), and (2) the Amish scattered for large areas even within our own country for 100+ years, it makes me wonder to what degree (if any) is there a difference in the household languages (the PA Deitsch) from one region to another? I’m from the fairly deep south, and there is a big enough difference in the spoken English that sometimes it is difficult to understand a “yankee”/northerner. Is there sometimes anything comparable among the Amish from various regions in the states?

      1. ShipshewanaIndiana

        Yes, there are regional variations. Amish in the “swiss” community of Adams County, Indiana speak a different dialect, which other non-swiss old order communities have difficulty understanding. A person from the Elkhart-LaGrange community would have difficulty understanding someone from Adams county and in conversation they would revert to speaking english. We have been told by the Amish in Adams county that they understand the dutch spoken in Elkheart Lagrange, even though those in Elkhart lagrange have difficulty understanding them. The Amish in Daviess county speak with a draw, it’s a unique variation that I don’t believe is shared in other communities not linked with Daviess.

        1. Thank you...

          Thanks so much for your reply. We plan to be through those very areas soon, so I will try to keep an ear tuned for the variations.

    33. Mary Jo

      Orwell OH Wedding

      I am bringing some Amish friends to Orwell OH for a wedding June 24th. Does anyone know of any sights I might want to visit while we are in the area?

    34. Amish Sawmills in the Eastern US - Hard Maple

      Erik, I love your website. We recently started working with a Amish Sawmill in Canada, fantastic folks who we enjoy thoroughly, and I wanted to know more about the Amish community as a whole and your site has provided with all the information I was looking for so I can better understand the culture and way of life, fantastic stuff. My question is do you have a link to Amish sawmills in the Eastern US that I could reach out too? who work with Hard Maple woods/timber? If so I would greatly appreciate the link or specific contacts.

      many thanks

      1. Amish Sawmill Contact Info

        Scott, so nice to hear it’s been helpful. I don’t have sawmill information compiled at this point.

        We have an Amish Business Directory which is a work in progress, but haven’t gotten to sawmills yet.

        That said I can give you 3 contacts which come immediately to mind, two in the Big Valley area of central PA and one in southern Michigan. Not sure exactly which woods they work with but likely would do what you are looking for. If they can’t help you, they may be able to point you in the right direction.

        Pennsylvania
        ————

        Crist Zook
        6260 E. Back Mountain Rd.
        Reedsville, PA 17084

        Samuel C. Yoder
        Keystone Logs & Lumber, LLC
        Quality Hardwood Products, Buyer of Standing Timber.
        32 Cherry Tree Lane
        Belleville, PA 17004
        717-935-5661
        717-935-5662 fax
        No Sunday phone calls or business transactions of any kind.

        Michigan
        ——–

        Bontrager Saw Mill
        Paul Bontrager
        60222 Lepley Rd.
        Centreville, MI 49032.
        (269) 659-8180

        A possible resource that might help is the Plain Communities Business Exchange, an Amish-published business paper, or if you can pinpoint a specific community, a local paper read by Amish such as the People’s Exchange in Northern Indiana. Some communities or areas have business directories which contain a lot of Amish businesses, such as the Lancaster County Business Directory, or a similar recent directory for Holmes County.

        https://amishamerica.com/lancaster-county-business-directory/

        My observation is that sawmills tend to be more common in plainer communities where the Ordnung is more strict. This encourages the development of simpler wood-related businesses towards the raw material end of the spectrum, such as wood processing like sawmills (rather than high-end furniture which might require more complex equipment as well as greater marketing acumen and more interaction with non-Amish customers).

      2. ShipshewanaIndiana

        From what I’ve seen the timber trade is huge in the ohio communities of Geagua and Holmes. I don’t have any connection in those communities. I see an ad for slabach Logging in the local paper, perhaps they could point you in the right direction. Cell number is 260-585-0412. Ad says they will log with skidder or horses, so I assume they are Amish.

    35. Marcus M.

      Clothing, Offensive?

      Hello, I need to keep my head covered due to a skin condition I have developed. I live near an Amish (and old order mennonite) community, and I bought an Amish style hat for my head to help keep it covered. I am now worried that this is offensive to the Amish, that an English person like myself would be wearing a hat like theirs.

      Could such a thing be offensive, I am just trying to keep my head covered, and this Amish hat fits my big head unlike most.

      -Marcus

      1. Good Question

        Marcus, I have wondered the same thing. Just recently my wife and I were in an Amish store that sold hats and bonnets, etc. I thought some of them could make great decoration and conversation pieces, but didn’t know how the Amish there at the store would take it.

      2. ShipshewanaIndiana

        From my experience, they will not be offended. I used to frequently wear an Amish hat in the first community in which we lived. There were questions, but no one was offended. I still wear one when doing lawn work on days when the sun is intense. It’s a practical solution.

    36. Blue Doors?

      My wife and I spent a little time in north central and northwest MO, visiting several of the Amish communities. One thing that really stuck out is that some 3 or 4 of these all seemed to have blue doors. I did a search on the site here and noticed that there were other areas that did that, but didn’t notice any explanation. Can anyone tell me why they do this, or point me to an explanation?

    37. Guy

      do Amish live longer?

      I saw something in the Budget http://www.thebudgetnewspaper.com/
      some time ago that Amish people life spam is no longer than anyone. Why? they live much healthier than anyone but yet they die about the same age like any us English people? is it because they smoke and drink?

    38. Vicky Popowick

      Rentals

      I have a home near Pinecraft and was wondering the best method to advertise this as a seasonal rental to the Amish/Mennonite community in Sarasota?

      1. Linda

        Advertise rental

        Vicky,
        You could place a paper on the bulletin board at the Pinecraft Post Office for free, or put a paid advertisement in The Budget newspaper.

      2. Allyson

        Rental

        What is the status of your rental? is it available the winter of 2016?
        Thanks,
        Allyson

    39. Rebecca Holden

      Amish Doctors

      How do I find an Amish doctor closes to me, (Michigan), that would consult with me regarding my newly diagnoses? I am struggling with my traditional doctors and can’t seem to find any alternative doctors.

      I am will to travel and obviously willing to pay whatever the cost. I am feeling quite discouraged with our current medical treatments.

      Thank you,
      Rebecca Holden
      holdenbecky@sbcglobal.net

    40. Stephanie Berkey

      Finding Ancestors

      If you’d like to find your Amish or Mennonite ancestors, there is a book called, “Amish and Amish Mennonite Genealogies”, by Gingrich & Kreider, that traces many Amish lines (and some Mennonite). I bought the above book from an Amish man named Levi Stoltzfus many years ago in Pennsylvania. It contains vital family information kept and organized for generations.

      familysearch.org is a free website that helps with finding, charting, and preserving family history. It has instructions, videos, and many online books, and other services. You can build an on online family tree and tie into others that have already done so, sharing and collaborating. If anyone would like help there, I’d be happy to help.

    41. Stephanie Berkey

      Please help stop medical discrimination like forced vaccinations.

      America’s Front Line Doctors with Dr. Simone Gold are fighting for medical freedom, one way is with a petition to discourage CEO’s of businesses from requiring medical conformity with vaccinations (like they have masks).

      You can sign this petition at stopmedicaldiscrimination.org

      Thank You!