Hot water on demand – for showers, dishwashing, laundry – is something most of us take for granted. Yet, there is a small segment of people in the US today who do not enjoy such a luxury. This would include the most conservative Amish churches. Below you’ll find some photos sent in by a reader […]
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To outsiders the Ordnung seems (and may in fact be) illogical, capricious, inconsistent and all the rest, and yet the Amish believe there is a sound doctrinal principle behind each and every rule. Apparently lost in consideration, however, is the toll placed on the environment inherent in many of these Plain customs, albeit unintentional. Surely, care of God’s creation, this relatively small planet in all the known universe that sustains us, should be top of mind for all of us in the ways we live our lives, whether Amish or atheist.
My favorite observation
Erik, I’m not as interested in how the Amish heat water as you. However, my all time favorite observation or comment from you is: “. . . all Amish change over time, just at different speeds.”
I’ll put that in my hip pocket and use it some day in my own writing.
Thanks, Jim
How the Plainest Amish Heat Water
This method is similar to what I see in my Troyer Amish friends’ homes, minus that clever holding tank. It is simple, reliable, renewable. When a big storm hits, as it is doing here today, and the electric power goes out, they are warm, safe, comfortable and carrying on with their daily, productive activities. This will be one of my next upgrades to my very rustic cabin. They also use these water heaters as giant canners in the summer. Some of them can hold at least 60 quart jars at one time. They move them outside so the house isn’t so hot. It’s way more efficient than my relatively little kettle/pressure canner. Thanks for sharing the photos.
Heating water
Oh my gosh that looks to be complicated. Be so simple to just install a nice clean bathroom heat water with hot water tank. Goodness I’m sure our lord wouldn’t object our ways for simpler life style. Using modern plumbing isn’t going to make you a bad person. Maybe the way shown is from a very old amish tradition and now they advanced like some using a tractor etc. Was very interesting thank you for sharing.