why are the Amish so succesfull?

[bookwormom]

in the food forum someone was wondering about mail order bulk food. Now I buy all my stuff at the amish store. It is a half hr drive, the store is out in the country , half a mile from an intersection with a gas station and five houses. Yet business is booming. they have extended several times. Same with Salvage groceries. I go to an Amish run place. again, I have to drive 20 minutes. they have enlarged three times, THere are always at least a dozen cars in the parking lot. someone opened a salvage store in our little town, I am wondering when he is closing again. I rather drive the 20 minutes.
It ought to be a good business for someone to start a store like that, but if you are not amish you seem to be unable to make it. the healthfood store in E-town closed several years ago without me ever finding out where it is. but the amish out in the sticks have no trouble selling flaxseed and green pumpkin seeds, spelt flour and whole wheat flours, sacks of different kinds of grain and staples. Plus all the other stuff they sell, some things I would not buy and some things are kind of high, like their nuts. You can get yeast by the pound, same with gelatin. The place is never empty. He has branched out and now has a hardware store too, plus animal feed, seeds. about everything we need.
we buy our cheese there, it is made at an Amish dairy in Holms county Ohio.
Are they more enterprising? It took for ever for the guy in the village to open his store, I don't know what took so long. then when I checked it out he was stocked with stuff I do not buy, looks like he is catering to the welfare recipients. The very few things that I do buy were expensive. He did not like my comment to check out the Amish store, yet I know folks who are driving by his store and go on down the road for twenty minutes to the Amish store.

[CatherineID]

Just a guess ...

They believe in no debt.

They are living the lifestyle which requires the products they are selling.

Great word of mouth advertising.

A built-in purchasing community among themselves.

[bee_pipes]

We enjoy the same benefits from living near the Mennonites. They have a great little grocery store - full of the staples you described and a great spice rack. The farmers are all open for business to sell to the public and the quality of the food can't be beat. There is also a Mennonite lumber yard - they have thge best pricces in the region and folks come from three counties to buy there.

Part of it might be these folks are earning a living, not trying to make enough for the latest iphone or flat screen TV. Mennonites do drive and use computers, but they do not go in for technology for the sake of new gadgets. If something can make them more productive without destroying the family, they use it. They are naturally frugal.

Regards,
Pat

[DavidOH]

There you go.

No luxury items that wear out and break and cost money to use. ( that means television, computers as well as other items that use electricity)

Amish buy from Amish. They keep the circle going!

[Drawbar]

One word can sum up the Amish in regards to their success...

MODERATION

Yes they use electricity, but its only to keep the milk cold in the tank and then only used in the barn. Their houses have no wires in it at all, so they are not waisting money sitting on their duffs, eating cheese pizza and getting plump watching TV.

They also don't believe in credit cards or credit in general, they just cash and barter a whole lot. When they do use checks or bank notes, its only for major purchases.

When they need to go to the field, they use horse and buggy, yet when going father then a few miles, they will rent big white vans and get to where they need to. Still its all in moderation.

[nancy1340]

When we were in Belize South America we heard where a very large oil field had been found. Wanna guess who owns the land? The Mennonites! This is going to be interesting.

[GoodDaughter]

Something else to consider is that Amish frequently do not carry insurance on their buildings, contents, etc., as they frequently (generally) do not carry health care insurance as it is (generally) prohibited by their faith. That would reduce monthly operating costs tremendously right there. My business, I must carry one million in liability ins., which works out to about $510/month. It's a tremendous burden and I am thinking about getting out of business and doing something else.

[hardrock]

GF before the last was born into the Amish, then left when she became of age.
She says the Amish believe in the sovereignty of man.
Meaning that a man's true worth is measured by his productivity. His ability to provide for his own basic existence on this earth.
The family is an extension of that, and to a larger extent, so is the Amish community.

Money.
They use money just like us, but it's almost always honest money, not the "creative" silliness the rest of us fall victim to.
They believe money to be simply a marker in trade or barter.
Simple acounting.
Their work product represents their value, or worth, so to speak.
Corrupt money undermines the value, or worth of man's productivity, and therefore, the man himself.
In short, everything they do retains it's original and highest value.
Sonething to think about............

Children.
They don't breed like drunken sailors.
They have children to carry on their way of life,
and to be PRODUCTIVE members of the community.
The world could take a lesson here..............

Faith.
They actually practice what they preach.

I think personal responsibility for all that is entrusted to them by God, pretty much covers it...

