I lived in a mostly Amish community in Lancaster County. Some of my acquaintances were on the volunteer fire department. They said every shift of volunteer firefighters tried to have a Amish person on call who was skilled with horses as there were accidents and veterinary emergencies involving horses or livestock. All the fire trucks were equipped with special horse lifting harnesses and supplies. Many of the Mennonites were skilled with livestock as well, and their dress and appearance is almost indistinguishable from the English.
I heard that Amish men on the volunteer fire department are also granted an exception from not being allowed to shave after marrying because it’s impossible to grow a beard and still wear full firefighting gear, mainly the face masks we wear as part of our air packs. It’s impossible to get a complete seal on our faces with a beard, so these Amish men are permitted to remain clean-shaven for the reason of their personal as well as their community’s safety.
i was lutheran for many years, and the menonnites, amaish, and other similar groups sort of used us as their "political arm" to look out for them and we gladly did that for them.
Mennonites do dress differently at least I. Lancaster, PA! My hometown is York, PA right across the river as I visit Lancaster at least once a year. Mennonite c,ot hung us different from Amish!!
IEnjoy your videos, and I’ve learned a lot from your channel. I’m not Amish and don’t feel called to join them, but I’ve always been curious about them. As a blind person, I’m curious about what life is like for disabled Amish people.
That's a great question. I can't do justice here but maybe a future vid. At least some Amish make allowances for certain tech to aid people with disabilities
Just a question friend. Have you ever traveled to Montgomery / Fulton County area of NY state? When I bought the land I farm near Canajoharie forty years ago there were only a smallish community of Amish establishing themselves north of us across the river around and about Ephratah. Over the years the population and different communities of both Amish and Mennonite has basically exploded across both countys and now there’s established communities in Schoharie county as well. Forty years ago I bought a section of an old farm gone fallow surrounded by vacant unused decrepit farm houses barns and fields and fields and fields, acre apon good acre that hadn’t been worked in some cases for thirty years before I showed up. Today I’m pleased to say I’m sided on three boarders by three completely rejuvenated, working, and prosperous Amish farms. It’s wonderful, it’s beyond wonderful to see the countryside peopled and busy like it must have been eighty years ago before the small family farms that fed the country were lost to progress. There seems to be more and more Amish moving here all the time. I welcome them. They buy old farms with abandoned houses and barns that were decomposing back into the landscape and in short order have them squared away and looking and working as they. did in their heyday. A lot of the Mohawk Valley has become a sort of rust belt of dairy farms. It’s so nice to see it recover, at least in my part of it. I’m rambling. Anyway. If you haven’t been through my neighborhood yet I’m sure it would be worth your while. I might add, it’s really beautiful up here. Gods country indeed
Our state used the tobacco settlement money to pay folks to not grow tobacco for 10 years. The Amish did not participate. However, I think they have all stopped now. When the "English" stopped growing tobacco, the tobacco auction closed. That left the Amish having to go far to sell their tobacco. I suspect that is why they stopped also. The Amish here show up greatly for blood drives. And they pitch in if any farmer has a significant disaster. Such disasters don't happen often but the Amish will help that farmer try to get back on his feet.
The rules vary from one community to another depending on what the elders feel better about allowing! There can be controversy over what type of butter churn is acceptable...
Here in Central PA we have alot of the Swartzentruber Old Order Amish, I've never seen any of them not have the orange triangle on their buggies but there are many of them who refuse to use battery powered lights on their buggies and still use the kerosene lanterns which are extremely dangerous. However more and more of them are giving in and getting the battery LED lights. But those lanterns are dangerous you can't hardly see them until it is almost too late especially if its foggy, we just know to drive slow on the back roads around here or you will end up along the road having a very bad night.
A friend of mine in Carlisle, PA has Amish neighbors. Her neighbor, Levi, told me that it was law that they had to have the triangle and lights on the buggies. Maybe it was just that county. Levi said he used to have lights that were battery powered, but ended up changing over to wheel powered lights (like you see on bicycles). One thing he said that made me mad was that people constantly drive up to the buggies to scare the horses. They'll speed around them while blaring the horn or up beside them and rev the engine. It happens more with motorcycles. Such assholes out there.
@@WastedTalent- With Ohio, there's the ongoing fight with the Swartzentruber and similar Amish groups over the triangle because it's a safety hazard for all sides there. A black buggy with a black horse when it's dark or foggy out could get both sides killed there. And you have groups saying they'd die before putting the reflectors on. It's one of the few situations where I could see going with the full wrath of the government over it because fines don't work, and the community tends to make anything done beyond long jail stays a slap on the wrist. I've seen quite a few people end up stopped by cops if they're trying to scare the horses or similar, unsafe driving tickets
Much of my area, like from Somerset County PA and northwards, some will use tractors and other powered implements. The tractors typically have steel wheels though, no tires. I asked one Amishman about it and he said "so long as it is uncomfortable to operate, and only used as a necessity for larger farms". Another Amishman uses gas engine powered mills. I work for the telephone company in Somerset & Cambria Counties and occasionally have to design phone lines to their shanties - so I regularly interact with a few of them.
I live in Essex County NY, my observation is that my Amish neighbors do not use tractor triangles on the backs of their buggies, I truly wish they would, or that they would find some other way to apply reflective material to them. They’re wicked hard to see at night or in twilight.
Oswego County, N.Y. here. We have the same issue here. I wish they would use the triangle. I lived in Lancaster county Years ago, and they ALL used them.
Yeah…would not like to be driving at night to suddenly come upon a slow moving, unlit back carriage. Seems like that could lead to some preventable accidents, and maybe at least they could use some lanterns or brighter lights, for other drivers on the roads.
I know this isn't exactly the subject, but in Quebec, farmers had an exemption for lights on their trailers. The only mandatory things were reflectors and a triangle. There were many accidents before the government withdrew their exemption. So when I hear that the Amish don't even have to install a triangle...
Years ago I ran into a group putting siding on houses now and again. Two regular guys that drove the van and the truck and also ran all the power tools. Six or eight Amish guys hanging up siding all day. They could knock out a decent size house in a day (around 2000 sq foot floor space). It was maddening to be inside at times hearing the constant thump of the hammers, but it was amazing how fast they moved around the house.
Canastota NY Amish community. When I started beekeeping in 2019, I met an Amish beekeeper (Abe) as he was driving his wagon by my home. That was the start of my association with the local Amish community. In 2020, at the on set of the COVID lock down, Abe's 5 month old died of SIDS. I attended the funeral 😢. Not long after that, I made the mistake of asking how one becomes a driver. Now, 3 years later, I and my wife drive Amish. In fact, our Amish community has 2 schools. My with shuttles the children to school for one of the schools now. The Canastota community does not have a restriction on hiring a driver. I have a friend who drives for the Poland NY community. She told me that they have an under 10 mile restriction. I could go on about the differences between local communities... phones, wheels, etc... some buggies are lit up like Christmas trees at night!
