Amish Community

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Plain and Simple, but Still Complicated

"Keep out of her, my people, that you do not share in her sins." Quoted by Jesus and taken absolutely literally by the Amish, they seem to be a 'peculiar people.'

This peculiar people are very plain, very simple, but not at all stupid. Within the ranks of the Amish community you will see heroism, genius, integrity, wisdom and enormous love.

They too are a complicated people. I hope you find something useful and interesting here, on my core lens about a people and an American culture that I dearly love.

Willkommen- Welcome to our Amish Community on Squidoo 

July blessing of Lancaster Amish, PA

This Hex sign is a large 'welcome' in German. As love is the heart of any happy home, the heart is the center of this blessing. Tulips, the sign of the Trinity and the Three Theological Virtues of faith, hope and love, surround the heart, meaning a community of like minded friends and family being well loved by one another, in God.

The Distelfink bird adds additional fortune and blessings. This particular hex sign is centrally placed in the heart of the home. The hex sign Willkommen features a large "welcome greeting" (in German) to one and all. The large, red heart is centrally placed to proclaim a loving heart and home. Tulips, grouped in couples, symbolize the importance of family and friends play in a happy life. Here, they shower the "home" with love and support.

The distelfink bird watches over the home with an added measure of good luck and happiness. The design has the opportunity of personalization, which makes it a very thoughtful gift for others. You can order a specially made hex from a local Amish craftsman here: Zooks

Who Are the Amish? 

Characteristics of the Amish

Amish: The Gentle People
Gentle, loving Christian people
BBC NEWS | Americas | Who are the Amish?
American independence manifest
Amish & Taxes
Uncle Sam & the Amish
Mennonite and Amish Folklore and Folk Arts
Folklore
"Shoot Me First!" by E. Ralph Hostetter
Courage and integrity
A Brief Summary of Amish and Mennonite Characteristics
Briefly summarized characteristics

Yes, but are they Relevant to us? 

Martha Stewart's Lawyers Think So!

Here is a picture of the dining room of Martha Stewart's lawyers, who purchase furnishings from me. They live in an Arts & Crafts Bungalow, which they dearly love, and insist upon the best and most perfect of Mission/Craftsman interior furnishings. This is not the only piece they've gotten from me.

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An Amish Workshop 

A Workshop, a Craftsman & a Belgian Draft Horse

Farming is becoming increasingly difficult for Amish farming communities. See Amish Farms As their costs rise and the income from food products decrease (Agricultural Economics), many are turning to the historical woodworking crafts Amish Furniture that were passed down the generations from their fathers and grandfathers.

An entire microindustry has grown from this trend, and the Amish very much need this economic outlet to support their families. To look at some of their work see the lensroll at the right, or some of the highlighted lenses on this page.

Mr. C, one of the craftsmen that I work with, uses his horse both for his organic milking farm and with the heavy work in his custom table workshop. We are sharing information about this craftsman here:Amish Workshop

In a Leading Architect's Office 

High Rises, Slick Downtowns, Amish Tradition

Leading architects and interior designers turn here for interiors that are equal to their best work. For themselves and for their clients, they are always surprised at the beauty of the pieces they receive. Inquire

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Special Amish Furniture Lenses 

Built by Undiscovered Master Craftsmen

At an affordable price, not even the top retailers have these things! Soon we will be adding office furniture, armoires, and all manner of beautiful and hard to find things.

In the New Home of a Famous Doctor 

When Elegance is a Necessity

In the most formal of circumstance, when you must entertain politicians, stars, and movers and shakers from all over the world, only our craftsmen will do.Inquire

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Amish Woodcrafting Businesses Under Seige 

Illegally Logged Wooden Chinese Imports

In just a few years, China has increased its furniture imports by 900%. It has done so by illegally devastating the rain forests in nearby countries, Official Briefing rapidly and improperly processing the wood, and making cheap copies of Amish original pieces.

This has devastated the economy of Burma, destroyed vast quantities of rain forest Deforestation that helps prevent Global Warming, and unregulated & improper wood processing poisons the environment (China's Pollution Problems).

This bad furniture has flooded the market in gigantic illegal proportions, much as Chinese made clothing and shoes have flooded the European market, far in excess of the trade agreements Trade Pacts.