[walls0stone]

The pure and clean Aumish stuff is kinda silly...

they put there pants on just like us.. they use cell phones, they have many of the things you folks don't like... sure.. plenty of them still don't have TV or whatever...but the idea that they are ALL what they have been markeeted to be is more perseption than reality.

Some use the perseption to there advantage...and SCREW PEOPLE OVER! Moderation? can't have all those kids if your using that...and if you realy don't have TV...gota have somthing to do.

They also have a lot, becouse they do a great deal of business to help each other. it's fair...it's fine..Kudos...I do it to.. BUT if you just take cash..and you just deal with each other... again..do the math.

People will pay 12 bucks for a freaking pumpkin just becouse they see 3 Amish kids selling them beside the road...what's the big deal???

[hardrock]

'stone,
You're probably thinking about Mennonites.
Several of them here. They're not actually Old Order Amish.
(More like electric amish. ;D)
They get the best of both worlds, they think.....
Separate and apart from the world, but pick and choose
what suits them.
Old Order still lives just like I said. Some more, some less.
Just depends on what the elders of the church set forth.

Something interesting though,.........most of the Mennonites in our state (IL) deal with mandatory auto insurance by electing to have the church declare (file) "financial responsibility" for their entire membership. Same for LL on a business that requires that kind of coverage.
Sort of a twist on "group coverage!" They're self-insured.
The church is also BIG on providing relief for huge medical expenditures encountered by their member's families.

Funny about the 12 dollar punkin'..............

I actually overheard two city folks discussing the prices of Amish produce at the Farmer's Market.
One complained that it seemed a bit high.
The other responded "Well, they GROW them right here!"

As opposed to.....where? A supermarket shelf?

Instead of asking "Why are the Amish so sucessful?"
Ask why the rest of the world isn't..........

[Shamrock1121]

One afternoon I was working a booth for a charity money-maker. Mennonite friends of ours were working the booth next to us. Their pre-teen twin boys were having a conversation.... One boy was trying to talk the other boy into purchasing something for him. The boy with some cash was very reluctant to spend anything on his brother. The cash-poor brother looked at his brother and said, "AWWW, don't be Amish". ;)

True story.

Don't know many Amish, but I've worked with many Mennonites. They always know how to make a buck...and aren't afraid of work. Everything from homemade cinnamon rolls and breads at the Farmer's Market, to any of a number of get-rich-quick multi-level marketing ventures. As soon as you are old enough to be useful, you'll soon find a job of some kind.

This same family had their 8-yr. old daughter making calico draw-string bags for a lady who made homemade soap. The 14-yr. old daughter earned a small fortune selling cinnamon rolls.

None of the Mennonites I know only does one job.

-Karen

[leera]

Bookwormmom,here in MI,up near Mio,there are similar Amish owned/run stores,I've never been to them,but a guy I work with does a large majority of his shopping there when he passes through once a month.

He said there is a bulk food store,salvage store and a hardware store(he came home with kitten from there one time,named him after the owner of the store),and a bakery.

None of the stores have phones or electricity.

Why are they so successful? Who knows.......Maybe it's us that's just not so successful after all........... ???

[lost1]

They WORK!

[Red_Diamond_Ranch]

I was talking to my wife about this the other day and she reminded me that I had asked an Amish Man about this 30 years ago. We were visiting the Amish community in Arthur/Arcola ILL. I asked the man how could he afford such a beautiful farm. His response was 2 things, work and that they buy only what they need and we (everyone else) buy what we want.
We had gone there to see about buying a Team of Belgians. I quickly found out that I could not afford a $10,000 Team of horses LOL. I later bought a wonderful Belgian team Laurel & Hardy for $2500.00.

[nancy1340]

Reading all this about the Amish and Mennonites is all well and good. But I can't help but remember a show that was on , I think , 20/20 last winter. It was a trial of two brothers accused of repeatedly molesting their sister for years and years.

In the general population it's estimated that 1 in 4 girls are molested before they are 10 or so. It's thought it's much higher in these closed communities. In the Amish society it's the brothers mostly that are doing this but the fathers are not above it. All they have to do is go before the elders and ask for forgiveness. They can do this time after time after time. The girl's are suppose to forgive them. If they don't they are the ones that are shunned by the community not the boys.

The whole Amish community, mothers incluced >:( >:(, stood behind the boys and shunned the girl. The thing that came out , other than this atrocity, was that it was a very common thing to have happen.

They may be good farmers but many are not the Godly people they believe they are.

http://www.legalaffairs.org/issues/January-February-2005/feature_labi_janfeb05.msp

Google "Incest in the Amish community" you will find a lot of info.