@@robertewalt7789Maybe, maybe not….depends on the horse. And even if the horse generally knows the way home, you shouldn’t be on the road and drunk. Its a hazard to other drivers if the horse doesn’t obey traffic laws, or stop signs, or lights, etc. And horses can be good at finding home, but doubt they understand 4-way stop intersection rules. And my mom has a story from her childhood on a farm in the 1930s where she was told NOT to use a particular horse, but one evening a neighbor came asking urgently to go into the small downtown while her parents were out, and they ended up with the horse bolting, refusing to stop and careening thru the streets of town until it tired and was stopped by others. So good to have a sober adult driver in case of that.
One difference I’ve noticed between communities is bicycles. Some communities don’t use bicycles, only scooters. Some use only basic bicycles while others use multi-speed bicycles.
From what was told to me by an Amish man is that his sect aren't allowed to use bicycles, only scooters and the Menonites were allowed bicycles. You'd see Menonites flying around town on recumbent bikes.
@@WastedTalent-Mennonites also can drive cars. Amish will asked them or the English,ish to drive them places that their buggies cannot go but they cannot drive cars themselves. I recently was in Lancaster County, PA and saw some young Amish kids on something that looked like a cross between a bicycle and a scooter - had wheels like a bicycle but were still foot- powered. But I’ve never seen Amish in that area use a bicycle!
@@sandybruce9092 This description seems to match a balance bike. These are becoming more common, as it was discovered that they are better at teaching people how to ride a bike than traditional side wheels.
I learned something new I always thought the beard was a sign they are no longer a child, and I believe you should always ask before taking a video or picture of someone just doing their day to day life out of politeness.
@therealz360z7Beards are only for married men no matter their age! No beard means single! Always ask before photographing, even if they might be far out in a field, etc. it’s called respect! Some will allow and some won’t.
The head poo-bahs of each community seem to make the rules so each community is a bit different. Best I can tell the only things that seem universal is no electricity in the house and they use Horses and Mules to pull the implements they use to work on the farm. Notice I said pull the implement not necessarily power it if it requires power. I have seen some pretty klugged set-ups like horses pulling a hay bailer but the baler itself is powered by a small engine or even an engine with hydraulics.
I drive a semi and driving around them is a great source of anxiety. I get that the horses are well trained but horses do stupid things and when they do there’s not much anyone can do to stop them. It’s nice that we let the use the highway but I wish there were a better way
Have you seen the movie "Love Finds You in Sugarcreek (OH)?" So good. I've been there a couple times. There's a good pub there with good Rueben sandwiches. They have the world's largest coocoo clock. It's based on the books by somebody Miller. The Amish help this guy out and his son.
I have a question about Amish and technology. What is allowed and isn't allowed...and do the Amish ever invent something that catches on by the rest of the community? Just as an example, I saw an Amish ceiling fan powered by a small wind turbine on the roof and thought that was banned? And with such a technique without electricity is quite smart.
A small wind turbine is not a machine powered by electricity so there shouldn’t be any problem. But as someone said earlier, it does depend on the Order and the Bishops. - I’ve heard some can be very, very strict on some simple things. But I can always tell an Amish girl/woman from Lancaster by the shape of their head covering -
@@sandybruce9092 Yeah I know it's not a problem. It's the ingenuity behind it that made me think. What other technologies have they made that is allowed within their church. They could come up with entire parralel technologies or new things entirely not thought of before by the rest of us since we couldn't fathom it without electricity.
- What about solar electric panels? - Every time I pass through Union Station in Chicago a few times a month there are always large numbers of Amish. I always wonder where they are travelling to/from. - As for alcohol, there are always stories about some Amish guy getting drunk, passing out in his buggy and the cops then trying to nail him with a DUI, even though the horse knows the way home. But there is one video where the cops couldn't stop the horse and it ran into a cop car. Was a young guy, maybe celebrating Rumspringa.
I recall a case years back which I think was in WI in which cops tried to charge a guy with a DUI on horseback. Thing is, his lawyer won the case argueing that you cannot drive nor operate a horse. Its a sentient creature that can choose to accept or ignore inputs from its rider and therefore cannot be operated. So if you want to hit up the bars and tie one on, get a horse.
Most Amish I have spoken to and I usede to do busy with many use the safety triangle as "render unto Caesar what is Caesars and unto God what is Gods." As the Bible quotes Jesus sayingf.
We live very near two different Amish communities. Most Amish stores we go to only sell caffeine-free soft drinks. However, there is one store we shop at on a paved highway that sells Coca-Cola and other mainstream soft drinks. So is selling caffeinated drinks an exception to the rule?
I live near the Somerset country Amish “church.” It is interesting to drive by it when they are at their service. The men are gather at the one end and the women at the other. It’s actually located in Springs, PA in Somerset county.
My husband is from Gloversville, NY - Fulton County - and we were just up there for Thanksgiving (we own the house his Dad built in 1955). I was surprised to see Amish there as I had no idea. And Amish clothing does differ slightly depending on where they live and what Order they belong to.
7:32 Showing the Horse rails our the my hometown Walmart in Millersburg, OH. Just off the Rails to Trails that the buggies sneak onto from time to time. Also, to your later point about Volunteer firefighters. Holmes County Amish have a small number of Volunteer Firefighters and EMTs.
Regarding the alcohol, I used to work at a dairy in Stark County, Ohio and we would have milk brought in on box trucks from surrounding counties, Holmes, Wayne, Ashland, Medina, etc. Well, some of the Amish farms would sell various goods to the box truck drivers such as eggs, meat, furniture....and wine!
My friend is Baptist and they also baptize as adults - it’s not unusual in many religions. And they can also be baptized more than once - this I do not understand. But I’m not Baptist.
My Great Grandfather took his family out... of the Amish. ( at the time, it would have been, unheard of, for my grandma,as a young woman, to, ask, her father Why? So....I have No Idea.
I think that would be a most interesting family story - I’m our family genealogist and would love to know such stories. Unfortunately most of not all the people who would know the truth are no ,inter with us. Example - my family has been Lutheran since i don’t know when (maybe back to Martin Luther?) but my great grandmother was from a Catholic family - so as I’ve been told - boys went to one church and girls to another - I just don’t know yet which went where😮😊. We are still Lutheran (mostly)!
Yes they do interact in different ways - at auctions, as neighbors and there are even some shared schools in Lancaster County with Old Order Mennonite & Amish children
Volunteer fire departments are the norm in PA. It isn't an Amish thing. I'm an Electrical Engineer (so very much not Amish) and was a member of the King of Prussia fire company. Paid, full time, fire companies are rare and only happen in big cities.
Many small communities only have Volunteer Fire departments. My husband hometown in way upstate NY still has a volunteer fire dept. - my FIL helped to start it a long time ago.
In regards to the SMV sign. Isnt there a shape and color they would be accepting of? Even if its just a square and black and white can be made reflective. There should be some sort of acceptable compromise but then again our government continues to want to control everyone and everything.
