Wisconsin Amish

A conflict over smoke detectors and building permits is unfolding in an Amish community in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.  From the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram: Four cases involving a conflict between traditional Amish ways — particularly when it comes to smoke and carbon monoxide detectors — and modern society are slated for a scheduling conference at […]

Continue Reading Wisconsin Amish won’t play games to avoid smoke detector fines, possible eviction

Over the weekend an Amish teen in Vernon County, Wisconsin died while cutting ice. In light of today’s topic of Amish and self-sufficiency, it seems tragically coincidental to now hear of an accident like this one. In more conservative communities, Amish use ice houses to keep food cold.  In cold-weather areas Amish harvest their own […]

Continue Reading Amish teen drowns cutting ice

Amish quilts in a shop in Monroe County, Wisconsin. Natural light, no bulbs, means this is in all likelihood an Amish-operated shop, though I don’t know which one.  The settlement in Monroe County (Wilton/Tomah area) is one of the largest in the state, at 8 church districts. I quite like this photo.  Quilts will come […]

Continue Reading Amish Quilts in Wisconsin

Since I’ve been back in the US I’ve finally had a chance to watch the National Geographic Amish specials (on ex-Amish, and Amish courtship and marriage) in full. You may recall a couple of posts on these last fall: Leaving the Amish and Amish dating.  I didn’t comment too much at the time, having only seen the […]

Continue Reading National Geographic Amish specials–another look

Why do people leave the Amish? Charles Hurst and David McConnell identify two main reasons in An Amish Paradox, their study of the Amish in Holmes County, Ohio.  According to the authors, these are “the desire for fewer lifestyle restrictions”, and “the desire for a more intense religious experience.” Ex-Amish have created a number of […]

Continue Reading The ex-Amish community

“It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff with nothing but darkness…you don’t know what’s down there.  But you just know you’re gonna jump.” National Geographic is currently airing “Amish: Out of the Order”, a program about leaving the Amish.  I’ve posted a clip below.  Curious to hear your comments. I’ll make two of […]

Continue Reading Leaving the Amish

Wisconsin is North America’s #4 Amish state, after the “big three” of Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio. Amish first began settling in Wisconsin in the early 20th century. America’s “Dairy State” has been a popular destination for Amish–today, there are nearly 4 dozen Amish communities in Wisconsin. Amish in Wisconsin facts: The largest Wisconsin Amish settlement […]

Continue Reading Amish in Wisconsin

This recent barn-raising shot was sent in by a reader living near a Wisconsin Amish community.  In the accompanying story in the Westby Times, an Amish old-timer explains some of the ins-and-outs of barn-raising, including this interesting technical detail: ‘Yoder added that it is customary for families involved in a barn raising to provide a dish to pass […]

Continue Reading Wisconsin Amish barn-raising

An AP story has just hit the wire on population growth among the Amish.  This coincides with the release of additional information on trends in Amish growth and migration from here at the Young Center. The Amish studies site now lists trend data for the 1992 to 2008 period as well as the 2007 to […]

Continue Reading Amish growing like mushrooms after a rain shower

A quick diversion from the middle of a pile of Lancaster posts (I’ve left Abe’s and am currently en route to Poland, but managed to file a few away while on the farm)… Eric shares an interesting photo of a Wisconsin Amish teenage fisherman. The two boys Eric spoke with were out all day on […]

Continue Reading The sporting Amishman