[12vman]

Wouldn't the tax exempt status help all of us a bunch?

They smile all the way to the bank every time they sell something to us English folks.. ;D

I respect them very much. Hard workers and they produce quality goods. I don't blame them a bit for taking advantage of their situation..

"Amish Built" or "Amish Country" or "Amish" anything has been glorified as something unique, with quality. "If it's Amish, It's gotta be good!" They've built that legacy themselves simply by doing things right! (Not to mention the wholesome family/community reputation that they have) They've cornered the market and they know that people will pay the price!

Pretty smart people if you ask me.. ;)

Some of them bend the rules a bit. (thinking old order) I've done business with an Amish guy that wasn't suppost to have a phone but he did. Kept it hid in a closet and ran about 1/2 mile of wire from his English neighbors house.. 8)

-Don

[MNMOM]

Nancy,
That happened around the LaCrosse, WI area, not a very long distance from us. We live in the SE area of MN and there are several Amish communities in the area. The girl's that told on their brother's are still shunned by their community. They went to live with people that had offered them a place to stay and have blended into regular life well.

Our son's house that he built has all Amish made cupboards. Jake, the man that built them had all gas powered tools in his cabinetmaking building. I sure enjoyed my times down in the Amish communities.

[jott]

There is nothing special about them, but generally they are very good at business, you are not going to get a great deal from an Amish outfit, but you can generally get a fair one. If they know you are not a tourist. They do take advantage of having the Amish name but why not that is just marketing.

Simply put they work hard, they know what they can get for the effort, and the biggest thing is when they make a profit instead going off and buying new cars or bigger houses they reinvest in the business. What I learned from them is every time you buy something you think how can this make me money, if it can’t do you really need it. It is a simple plan that most businesses are very successful with if they follow it. It dose not matter is the businesses is Plain or English.

[walls0stone]

Hard Rock,

I live in Pa... I farm, I'm a contracter, I do stuff with them regularly. Friend of mine had an Amish Taxi. Amish are like other sects of faith..diffrant, that said.

... I'm seeing them move in to this area in droves from Lancaster.... I like them, they are capitalists like me But I have some rich friends who do the same things they do like work hard and then work harder, create an image and charge for it.

The tax exempt stuff, no workmans comp', the perseption That they will do a great job and never take a coffee break, you'll pay more in cash. But they may not live up to what you assumed

They do use credit, in big business... they have a "cash man". A non Aumish,(what they call English) who goes to Lowes with a card in his name and get's whatever, then drives that stuff back to the job sight.

They don't have wires going to the house, becouse the Phone is in an outhouse shaped building over in the field, out of sight from the road. Or they go next door to the Englishmen's house and use his.

Tools of work like electric power are found in the barn, somtimes with a TV. A friend and I were just talking about how some will consighn there fruits and hobby crafts to an Amish flee markeet (no money paid up front) to the Amish. If the buyer doesn't ask...they just think the silent little boy with the straw hat grew the corn on the table.

Some have the mentality of Us vs. Them...and they will take your money. Don't forget about the mixing of the gene pool.

[bookwormom]

quote


Instead of asking "Why are the Amish so sucessful?"
Ask why the rest of the world isn't..........

actually that"s what I was asking, in other words.

quote
The tax exempt stuff, no workmans comp', the perseption That they will do a great job and never take a coffee break, you'll pay more in cash. But they may not live up to what you assumed

quote
Wouldn't the tax exempt status help all of us a bunch?


guys, I have it straight from the horse's mouth and that is an assumption that just is not so. The amish pay taxes like everybody else. They do not pay into Social Security,they have their own system, same with health insurance. I don't know how much that costs, it is not free. More than likely it is cheaper and more efficient than what we have access too but I do not know.

I know a bunch of Amish and ask them about things that come up, like that they are supposed to have a policy for youth called "rumspringa".No such thing, like all parents they hope the children will not. Like Enos said, "we are just people too".
I can not imagine that the store owner has no insurance. I am going to ask him. He is no fool.
Most Amish I know have from four to 11 children. I just talked to an 18 year old who is a fantastic block mason, with shy pride he told me he learned it from his father, and his father learned it from his father. I could see the pride and satisfaction this father felt about his son.


oh, no coffee break? Hey, a horse does not pull all the time. And you should see the scrumptious lunches they have packed. You can't work if you don't eat. Just because they have no TV does not mean they do not have fun or do not believe in having fun. It just is family and community based. They may have more genuine fun since they do not waste their time on TV and the like.

the houses here have to have wiring, but the house is not hooked up to power. I think the bank requires it. we had an enterprising electrician here who was supposed to install lelectricity into amish houses. One time an amish house was being sold and it was found that he had just put the covers on the wall with nary a wire behind it, the Amish never noticed.

we have had amish work for us, once we needed foundation poured and the cement truck did not come, we are hard to find, so the father went to look for the truck, to make sure it would find theplace. well it came from a different direction while he was gone. the teenage sons did not lose a word, got up, grabbed their tools and did a great job. I was truly impressed with those young guys. I have hired an "English" fellow at times. The first thing I did was hand him a belt and tell him to make sure he does not loose his britches. He was spending more time hitching his pants up than working. the other likes to move slow and talk, spit out his tobacco juice.