We have helped some of our Amish neighbors by helping them purchase a reflective tape from 3M that is black during the day but turns reflective silver went illuminated by headlights at night. They said close calls have dropped significantly.
I've followed many Amish videos over time and their "rules" seem to be all over the spectrum. Some do, some don't, some do, some don't. Some use motor vehicles, some don't. Some use electricity, some don't. Some have telephones, some don't.
How do the Amish communicate seasonal sales? I live in Akron Ohio and I want to buy my food from the Amish. A couple of times, I’ve heard about a product at a Amish store that is quite a ways from me and sometimes in a nearby state. I google them and I usually find a Facebook page that isn’t being maintained or a website link that isn’t linked to a website.
The best way to stay up to date is to check local news as even the "English" news will often report on events and sales in the area. For example, checking the Berlin or Millersburg news will let you know what is going on in Holmes County. The other way is to find some Amish business people and make friends. They usually don't mind giving updates to their English friends if they know what you're interested in.
In Akron you’re so close to Holmes county. The locals there will lead you in the right direction. The best deals are just a couple of miles outside of the towns.
I think what makes cell phones allowable is that they aren't landlines and therefore don't require literal physical connection to the English (ie wires)
Near where I live, there is a town named Ickesburg which has a lot of Amish fire fighters. It is located in Perry County, two counties northwest of Lancaster County, so I guess it is a spin off of the LancCo Amish. I am guessing that none of them get behind the wheel of a fire truck. Have any Amish ever held a church service in an Amish school?
I live in Somerset county Pennsylvania. Would you happen to know exactly where that church house is at 1:10? I have a fascination for old buildings like that and I would like to go and see that up close.
How big an Amish community in California? Because the train shown at 7:58 is in California. Amish folk do make use of Amtrak service in the Midwest and Pennsylvania. When Amtrak closes a station ticket office assuming its passengers will book online, show a qr code on their mobile phone in lieu of a paper ticket, and Amish travelers use that station, it affects those travelers who may not have online or mobile access.
No Old Order Amish in California, the train is just a picture of a train for illustration purposes. There was once a community in CA though long ago: amishamerica.com/california-amish-community/
Up here in the Heuvelton NY region there are a lot of English that make a good living driving for the Amish. Besides the standard people moving, there are heavy haulers, log haulers, etc. I provide transportation for my Amish friends, although I do not charge them anything, although at first they wanted to pay me. I just do a little trading on occasion which they really like. If I'm going somewhere and will be passing by an Amish home, I'll stop in to see if they want to ride along or need me to pick them up anything. We also plan day trips for heading out to all of the local Amish merchants and craftsmen in the area, regular grocery trips, thrift store shopping, etc. It's fun and during the drives, we get to learn a lot about each other as well. I have a frolic at my house tomorrow where we'll have the community here to cut down a bunch of old whit pines they'll use for lumber on some projects and I'll get the trees taken down for free. And for that, if I ever need any lumber, I will get it at just the cost of their labor for the milling. It's actually fun to help and we get to have the whole community here from time to time.
I just don't get why the line in the sand was drawn at the level of technology they use. I mean why not live a stone age life and eschew all metal tech, no spinning thread and weaving cloth, just hide. No farming but being hunter gatherer. Why, specifically late per-industrial age? Could they use a steam engine?
Here in Parke County, Indiana, the Amish are "Old Order " and do use electricity from the power grid. Many of the Amish have solar panels and inverters. I am familiar with an Amish store that powers an electric freezer with a solar panel and inverter instead of a propane freezer.
I was always curious as to why the Amish don’t use their existing school houses for services, and why the school districts don’t correlate with the church districts.
This guy can't say the oo sound as on the word blue, moo, true. He says them as ew so the color blue would sound the same as the word blew. Moo would be mew, and true would be what? trew. Drives me nuts! He's good looking though
I could never yoke up with a group of people that teach each other not the study the word of God at home on their own in English, from those I know amish can't even read the word of God in their own homes.
I'm pretty sure most Amish communities have a phone and computer (like, 1 for the community) for emergencies. They don't use them as a matter of course, but if there's an accident and someone needs emergency help they'll phone 911. Or if they need to communicate with the wider world for some important reason they'll use a computer. They choose a simple life without modern amenities wherever possible, but they're not idiots XD If there's a great need to communicate quickly or get help in an emergency, they'll seek it out using modern technology, and that's not taboo to their values if the situation demands it.
Blows me away on their beliefs how the Amish can “workaround” what suits them not to be connected to the “grid system” for work and have diesel generators working a belt system to have a disconnect to the outside world?? They Don’t want safety reflector on their buggies?? Also some who do have lights on their buggies cant have the both level to the same height?? Its un-Godly? What’s un-Godly on safety when you share the same roads as cars?? Seen so many horses and people get killed on the road at night!! Stupidity to say the least! Cant use vehicles with rubber tires unless its too far?? Sleeping in the same bed with a total stranger on the first date?? WTF?? Goes on and on! Just blows me away! Cant be part of this Cult!
Learned something new on this one. I was not previously aware of the Amish participating in volunteer fire departments. In what roles do they usually serve? Any Amish EMT's? What about aerial ladder operators? I'm a bit surprised as it's not called "fire fighting" for nothing. Success requires a certain focused combativeness. An anger, if you will, against the injury (even death) and destruction so often inflicted. This is your best video in a long time. PSE keep it up!
The Amish homebuilders near me in northern NY, would hire Menonites with their power tools to help, then connect their tools( electric/ air). I'm "english" I was hired to do countertops & other specialty work, they found ways to get around "obstacles".
"Most Amish believe that church structures are unnecessary". I really like that approach! The belief that you can worship in any building - it doesn't need to be a purpose-built one. That's wonderful! The effort to build a structure should be reserved for things that are *essential* and I'm with the Amish on that - I don't think a church building qualifies on that score.
I live near an Amish settlement and I can tell you from personal experience there is alcohol abuse and sexual abuse and its a lot more prevalent then you realize. There not all are bad, just like any sub culture. Some Amish families are usually very nice. But it is a growing problem. Eli Yoder has a youtube channel. He became a christian and left the Amish at around 18 years old. A like the work ethic, and sense of community.
Yes. Sounds like you live near one of the communities I mentioned where alcohol is an issue. (I didn't discuss sexual abuse in this video). You will get a perspective from a former Amish person that I can never give. When former Amish discuss their past lives, it is often compelling, though can be hyperfocused on one experience. It's similar to when individual observers base impressions of what "the Amish" do on one community. But there are over 600 separate and often quite different Amish settlements. So this is more about the broad view.
You know when I first visited an Amish place (1994) I was most surprised by how far apart the houses are...I was picturing it'd be like one of them westerns! Obviously they're not gonna have any saloons!!
What I would love to know is how the folks who practice these exceptions are seen by the majority. You say that they are still Amish, and I am certain they see themselves that way, but do the conservative majority still regard them as belonging?
I would like to know which is the oldest Amish community - you said Somerset Co. was the second oldest - could the oldest be those in Lancaster Co., PA?
I've never understood why the Amish don't accept electricity. I Is there an explanation? And with regard to long-distance transportation, why do they accept a train / Greyhound as opposed to not having a motorized vehicle? I'm aware of the groups of Amish who live in Mexico. They sell everything and take a flight. They sell everything and move there. Again, how / why did they take mechanical means to get to a location?!?!
Trains were around in the early 1800s, so maybe over time they could see the benefit and necessity of using them to travel great distances. It's never been easy to travel across the US by horse and buggy, and carried dangers for families traveling together, as well as dangers when traveling in a small group or alone. Highway robbery was a real thing, as was sticking in mud, runaway buggies overtaking horses going downhill (terrifyingly dangerous and all too common). Today's Amish taking flights might be justified by reason of necessity for traveling even greater distances that can't be reached by train or Greyhound.
I believe their issue with electricity is being connected to the grid, ie the world's system. I have heard that flying is equated by them with pride, and to me nowadays with their new machines possibly with immodesty, though to be honest I would still fly.
NO electricity in the home but electricity in their barn and workshops Telephones often in barns and such too. Around here they love cordless power tools and they DO charge them.
The Amish by me in southern Illinois have a church building,use tractors as there most common form of transportation except Sundays,they are on the grid water and electric and also have bag phones in there home.
The things that we use every day most Amish call the stuff we use worldly like the orange triangle the old order Amish don't use them but the new order Amish use them as well as a lot of the stuff we use just not the old order
I don't understand why they think an orange colored triangle is a sin. I lived near some Amish in Oklahoma years ago, and they caught a teenage girl sneaking off to watch a movie in town. They threw her completely out of the cult and she was never allowed to see her parents or siblings again. They treated her like a total stranger. I don't see how these people could be Christians and treat people like this.
Dear Erik, As always, you have produced another thoughtful video on the Amish. While I knew about most of these exceptions, I always learn more and increase my understanding of the Amish from your videos. Thank you again for all the good work you do do. You are truly a good and honest ambassador for the Amish. Sincerely, Larry C. Lewis London, Ontario, Canada.
I was appalled at the property of the swartzentruber in N.C. how overgrown their yards are and quite cluttered. I was told by a Minnonite lady that they're not allowed to mow their yards because it is a show of pride !
I live in Mooresville, NC and was told we have two Amish communities right up off I77 - in Harmony and Union Grove. I e is Swartzentruber and I e is not - can’t remember which ,I’ve in which town, but the Swartzentruber Order doesn’t want outsiders and the other Order welcomes visitors and has places to purchase many things. I just keep forgetting which is which as maybe I can find some of the foods I really miss from Lancaster Co., PA!
these are reasonable exceptions. on cameras and kids, it's important to keep up-to-date photos of your kids in case they go missing. kids' appearances change constantly. i wonder if the psychological benefits of keeping such memories to look back on are also recognized 😊
They’re free to practice their religion and do what they do. Won’t get any resistance from me. However, sometimes I can’t wrap my head around how they handle some of their policies. For example, I watched a video once where an Amish settlement pretty much rejected all modern things. All of it. Yet, they had an exception for the farmers who could have a small man made gas powered hay baler. It was a honestly a monstrosity of a piece of equipment. Here is the kicker though, IT WAS PULLED BY HORSES. Like, either go all the way with your exceptions or just forbid it completely. It makes no sense. If modern things are against gods will, and you’ve already broken that rule, just go all the way with it. Then you have this non-sense with the no Hired Drivers in that one community. You can’t hire a driver for any reason, but you can ride a Greyhound Bus? Correct me if I’m wrong but a Greyhound is a Hired Driver. You’re paying someone to drive you somewhere. That makes no sense. Just allow hired drivers or don’t. Pick one.
Just depends on the rules for any group - some rules are universal and some are just for a certain group or Order. Depends on the Bishops. It’s not for you to make decisions.
I lived in a mostly Amish community in Lancaster County. Some of my acquaintances were on the volunteer fire department. They said every shift of volunteer firefighters tried to have a Amish person on call who was skilled with horses as there were accidents and veterinary emergencies involving horses or livestock. All the fire trucks were equipped with special horse lifting harnesses and supplies. Many of the Mennonites were skilled with livestock as well, and their dress and appearance is almost indistinguishable from the English.
Great comment
I heard that Amish men on the volunteer fire department are also granted an exception from not being allowed to shave after marrying because it’s impossible to grow a beard and still wear full firefighting gear, mainly the face masks we wear as part of our air packs. It’s impossible to get a complete seal on our faces with a beard, so these Amish men are permitted to remain clean-shaven for the reason of their personal as well as their community’s safety.
i was lutheran for many years, and the menonnites, amaish, and other similar groups sort of used us as their "political arm" to look out for them and we gladly did that for them.
Mennonites do dress differently at least I. Lancaster, PA! My hometown is York, PA right across the river as I visit Lancaster at least once a year. Mennonite c,ot hung us different from Amish!!
That's very interesting...I would have never thought that they would carry horse lifts
IEnjoy your videos, and I’ve learned a lot from your channel. I’m not Amish and don’t feel called to join them, but I’ve always been curious about them. As a blind person, I’m curious about what life is like for disabled Amish people.
That's a great question. I can't do justice here but maybe a future vid. At least some Amish make allowances for certain tech to aid people with disabilities
WOW that's an excellent question I would like to know alao.
Nice idea. Some sick people need electricity to power a medical device in the home.
I used to smoke cigars and always got a few cigars made from Lancaster county tobacco. They were very good.
Just a question friend. Have you ever traveled to Montgomery / Fulton County area of NY state? When I bought the land I farm near Canajoharie forty years ago there were only a smallish community of Amish establishing themselves north of us across the river around and about Ephratah. Over the years the population and different communities of both Amish and Mennonite has basically exploded across both countys and now there’s established communities in Schoharie county as well. Forty years ago I bought a section of an old farm gone fallow surrounded by vacant unused decrepit farm houses barns and fields and fields and fields, acre apon good acre that hadn’t been worked in some cases for thirty years before I showed up. Today I’m pleased to say I’m sided on three boarders by three completely rejuvenated, working, and prosperous Amish farms. It’s wonderful, it’s beyond wonderful to see the countryside peopled and busy like it must have been eighty years ago before the small family farms that fed the country were lost to progress.
There seems to be more and more Amish moving here all the time. I welcome them. They buy old farms with abandoned houses and barns that were decomposing back into the landscape and in short order have them squared away and looking and working as they. did in their heyday.
A lot of the Mohawk Valley has become a sort of rust belt of dairy farms. It’s so nice to see it recover, at least in my part of it.
I’m rambling. Anyway. If you haven’t been through my neighborhood yet I’m sure it would be worth your while. I might add, it’s really beautiful up here. Gods country indeed
Some of the Amish were I live (Upstate NY) have meeting houses. Thy also double as schoolhouses.