[Sarah]

Bookwormom,

A couple of mild corrections, no offense taken/intended.

"Rumspringa": Depends on the elders of the local community. Some have it, some do not.

SS Tax: If Amish work for Amish, or for Old Order Mennonite, there is no SS tax. But as soon as an 'English' employee/employer comes into the mix, there is, which is why most such work is 'closed' to English.

Medical: Some Amish, like us OOM, do have their own medical system. For Amish, the go to English doctors and are backed by community money. There are quite a few Amish 'subsidized' English doctors. I know of two who could not finish their education, approached the local Amish elder, and voila! We send some of our selected youth to school to become doctors and parameds. Our system has it's drawbacks, we do not have all the resources you do. And ours DO believe in euthanasia.

Food: On the packed lunches, an expression common to both Amish and OOM, "Those that work hard, eat hardy." We have a potluck every service.

Store Insurance: The stores insurance is normally covered by the community. In our case, definately.

Electric. Again, depending on the elders/community, the general rule is, "If you produce it, you can use it." We have electric, via hydro. Where I grew up did not.

Bulk foods: Believe it or not, there actually is a bulk food/goods system in place, Amish and Mennonites have a grass-roots network for such. But this does not always make it cheaper. But on the other hand, we do not get a lot of the 'fad' foods. Communities prefer to deal with other communities. In-house so to speak.



WallsOStone,

The 'cash man' is normally, for us, an elder, and the money is not his own.



Nancy1340,

True. Our community has a 'rescue mission' of sorts for such cases. Look for the XA emblem. There is one at the bottom of the main librum.us page. The four stars indicate the level of support available. I could tell you some horror stories. In our 'road store' we have books for sale, one best seller is True Stories of the X-Amish. All are true stories. This is one reason for the frictions between the OOM and Amish. And by both against the Hutterites.

Climbing down from the soap box.

Sarah

[walls0stone]

A cash man here is an englishmen who is paid by the amish contractor for the of his credit. the English also drives to Lowes or whatever to get the stuff and bring it. The general feeling of some English here is that the man holding the card can sell his soul by owning a card, but the amish will pay for him to do it.

In other words. I don't beleave in it..but if I can benifit from you doing it, then it's ok.

But hey, every faith has it's hipocricy.


I do business with a cashman. *Local amish who just came here have also hired English on commition to get them work, take them to the job and act as the General Contractor.

Book,
The PERSEPTION is they don't...so they do take breaks?..that's my point...and when building barns and houses, *We have rented them Crains, dozers and fork trucks. *He told me he was Amish.

I know another Amishmen who dresses rather up to date..other than his hair cut, and the fact he can't drive, he looks like every other guy.

Needless to say, they have there own black sheep. We have ours.

[Drawbar]

In some respects I respect the Amish, they just discovered my sleepy little town and are moving in. I like the fact that they are God fearing people, live simply and work hard, but I tend to agree with Wallsostone in that there reputation is not as deserved as it should be.

I read a magazine article on a Amish Woodworker and I was not impressed. While I go to my shop and fire up my bandsaws and tablesaws using the flowing electron, he goes out and fires up his big diesel engine which pumps hydraulic oil that runs his bandsaws and tablesaws. What's the difference? Yet people clambor and say "its got to be hand made because its Amish built," when in reality I probably do more work by hand tools then this guy does. As I said the reputation and the reality just don't match up there, but its marketing and they work it so I got to hand it to them there.

As for living though, I just don't agree with that. I grew up on a farm and had a Grandfather that was quite rough on me, so I understand the importance of that. My issue with the Amish stems from the bible. It clearly says "Go out unto the world and preach the gospel." It does NOT say, go out unto the world, build a commune, hide behind your religion, keep the world at bay, protect your children, shun them if they step into the world and teach them the gospel.

I am a parent so I understand the desire to do this, but its just not right, and in my opinion, pretty cowardly. All of us on here hate change, but its inevitable and we soldier on and adapt. Most importantly our children adapt. If I do things right as a parent, despite the influences of this world, she will make the right decisions years from now, and raise children that do likewise. Its how the system works.

I am quite sure when I get to heaven there will be Amish there as well, just as I am sure All religions will be there. But I don't think what they are doing is truly what God wanted. We have all seen the heart-break of a child lead astray by drugs, alcohol and other worldly problems, and it truly is a shame. But its truly gratifying, even more of a miracle really, to see these same people overcome that and make something of themselves.

The bible clearly states that if teach your children in the faith, no matter where they go or what they do, it will never leave them. It also clearly showed that Jesus loved children when the disciples tried to shoo the children away when he talked to them. Instead he said "let the children come unto me." I have always said that those that hurt, fondle or abuse children will have a bad day come judgement day, and that extends to the Amish who shun their children who go out into the world.

And finally there is that loss to society that is all too sad. There is no question the Amish produce some brilliantly gifted and smart children, children that could grow up, give back to society, by just being themselves, or teaching by example. Who knows they could perhaps find the cure for cancer, but instead are locked up within a system that benefits only a religious community.

I think we can learn a lot from the Amish from an agricultural, business and life in moderation point of view, but I think religiously...which is the major reason for their existence...they are NOT doing as the bible commands.

[homesteadingnky]

The Mennonites that we have here have no electricity, do not drive vehicles, nor do they use any modern type of tools (power tools, etc.). They have horses on treadmills that turn their table saws, they use blocks of ice in freezers with water to cool their milk, they work the ground by hand and with horses and folks love to experience that. I think that a lot of it has to do with the desire that most folks have to get back to that simple lifestyle and for many driving out to the Mennonites here gives them a little of that experience.

Their variety store has some excellent deals, I can buy raw milk from some for $2.50 a gallon, their feed is priced well and they have many items (canning, kitchen, etc.) that you just can't hardly find anywhere else.

The ones I do business with are honest, very hard working, and extremely friendly. They'll answer your questions about how they do something (make butter, a recipe for cooking something, problems with animals or crops, etc.) if you just ask.

I admire what they have done and yes they have a booming business and I suspect always will. I'm proud for them and we support them every chance we get.

[msta999]

In the general population it's estimated that 1 in 4 girls are molested before they are 10 or so.

Come on Nancy! 25% of all girls in America are molested, by age 10!!!! I don't think so. Have you been watching CNN again. ::)

There is a problem out there, but it is not any where near that high of a number.

[walls0stone]

Got an Amish outbuilding builder here who sells stuff made from china. He never says that the products are Amish built, but he's in his black and white and selling those products, so one is to assume they are.

From what I've seen of youth who are over protected, or restricted to the home or only a given click of friends...I'd not be supprised at such a figure in any pvt comunity, English or Amish.

[hardrock]

[quote] From what I've seen of youth who are over protected, or restricted to the home or only a given click of friends...I'd not be supprised at such a figure in any pvt comunity, English or Amish. [quote]

Hey 'stone, all,

Compare that to the world at large.
Inner city youth that are "protected" by govt. social programs, "restricted" to what amounts to a 20 sq. block "commune" (da hood), and limited to a "click" of friends (gangs).

Big difference between kissin' yur cousin and being gang raped (jumped in) by 10 or 20 guys at 12 yrs. old just to "belong".....
If the numbers were accurate, they would show youth in the outside world to be the most victimized, by far......

Within the Amish community (among most others) it's seen as molestation.....in the inner cities, society has conditioned them to view it as simply a right of passage.....
Victimized twice in my opinion...........

Gotta agree with msta999.
Stats are manipulated to draw attention (money, votes, etc.) to whatever overinflated frenzy the PTB can "create."

[walls0stone]

Yep, just one is more known that the other.

[Funkhouser]

Compared to some of the thugs and riff-raff I see moving to the Charlotte area, I'd much rather be neighbors with the Amish. I have a lot of family in Tuscarawas County, Ohio (just east of Holmes County - the largest Amish community in the country) and let me tell you...I'd take them over anybody else I've ever had living next to me.

[nancy1340]

Come on Nancy! 25% of all girls in America are molested, by age 10!!!! I don't think so. Have you been watching CNN again. *::)

There is a problem out there, but it is not any where near that high of a number.


I really don't give a rats ass if you believe it or not. But as someone that was molested from the age of 2 - 11, I think I know just a little more about it than you do. ::)

Actually most sources will say that 25% is conservative.
Your attitude is insulting to those of us that have endured this through out our childhood.