Our state used the tobacco settlement money to pay folks to not grow tobacco for 10 years. The Amish did not participate. However, I think they have all stopped now. When the "English" stopped growing tobacco, the tobacco auction closed. That left the Amish having to go far to sell their tobacco. I suspect that is why they stopped also. The Amish here show up greatly for blood drives. And they pitch in if any farmer has a significant disaster. Such disasters don't happen often but the Amish will help that farmer try to get back on his feet.
" The Amish here show up greatly for blood drives." That is disgusting, worse than just fornicating with an animal and that's horrid enough.
The rules vary from one community to another depending on what the elders feel better about allowing! There can be controversy over what type of butter churn is acceptable...
Here in Central PA we have alot of the Swartzentruber Old Order Amish, I've never seen any of them not have the orange triangle on their buggies but there are many of them who refuse to use battery powered lights on their buggies and still use the kerosene lanterns which are extremely dangerous. However more and more of them are giving in and getting the battery LED lights. But those lanterns are dangerous you can't hardly see them until it is almost too late especially if its foggy, we just know to drive slow on the back roads around here or you will end up along the road having a very bad night.
A friend of mine in Carlisle, PA has Amish neighbors. Her neighbor, Levi, told me that it was law that they had to have the triangle and lights on the buggies. Maybe it was just that county. Levi said he used to have lights that were battery powered, but ended up changing over to wheel powered lights (like you see on bicycles). One thing he said that made me mad was that people constantly drive up to the buggies to scare the horses. They'll speed around them while blaring the horn or up beside them and rev the engine. It happens more with motorcycles. Such assholes out there.
@@WastedTalent- With Ohio, there's the ongoing fight with the Swartzentruber and similar Amish groups over the triangle because it's a safety hazard for all sides there. A black buggy with a black horse when it's dark or foggy out could get both sides killed there. And you have groups saying they'd die before putting the reflectors on. It's one of the few situations where I could see going with the full wrath of the government over it because fines don't work, and the community tends to make anything done beyond long jail stays a slap on the wrist.
I've seen quite a few people end up stopped by cops if they're trying to scare the horses or similar, unsafe driving tickets
Much of my area, like from Somerset County PA and northwards, some will use tractors and other powered implements. The tractors typically have steel wheels though, no tires. I asked one Amishman about it and he said "so long as it is uncomfortable to operate, and only used as a necessity for larger farms". Another Amishman uses gas engine powered mills.
I work for the telephone company in Somerset & Cambria Counties and occasionally have to design phone lines to their shanties - so I regularly interact with a few of them.
I live in Essex County NY, my observation is that my Amish neighbors do not use tractor triangles on the backs of their buggies, I truly wish they would, or that they would find some other way to apply reflective material to them. They’re wicked hard to see at night or in twilight.
Oswego County, N.Y. here. We have the same issue here. I wish they would use the triangle. I lived in Lancaster county Years ago, and they ALL used them.
Yeah…would not like to be driving at night to suddenly come upon a slow moving, unlit back carriage. Seems like that could lead to some preventable accidents, and maybe at least they could use some lanterns or brighter lights, for other drivers on the roads.
Common sense and religion don't mix well, unfortunately.@@kurtm.7494
@@kurtm.7494 god prevents accidents better than triangle 😇
I know this isn't exactly the subject, but in Quebec, farmers had an exemption for lights on their trailers. The only mandatory things were reflectors and a triangle. There were many accidents before the government withdrew their exemption.
So when I hear that the Amish don't even have to install a triangle...
I've got a Quaker living in my pantry. Quaker oats. 😂
Years ago I ran into a group putting siding on houses now and again. Two regular guys that drove the van and the truck and also ran all the power tools. Six or eight Amish guys hanging up siding all day. They could knock out a decent size house in a day (around 2000 sq foot floor space). It was maddening to be inside at times hearing the constant thump of the hammers, but it was amazing how fast they moved around the house.
Canastota NY Amish community. When I started beekeeping in 2019, I met an Amish beekeeper (Abe) as he was driving his wagon by my home. That was the start of my association with the local Amish community. In 2020, at the on set of the COVID lock down, Abe's 5 month old died of SIDS. I attended the funeral 😢. Not long after that, I made the mistake of asking how one becomes a driver. Now, 3 years later, I and my wife drive Amish. In fact, our Amish community has 2 schools. My with shuttles the children to school for one of the schools now. The Canastota community does not have a restriction on hiring a driver. I have a friend who drives for the Poland NY community. She told me that they have an under 10 mile restriction. I could go on about the differences between local communities... phones, wheels, etc... some buggies are lit up like Christmas trees at night!
I love the Amish and how they live. Just hard workers and don't show off to everybody. They don't bother anybody and mind their business. Great video!
Hi Erik! I love your Channel!!!!
Thank you!
You are welcome! I am Swiss German and you are doing a Wonderful Job with your videos. Absolutely Amazing. God Bless you!! 🙏
The Amish in my community must believe that drinking is ok. I've have seen buggy's at the bars and even arrests for DUI.
But won’t the horse avoid traffic if the driver is DUI?
@@robertewalt7789Maybe, maybe not….depends on the horse. And even if the horse generally knows the way home, you shouldn’t be on the road and drunk. Its a hazard to other drivers if the horse doesn’t obey traffic laws, or stop signs, or lights, etc. And horses can be good at finding home, but doubt they understand 4-way stop intersection rules.
And my mom has a story from her childhood on a farm in the 1930s where she was told NOT to use a particular horse, but one evening a neighbor came asking urgently to go into the small downtown while her parents were out, and they ended up with the horse bolting, refusing to stop and careening thru the streets of town until it tired and was stopped by others. So good to have a sober adult driver in case of that.
I work in an ice shop, and we sell blocks of ice to the Amish. Blocks that we freeze and store with electricity.
One difference I’ve noticed between communities is bicycles. Some communities don’t use bicycles, only scooters. Some use only basic bicycles while others use multi-speed bicycles.
From what was told to me by an Amish man is that his sect aren't allowed to use bicycles, only scooters and the Menonites were allowed bicycles. You'd see Menonites flying around town on recumbent bikes.
Holmes County Ohio is flooded with electric bikes and solar panels
@@WastedTalent-Mennonites also can drive cars. Amish will asked them or the English,ish to drive them places that their buggies cannot go but they cannot drive cars themselves. I recently was in Lancaster County, PA and saw some young Amish kids on something that looked like a cross between a bicycle and a scooter - had wheels like a bicycle but were still foot- powered. But I’ve never seen Amish in that area use a bicycle!
@@sandybruce9092 This description seems to match a balance bike. These are becoming more common, as it was discovered that they are better at teaching people how to ride a bike than traditional side wheels.
I learned something new I always thought the beard was a sign they are no longer a child, and I believe you should always ask before taking a video or picture of someone just doing their day to day life out of politeness.
@therealz360z7Beards are only for married men no matter their age! No beard means single! Always ask before photographing, even if they might be far out in a field, etc. it’s called respect! Some will allow and some won’t.