[Drawbar]

I really don't give a rats ass if you believe it or not. But as someone that was molested from the age of 2 - 11, I think I know just a little more about it than you do. ::)

Actually most sources will say that 25% is conservative.
Your attitude is insulting to those of us that have endured this through out our childhood.

Before everyones feather's get ruffled, let me add this. I am a foster parent now, and grew up in a foster home and know that this kind of stuff happens a lot more then most people realize...in or out of a city, closed community, etc.

Still when I read that figure I felt it was a little inflated too. I don't say that to insult you, or my sisters that have been molested, or my brothers, or anyone else, I simply say that because the numbers just don't add up.

There are roughly 300 million people in this country, so a 1 in 4 ratio would mean 75 million have been molested? That is a staggering number. Assuming the average sicko touches 5 kids a piece, (its probably lower then that actually) that equates to 15 million sickos. If that was indeed the case, and 90% of these sickos are never sentenced for their crimes, that would still put 1.5 million sickos behind bars. The problem is, there are only 1.47 million people in state and federal prison for ALL crimes combined. If 1 in 4 was indeed the ratio, our court systems would be over-run with sicko crimes farm more then it already is. The numbers just don't add up.

The point here is, I don't think he was being degrading or unsympathetic, the ratio you quoted just sounds very high to me as well and as a foster parent I am privy to some sad stories and even scary data that the general public just doesn't see.

[otobesane1]

I really don't give a rats ass if you believe it or not. But as someone that was molested from the age of 2 - 11, I think I know just a little more about it than you do. *::)

Actually most sources will say that 25% is conservative.
Your attitude is insulting to those of us that have endured this through out our childhood.

Nancy, while I have empathy for what you endured, with all due respect, your experience doesn't automatically make you an authority on the subject of molestation. I've been in an automobile accident, but that doesn't make me an authority on auto accidents or statistics concerning them. I too, think that the 25% figure is too high. The numbers just don't add up for me.

TK

[GoodDaughter]

I am actually laughing at the attitude of some here when they say things like 'the Amish have an us vs. them attitude' and how they take advantage of their social standing.

Like any here haven't said or feel it's 'us' homesteaders vs. the people in McManions? Or it's the 'hard working farmer' vs. the yuppie consumer? Get real, people, you're getting a little too full of yourselves.

Can any of you tell me that if you were selling a homestead made product you wouldn't market it as such so it would stand out against all the other similar products out there? Of course you would! And what about those who raise and sell 'organic' products. Are they taking advantage of buyers for marketing it as organic? Of course not. The perception that it has to do with Amish taking advantage of their religion shows a true ignorance of the background and history of the Amish/Anabaptists, and when given the facts (such as Sara did) some of you willingly choose to ignore them and stick with your sour grapes.

If any of you really wanted to understand the way the Amish and OOMennonites 'operate', you'd be googling their history instead of sensationalized news sites about the horrors of living Amish.

Oh, but no, it's much more fun to bash people who, on the whole, take care of their own, don't intrude on the rest of us, and quietly go about their lives in a peaceful and productive manner, isn't it?

P.S.--if there is any unrealistic or skewed perceptions of these people, it is mostly in the minds of the Englisha, and not in the minds of Amish or Mennonites. In other words, you are responsible for how you view them; they are not responsible for how you view them.

[walls0stone]

should read the rest of what I've written... I do have an us vs them mentality.

Organic, we used to call it poverty..now add a middle man, it's expencive.

Few flatlanders move in the and try to change the way you live... guess what..

That's why I don't go the organic route. It's a sham

The perception that something they sell is better, just cuz they built it is crazy.

I know Amish I realy like, I've gone hunting and in my youth, we'd get good and sloshed with them.

I'm speaking from personal experience, not a goggle query.

[flatwater]

Gooddaughter , You raise a good point but as I see it there are good and bad in all of us and we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God ( except the non believers and they don't know any better)( Oh I'm a gonna git it for that one ::)) anyhow on that note I will get back to the original question. I always look at it this way , if someone is more successful then myself , how can I better myself to be just as successful? Were like the Indians , we are always waring with each other instead of focussing on the real enemy. When the indians finally came together it was Custards LAST stand. Get my point?
Flatwater

[nancy1340]

( except the non believers and they don't know any better)( Oh I'm a gonna git it for that one ::)) Flatwater

No Flat, I don't think your "gonna get it" for that.
Being a Christian or not doesn't excuse you for being a good person to others. There are many non-Christin faiths or non believers, that believe in doing good works.

[Dawgus]

I'm gonna avoid most of what's already been said, and put in my own 2 cents worth.
Someone mentioned Holmes County, Ohio a few posts back. We live less than an hour from there and visit the area frequently, generally to get something at Lehmans Hardware in Kidron. We almost always end up traveling to other area's to shops that we frequent, and every year these places get busier and busier, 2 towns in particular, Sugarcreek and Berlin.
"Downtown" Berlin is almost always packed full of cars and tour busses full of people. New shops seem to open every year, and almost all of them do well. Most aren't run by amish, but use that "amish country" name or "amish made" label to make a killing at whatever it is that they sell. The shops and roadside stands run by the amish do just as well. People walk through one particular "country craft" store by the hundreds, and most of the merchendise there is made overseas, but the amish name and employees cast a different perception of the place, and people buy, buy, buy everything they can get their hands on.
Some of the amish see this whole tourist trap idea as a nuicance, and avoid the area totally, but others are more than willing to take full advantage of it. Try to sell homeade baskets on some back road and you might sell a few a day, but set up next to the "amish country coffee and bagel barn" and they'll sell a buggy full.
I don't blame them one bit, I would do the same thing. I sware, down there you could put an "Amish Made" label on a horse turd and someone would pay 5 bucks for it. lol It does make me laugh at times.
Luckily we've been going down there for almost 10 years together, myself for close to 20, so we know our way around the areas well enough to avoid the areas built up for tourists and can find the out of the way bulk food stores that we go to.
Maybe I should brow a beard, get a straw hat and start selling tomatos on the roadside, hmmmmmm lol.

[Sarah]

WallsOStone,

Interesting that an English would be 'cash/credit man'. I still prefer our system where ONE elder is the 'front' man, i.e. the person who's name is on everything, but the Knosk (storekeeper sept of OOM) elder does the actual footwork/shopping. It keeps everyone honest.


Drawbar,

I understand your position about ""Go out unto the world and preach the gospel." I have been blasted with it by quite a few protestants. But Gospel is defined, at least for us, as a way of life, not a blind devotion to written books. For example, Ordnung, 'the way', is NOT written. Shunning/Banning/Excommunication, etc, are not from the 'bible'. Living by example, 'gentle persuasion' is 'preaching'.

I also know what happened to the Anabaptists. (The term refers to us collectively as a 'religious family tree', and to a now dead original branch). That 'branch' was wiped out, enclave overrun by 'Christian Scientists', 1969, Black Forrest, Germany.) They were warlike, cold, etc. 'Save a soul for Jesus, Kill, Kill, Kill!'

Lets drop it here, OK?


GoodDaughter,

Tell them sister! I admit to an 'us versus them'. Ask all our old brethren who were burned, hung, etc. But Google has some very wrong and strong slant.

Of course, we use the 'image' for all the market would bear! And yes, we OOM and our Amish brethren DO laugh at the miss-conceptions. Some are a real hoot!

"Nor do they (English) understand they no matter how they look at someone else, they are seeing themselves, in their mirror of the Soul."
Majerestadt Campbell, the Younger.




Now, to get back to work, gotta keep that industrious image going...

Sarah

[Sarah]

Dawgus,

"Maybe I should brow a beard, get a straw hat and start selling tomatos on the roadside, hmmmmmm lol."

Just remember, Amish have to get permission from a Deacon to do that. ;)

I think you will get off with a warning. And full contribution of all profits. ;D

Sarah

[walls0stone]

I laugh that so many Amish have left Lancaster to come here. but they still call that Amish Country

*Now why would anyone have any right to tell dawgus he can't do exactly what he said...

" Grow a beard, and sell tomatos."

If I buy stuff from an Amish man and I assume the stuff he's selling is Amish made, and it's not.. I'm the one who made the misstake.


What if dawgus sells great veggies... and you assume he is Amish? If he makes no claim to be...will they send out the Amish goons to beat him up? *

on the 6 O'clock news...
"another Amish gang related Crime in Ohio today. "

The Amish I know have one big family farm. I have no idea what they do for worship as we do not see any Amish church with buggies on sundays around here. (but I do see them at the mall)

The family of carpenters send men the 4 winds every day. *In most cases English drive them to there jobs for the day.

So if the Parson or whatever were to go to all the job sights and he can't drive, how's he get all the wood and stuff to the workers on time?