The head poo-bahs of each community seem to make the rules so each community is a bit different. Best I can tell the only things that seem universal is no electricity in the house and they use Horses and Mules to pull the implements they use to work on the farm. Notice I said pull the implement not necessarily power it if it requires power. I have seen some pretty klugged set-ups like horses pulling a hay bailer but the baler itself is powered by a small engine or even an engine with hydraulics.
I never knew about the beard I always thought it was after they got married so thank you for teaching me something new
Gladly!
I drive a semi and driving around them is a great source of anxiety. I get that the horses are well trained but horses do stupid things and when they do there’s not much anyone can do to stop them. It’s nice that we let the use the highway but I wish there were a better way
Another wonderful information filled video, I learn something new every time you share. Thank you for sharing.
Have you seen the movie "Love Finds You in Sugarcreek (OH)?" So good. I've been there a couple times. There's a good pub there with good Rueben sandwiches. They have the world's largest coocoo clock. It's based on the books by somebody Miller. The Amish help this guy out and his son.
Here in Lancaster county my daughter works with and drives for several Amish families. She also has several friends who have Facebook pages.
I don't get why they won't use a gas powered riding mower instead of a horse drawn wagon with a gasoline (or diesel) powered motor to turn the blades.
I have a question about Amish and technology. What is allowed and isn't allowed...and do the Amish ever invent something that catches on by the rest of the community?
Just as an example, I saw an Amish ceiling fan powered by a small wind turbine on the roof and thought that was banned? And with such a technique without electricity is quite smart.
My understanding is that the church bishop(s) make decisions on what is and isn't allowed for their community.
A small wind turbine is not a machine powered by electricity so there shouldn’t be any problem. But as someone said earlier, it does depend on the Order and the Bishops. - I’ve heard some can be very, very strict on some simple things. But I can always tell an Amish girl/woman from Lancaster by the shape of their head covering -
@@sandybruce9092 Yeah I know it's not a problem. It's the ingenuity behind it that made me think. What other technologies have they made that is allowed within their church. They could come up with entire parralel technologies or new things entirely not thought of before by the rest of us since we couldn't fathom it without electricity.
@@jrr6947 Excellent thought!
Are you sure it's a turbine, not a completely mechanical windmill mechanism?
- What about solar electric panels?
- Every time I pass through Union Station in Chicago a few times a month there are always large numbers of Amish. I always wonder where they are travelling to/from.
- As for alcohol, there are always stories about some Amish guy getting drunk, passing out in his buggy and the cops then trying to nail him with a DUI, even though the horse knows the way home. But there is one video where the cops couldn't stop the horse and it ran into a cop car. Was a young guy, maybe celebrating Rumspringa.
I recall a case years back which I think was in WI in which cops tried to charge a guy with a DUI on horseback. Thing is, his lawyer won the case argueing that you cannot drive nor operate a horse. Its a sentient creature that can choose to accept or ignore inputs from its rider and therefore cannot be operated. So if you want to hit up the bars and tie one on, get a horse.
Most Amish I have spoken to and I usede to do busy with many use the safety triangle as "render unto Caesar what is Caesars and unto God what is Gods." As the Bible quotes Jesus sayingf.
We live very near two different Amish communities.
Most Amish stores we go to only sell caffeine-free soft drinks.
However, there is one store we shop at on a paved highway that sells Coca-Cola and other mainstream soft drinks.
So is selling caffeinated drinks an exception to the rule?
I grew up Amish and never heard of any restrictions on drinking coffee , soda, or other caffinated drinks.
The Amish make the most wonderful root beer - it’s not carbonated and is served room temp (at least the one I tried was).
I live near the Somerset country Amish “church.” It is interesting to drive by it when they are at their service. The men are gather at the one end and the women at the other. It’s actually located in Springs, PA in Somerset county.
My husband is from Gloversville, NY - Fulton County - and we were just up there for Thanksgiving (we own the house his Dad built in 1955). I was surprised to see Amish there as I had no idea. And Amish clothing does differ slightly depending on where they live and what Order they belong to.
On the alcohol, in our area a lot of the work crews will stop by the gas station after work a pick up a case or two of beer.
7:32 Showing the Horse rails our the my hometown Walmart in Millersburg, OH. Just off the Rails to Trails that the buggies sneak onto from time to time.
Also, to your later point about Volunteer firefighters. Holmes County Amish have a small number of Volunteer Firefighters and EMTs.
Regarding the alcohol, I used to work at a dairy in Stark County, Ohio and we would have milk brought in on box trucks from surrounding counties, Holmes, Wayne, Ashland, Medina, etc. Well, some of the Amish farms would sell various goods to the box truck drivers such as eggs, meat, furniture....and wine!
Great video. I live near the schwartzentruber Amish in Lodi/homerville/west Salem Ohio. They have the white pvc pipes on their wheels for visibility.
Neat to see that change. I remember when they were just "testing" it. Would you say it's been adopted by about all in the community or just partial?
It’s still partial I would say.
You ain't seen Amish till you've seen Camp Rd Amish!
As a truck driver I dreaded driving in Amish country. Nothings more dangerous than a horse and buggy drifting around the road.
The books are published by Guideposts, which I absolutely love.
Small country towns feel a civil duty to volunteer for the fire department.
I forgot the Amish get baptized as adults and had a very strange image in my head for a moment. What are they putting in that water? 🤣
My friend is Baptist and they also baptize as adults - it’s not unusual in many religions. And they can also be baptized more than once - this I do not understand. But I’m not Baptist.
The Swartzentruber that are in the south use taxis to get to the bus station to travel long distance.
Sounds like an exception to an exception!:)
My Great Grandfather took his family out... of the Amish.
( at the time, it would have been, unheard of, for my grandma,as a young woman, to, ask, her father Why?
So....I have No Idea.
I think that would be a most interesting family story - I’m our family genealogist and would love to know such stories. Unfortunately most of not all the people who would know the truth are no ,inter with us. Example - my family has been Lutheran since i don’t know when (maybe back to Martin Luther?) but my great grandmother was from a Catholic family - so as I’ve been told - boys went to one church and girls to another - I just don’t know yet which went where😮😊. We are still Lutheran (mostly)!
Glad to see you again!
Loved your video. I love to read books written by authors such as Beverly Lewis. While not true stories most of the Amish facts are.
Do the Amish have much interaction with the Mennonites, such as in Lancaster Co where there are a lot of both?
Yes they do interact in different ways - at auctions, as neighbors and there are even some shared schools in Lancaster County with Old Order Mennonite & Amish children
Volunteer fire departments are the norm in PA. It isn't an Amish thing. I'm an Electrical Engineer (so very much not Amish) and was a member of the King of Prussia fire company. Paid, full time, fire companies are rare and only happen in big cities.
Many small communities only have Volunteer Fire departments. My husband hometown in way upstate NY still has a volunteer fire dept. - my FIL helped to start it a long time ago.
I like your videos Sir. I do know of some Amish in Clark co. Wi,that are on the small town FD.
In regards to the SMV sign. Isnt there a shape and color they would be accepting of?
Even if its just a square and black and white can be made reflective. There should be some sort of acceptable compromise but then again our government continues to want to control everyone and everything.
We have helped some of our Amish neighbors by helping them purchase a reflective tape from 3M that is black during the day but turns reflective silver went illuminated by headlights at night. They said close calls have dropped significantly.
I went to the Ark Encounter in Kentucky earlier this year. There were alot of Amish there & they were all on private buses.
I've followed many Amish videos over time and their "rules" seem to be all over the spectrum. Some do, some don't, some do, some don't. Some use motor vehicles, some don't. Some use electricity, some don't. Some have telephones, some don't.
Christianity is the cult with like 30,000 sects
How do the Amish communicate seasonal sales? I live in Akron Ohio and I want to buy my food from the Amish. A couple of times, I’ve heard about a product at a Amish store that is quite a ways from me and sometimes in a nearby state. I google them and I usually find a Facebook page that isn’t being maintained or a website link that isn’t linked to a website.
The best way to stay up to date is to check local news as even the "English" news will often report on events and sales in the area. For example, checking the Berlin or Millersburg news will let you know what is going on in Holmes County. The other way is to find some Amish business people and make friends. They usually don't mind giving updates to their English friends if they know what you're interested in.
In Akron you’re so close to Holmes county. The locals there will lead you in the right direction. The best deals are just a couple of miles outside of the towns.
I’m glad you are back!!
What about cell phones? I have a phone number to order produce from my Amish community.
Some use them! Some use smartphones even, others, like some of the Nebraska Amish in central PA, use old style plain push button ones
@@AmishAmerica Not putting the "dial" in..."dial-up"?
I think what makes cell phones allowable is that they aren't landlines and therefore don't require literal physical connection to the English (ie wires)
Some communities are similar to electric power in that regard...
They can have a phone in their workshop/barn/business but not in their home
@@meganstewart3595But cell phones es still need to be charged. I have seen yiu ver Amish in Lancaster, PA with cell phones.
Near where I live, there is a town named Ickesburg which has a lot of Amish fire fighters. It is located in Perry County, two counties northwest of Lancaster County, so I guess it is a spin off of the LancCo Amish. I am guessing that none of them get behind the wheel of a fire truck. Have any Amish ever held a church service in an Amish school?
I live in Somerset county Pennsylvania. Would you happen to know exactly where that church house is at 1:10? I have a fascination for old buildings like that and I would like to go and see that up close.
Go past the Somerset County Fairgrounds go past Summit discount heading towards Mount Davis Road
@@debbimeyersbrant5752 Thank you. I will definitely go and check that out.
@@jackalanillar3530 you're welcome
I am glad you are back!
Me too! And glad you are still here
As always a great and very interesting video. Please keep up the good work. Happy Thanksgiving. TFS 👍
Happy Thanksgiving Cindy!
How big an Amish community in California? Because the train shown at 7:58 is in California. Amish folk do make use of Amtrak service in the Midwest and Pennsylvania. When Amtrak closes a station ticket office assuming its passengers will book online, show a qr code on their mobile phone in lieu of a paper ticket, and Amish travelers use that station, it affects those travelers who may not have online or mobile access.
No Old Order Amish in California, the train is just a picture of a train for illustration purposes. There was once a community in CA though long ago: amishamerica.com/california-amish-community/
The Amish are allowed to listen to music as long as it’s Taylor Swift.
You aren’t funny!!!
Thanks for sharing
Another excellent video.
I admire and greatly respect the Amish. I envy their lifestyle. Now, if I could be pagan Amish...
Up here in the Heuvelton NY region there are a lot of English that make a good living driving for the Amish. Besides the standard people moving, there are heavy haulers, log haulers, etc. I provide transportation for my Amish friends, although I do not charge them anything, although at first they wanted to pay me. I just do a little trading on occasion which they really like. If I'm going somewhere and will be passing by an Amish home, I'll stop in to see if they want to ride along or need me to pick them up anything. We also plan day trips for heading out to all of the local Amish merchants and craftsmen in the area, regular grocery trips, thrift store shopping, etc. It's fun and during the drives, we get to learn a lot about each other as well. I have a frolic at my house tomorrow where we'll have the community here to cut down a bunch of old whit pines they'll use for lumber on some projects and I'll get the trees taken down for free. And for that, if I ever need any lumber, I will get it at just the cost of their labor for the milling. It's actually fun to help and we get to have the whole community here from time to time.
I just don't get why the line in the sand was drawn at the level of technology they use. I mean why not live a stone age life and eschew all metal tech, no spinning thread and weaving cloth, just hide. No farming but being hunter gatherer. Why, specifically late per-industrial age? Could they use a steam engine?
Here in Parke County, Indiana, the Amish are "Old Order " and do use electricity from the power grid. Many of the Amish have solar panels and inverters. I am familiar with an Amish store that powers an electric freezer with a solar panel and inverter instead of a propane freezer.
I was always curious as to why the Amish don’t use their existing school houses for services, and why the school districts don’t correlate with the church districts.
A good number of the Amish near me have landline telephones, but not in the house, has to be in a shed or outbuilding
Real Amish don't allow themselves to be photographed, including videos and online interviews.
The Amish I've talked to are remarkably ignorant about the Bible. This surprised me.
This guy can't say the oo sound as on the word blue, moo, true. He says them as ew so the color blue would sound the same as the word blew. Moo would be mew, and true would be what? trew. Drives me nuts! He's good looking though
I could never yoke up with a group of people that teach each other not the study the word of God at home on their own in English, from those I know amish can't even read the word of God in their own homes.
I grew up in PA Dutch Country in Shady Grove PA
It's a man made symbol?
The alphabet is a group of man made symbols. Make it make sense.
I live in mifflintown pa and the amish are everywhere. they are very nice. they just tie their horses up to the dumpster at dollar general
Why did they conform to the Pope in Rome with SUnday instead of Saturday?
I'm pretty sure most Amish communities have a phone and computer (like, 1 for the community) for emergencies. They don't use them as a matter of course, but if there's an accident and someone needs emergency help they'll phone 911. Or if they need to communicate with the wider world for some important reason they'll use a computer. They choose a simple life without modern amenities wherever possible, but they're not idiots XD If there's a great need to communicate quickly or get help in an emergency, they'll seek it out using modern technology, and that's not taboo to their values if the situation demands it.
Blows me away on their beliefs how the Amish can “workaround” what suits them not to be connected to the “grid system” for work and have diesel generators working a belt system to have a disconnect to the outside world?? They Don’t want safety reflector on their buggies?? Also some who do have lights on their buggies cant have the both level to the same height?? Its un-Godly? What’s un-Godly on safety when you share the same roads as cars?? Seen so many horses and people get killed on the road at night!! Stupidity to say the least! Cant use vehicles with rubber tires unless its too far?? Sleeping in the same bed with a total stranger on the first date?? WTF?? Goes on and on! Just blows me away! Cant be part of this Cult!