[bookwormom]

quote
Can any of you tell me that if you were selling a homestead made product you wouldn't market it as such so it would stand out against all the other similar products out there? Of course you would! And what about those who raise and sell 'organic' products. Are they taking advantage of buyers for marketing it as organic? Of course not. The perception that it has to do with Amish taking advantage of their religion shows a true ignorance of the background and history of the Amish/Anabaptists, and when given the facts (such as Sara did) some of you willingly choose to ignore them and stick with your sour grapes.

If any of you really wanted to understand the way the Amish and OOMennonites 'operate', you'd be googling their history instead of sensationalized news sites about the horrors of living Amish.

Oh, but no, it's much more fun to bash people who, on the whole, take care of their own, don't intrude on the rest of us, and quietly go about their lives in a peaceful and productive manner, isn't it? end of quote

very well put good daughter.
would you be happy with the amish if they were on welfare? We have talked about that the dumbest thing the amish could do would be to get rid of their uniforms and lifestyle. almost a trademark.
whats to keep you from developing your own?

I know some amish families well enough to know that they have a good life. I think, though they do not actively preach to outsiders, they let their light shine.
The church I go to is having big hassles right now, some, those who have been there since their greatgrandparents built the church, versus newcomers. It is about a building and money. also, some do not like the preacher and have petitioned to have him removed. He is okay, he is not Mr. charming, big deal. he hints at all things he needs, like a newer car, that the congregation ought to supply and so on and so on.
like the fact that the Amish meet in their homes, I think it averages out to twice a year.

[Cil]

Bookwormom,

If my pastor hinted at anything like wanting the congregation paying for his new car [outside of his salary], I'd be outta there so fast and telling others not to go there and why.

We sometimes have food/eating fundraisers. The last one being a few weeks ago to help our youth group pay at a discount for summer camp. As I am unemployed, I could not afford to, my pastor's wife paid for me. She has done this in the past. My own tithing consists of "manual labor" tithing. I get things ready in the morning such as the coffe,water and such plus getting the snacks ready for children's church.

[sethwyo]

The Amish are Succesfull, Because thay work together and live and coperate together, Like the borg.
If the rest of us could get together and work together and not worrie about the stupid things that keep us apart, Then no one could stop us.

[msta999]

The Amish are Succesfull, Because thay work together and live and coperate together, Like the borg.
If the rest of us could get together and work together and not worrie about the stupid things that keep us apart, Then no one could stop us.

Hey! Isn't that the way things use to be, way back when? With barn raising, bringing in the harvest, putting up a new home?? Then we got modern.

[Drawbar]

I don't know, but I found out Kubota is their heroine.

We got a bunch of these people moving into my town and its no secret what I think about that :(. Anyway they cannot get their first crop of hay in so they had it contracted out, and the guy they contracted uses my tractor most of the summer.

I asked him about using it this weekend but he said the Amish were using it. Seems they bought a house and have been cleaning it up and with the tractor just sitting there, they have been using it for all manner of things like moving stuff to the second floor with the bucket, grading around the house, and stuff like that. I am glad they like it as its a nice tractor, but of all the people in town, why does it have to be my tractor?

What's next, my daughter crossing over the rockwall and 'courting" one of their sons?

[walls0stone]

leave rock walls out of this!!!! ;)

What about the Courting issue with the Amish? Im guessing most people are unaware of how still the gene pool can be with those small comunities.

Sounds like they are usining your money to get ahead! If the tractor breaks, who's gona fix it?

Here, we are just as old school as the Amish when it comes to helping and working together. guess if I had a black hat I'd be unique. I use the neibhgor bail wagon, he uses the dozer. He takes the man lift for a weekend, I use his 15 foot batwing mower...we still have work days for each other. farmers don't need 31 kids to show up to do work...they may just share the equivelent.. equipment.


but all of the people here who farm have another income why?

[HockeyFan]

Low overhead. Not much on frivolous spending. Entertainment at home or at church. Low overhead lifestyle.

[walls0stone]

They do stuff like normal people...now granted all people are diffrant... but some men I have known personaly make full time living out of driving Amish around to fun stuff, hunting trips out west..Farm show, gun shows.. parks, national land marks. *Why would they not do this stuff? *They just don't talk about it.

Yes low overhead due to diffrances in taxation, standards, and the way they don't make a lot of noise so the only time they get noticed is when they want to be.

Put it another way.. in other posts, we are cussing about people who just hang around or don't give, just take...well low overhead would be using Draw's tractor like they are salt of the earth, and not investing any money.

So if using that stuff is so bad for Draw's mortal Soul, then why do they use it? How could they let him go on like that? Draw, we are going to burn becouse we have used oil to farm...woe is us... And when we are dead and gone, they will still want to barrow that tractor..

Low overhead is right.