It depends on the Order and Bishops. It’s a religion but I wouldn’t call it a cult.
Learned something new on this one. I was not previously aware of the Amish participating in volunteer fire departments. In what roles do they usually serve? Any Amish EMT's? What about aerial ladder operators? I'm a bit surprised as it's not called "fire fighting" for nothing. Success requires a certain focused combativeness. An anger, if you will, against the injury (even death) and destruction so often inflicted. This is your best video in a long time. PSE keep it up!
The Amish homebuilders near me in northern NY, would hire Menonites with their power tools to help, then connect their tools( electric/ air). I'm "english" I was hired to do countertops & other specialty work, they found ways to get around "obstacles".
Any Muslim branches that are similar to Amish?
"Most Amish believe that church structures are unnecessary".
I really like that approach! The belief that you can worship in any building - it doesn't need to be a purpose-built one.
That's wonderful!
The effort to build a structure should be reserved for things that are *essential* and I'm with the Amish on that - I don't think a church building qualifies on that score.
You can worship in your heart
I live near an Amish settlement and I can tell you from personal experience there is alcohol abuse and sexual abuse and its a lot more prevalent then you realize. There not all are bad, just like any sub culture. Some Amish families are usually very nice. But it is a growing problem. Eli Yoder has a youtube channel. He became a christian and left the Amish at around 18 years old. A like the work ethic, and sense of community.
Yes. Sounds like you live near one of the communities I mentioned where alcohol is an issue. (I didn't discuss sexual abuse in this video).
You will get a perspective from a former Amish person that I can never give. When former Amish discuss their past lives, it is often compelling, though can be hyperfocused on one experience. It's similar to when individual observers base impressions of what "the Amish" do on one community.
But there are over 600 separate and often quite different Amish settlements. So this is more about the broad view.
You know when I first visited an Amish place (1994) I was most surprised by how far apart the houses are...I was picturing it'd be like one of them westerns! Obviously they're not gonna have any saloons!!
Most of the amish in ohio are using solar for power these days.
What I would love to know is how the folks who practice these exceptions are seen by the majority. You say that they are still Amish, and I am certain they see themselves that way, but do the conservative majority still regard them as belonging?
I would like to know which is the oldest Amish community - you said Somerset Co. was the second oldest - could the oldest be those in Lancaster Co., PA?
I'm in NE, Ohio. Plenty of Amish south of Canton and around Ashtabula and a few in the Chardon area..
Always see Amish in thrift stores.
I've never understood why the Amish don't accept electricity. I Is there an explanation?
And with regard to long-distance transportation, why do they accept a train / Greyhound as opposed to not having a motorized vehicle?
I'm aware of the groups of Amish who live in Mexico. They sell everything and take a flight. They sell everything and move there. Again, how / why did they take mechanical means to get to a location?!?!
Trains were around in the early 1800s, so maybe over time they could see the benefit and necessity of using them to travel great distances. It's never been easy to travel across the US by horse and buggy, and carried dangers for families traveling together, as well as dangers when traveling in a small group or alone. Highway robbery was a real thing, as was sticking in mud, runaway buggies overtaking horses going downhill (terrifyingly dangerous and all too common). Today's Amish taking flights might be justified by reason of necessity for traveling even greater distances that can't be reached by train or Greyhound.
I believe their issue with electricity is being connected to the grid, ie the world's system. I have heard that flying is equated by them with pride, and to me nowadays with their new machines possibly with immodesty, though to be honest I would still fly.
NO electricity in the home but electricity in their barn and workshops Telephones often in barns and such too. Around here they love cordless power tools and they DO charge them.
The Amish by me in southern Illinois have a church building,use tractors as there most common form of transportation except Sundays,they are on the grid water and electric and also have bag phones in there home.
What do you know about Amish retire people going to Fl. for the winter on what is called the Amish Bus.
I feel that the "no resistance" thing is strange.
There is a large Mennonite grocery store by us. It also serves some Amish. The entire building is powered by solar panels.
I heard on a talk show that amish are growing and processing marijuana. Is there a rule exception that would permit this?
The things that we use every day most Amish call the stuff we use worldly like the orange triangle the old order Amish don't use them but the new order Amish use them as well as a lot of the stuff we use just not the old order
I don't understand why they think an orange colored triangle is a sin. I lived near some Amish in Oklahoma years ago, and they caught a teenage girl sneaking off to watch a movie in town. They threw her completely out of the cult and she was never allowed to see her parents or siblings again. They treated her like a total stranger. I don't see how these people could be Christians and treat people like this.
With all 10 exceptions, I think I would do well in the Amish community.
Dear Erik,
As always, you have produced another thoughtful video on the Amish. While I knew about most of these exceptions, I always learn more and increase my understanding of the Amish from your videos. Thank you again for all the good work you do do. You are truly a good and honest ambassador for the Amish.
Sincerely,
Larry C. Lewis
London, Ontario, Canada.
I was appalled at the property of the swartzentruber in N.C. how overgrown their yards are and quite cluttered. I was told by a Minnonite lady that they're not allowed to mow their yards because it is a show of pride !
I live in Mooresville, NC and was told we have two Amish communities right up off I77 - in Harmony and Union Grove. I e is Swartzentruber and I e is not - can’t remember which ,I’ve in which town, but the Swartzentruber Order doesn’t want outsiders and the other Order welcomes visitors and has places to purchase many things. I just keep forgetting which is which as maybe I can find some of the foods I really miss from Lancaster Co., PA!
And I don’t believe what the Mennonite person said about yards. I’ve never seen any Amish yard that was t perfect, just like their farms!
these are reasonable exceptions. on cameras and kids, it's important to keep up-to-date photos of your kids in case they go missing. kids' appearances change constantly. i wonder if the psychological benefits of keeping such memories to look back on are also recognized 😊
They’re free to practice their religion and do what they do. Won’t get any resistance from me.
However, sometimes I can’t wrap my head around how they handle some of their policies. For example, I watched a video once where an Amish settlement pretty much rejected all modern things. All of it. Yet, they had an exception for the farmers who could have a small man made gas powered hay baler. It was a honestly a monstrosity of a piece of equipment. Here is the kicker though, IT WAS PULLED BY HORSES. Like, either go all the way with your exceptions or just forbid it completely. It makes no sense. If modern things are against gods will, and you’ve already broken that rule, just go all the way with it.
Then you have this non-sense with the no Hired Drivers in that one community. You can’t hire a driver for any reason, but you can ride a Greyhound Bus? Correct me if I’m wrong but a Greyhound is a Hired Driver. You’re paying someone to drive you somewhere. That makes no sense. Just allow hired drivers or don’t. Pick one.
Just depends on the rules for any group - some rules are universal and some are just for a certain group or Order. Depends on the Bishops. It’s not for you to make decisions.
6:45 Yoder Toder.
😁