Yet the Chinese have banned logging in their own country, realizing that they will need their own wood for their own use.

Another case where global economics comes at America's dreadful expense.

China & Furniture 

China and the Global Market
PDF file report on China's abuse of forests and potential solutions.
Illegal Logging Briefing Paper
PDF file concerning the huge illegal logging done by China and its effects on the environment

Amish Crafts 

Rare, collectible and Perfect Interpretations

See here one of the favorite Amish craft items, the Mission Jewelry Armoire. Absolutely true to the finest architectural and decorative styles, ancient craftsmanship skills simply cannot be replaced by machines.

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Senators, Premier D.C. Hotels & Average, Large Families 

The Amish Treat Everyone Equal

The Amish believe that you are just as special as anyone else, being made in the image and likeness of the living God. Their work is ALWAYS of the highest quality, and they treat you like they treat their most influential customers. Their prices don't change according to who is making the request. Your pieces will be of just as high quality as the ones in the Senator's home.

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Special Amish Crafts Lenses 

Amish Home Decorating

Useful and beautiful, these are all handcrafted at order. Impossible to find items of this quality, beauty and usefulness. All collectible, all from unknown master craftsmen.

What to Expect When Ordering from the Amish 

It is DIFFERENT!

The Amish only build to order. This means your order is NOT ready at the time. The Amish get up at 4 a.m., take care of the needs of their animals and family and then begin their 'workday' in their workshops. They stop all work at 2 p.m., attend to their animals, have a family dinner and go to bed just after sundown. They NEVER work on weekends or on their holy days. Thus you can expect your item to arrive in your home anywhere from two weeks to 3 months, depending on your order. If you need something by a specific date, please make it known when ordering to be sure it can be delivered in time.

Patience is critical when waiting on your Amish products, but it is ALWAYS worth the wait.

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Hex Signs of the Amish are Blessing Signs 

Turning Evil on its Head

Hexes, Hex signs are very traditional European folk art & folk devotionals from a mix of Roman Catholic prayers, words, rituals combined with folk recipes Amish Recipes and remedies from Europe.

They seek protections and cures of domestic ailments, spiritual problems and God's protection and blessing.

The designs originated in ancient Catholic religious symbols, such as the Tree of Life, and the dove of The Holy Spirit of God.

Hexes aren't painted directly on their barns, though that is one of the traditions associated with hex signs. Favored designs/blessings were used as family identifiers, found on such things as birth certificates and pottery.

Some hex signs are associated with seasons, months or directions.

Why do the Amish live so differently from us? 

It is their religious convictions...

Different Amish communities make different decisions about whether and what technologies they will permit and under what circumstances.

Their first interest is keeping family and community life simple and sacred, a lesson we can all learn from. Decisions are made through the parishes of the church, and are consistent with their core religious beliefs. They follow the Ordnung (order), and a literal and strict interpretation of the bible. However, like non-Catholic Christian Churches, there is no one decision maker for all the Amish communities.

One example of an Amish community permitting electrical and technological advances is in the furniture refinishing businesses. Some time back a furniture refinisher had a fire; the entire building, and all the furniture in it was a total loss. The fumes from the finishing materials are combustible, and using open lanterns for light was simply too dangerous. The community decided that it was safer for everyone if that type of business be permitted to use electrical power and lights to prevent more, and possibly worse, catastrophes. The workshop was permitted to use generators for the electricity in the shop, but not to connect to the world's power grid.

So it isn't true that all the Amish live without adaptation and change, these necessities are all carefully considered, debated and discussed before any changes are made. Check out Amish Religion Lense

Amish Religion 

First thing we think of....

The Amish live an 18th Century life, and they do it for religious reasons. The entire group mostly keeps to themselves, for religious reasons. There is a lot to know about their religion- its origins, its beliefs, and why it affects their lifestyle the way it does. I am building a lense about their religion which you can see here: Amish Faith

The Shepherd's Psalm 23 

In the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Will Fear No Evil...

The Amish, like most Christians, dearly love the 23rd Psalm. Like all of their crafts, it reflects something practical and important to their lives.

They have engraved this wonderful psalm on solid cherry, with an engraved frame. The Shepherd's Psalm

Inspiration of the Year 

We may not agree...

But we have to admire their strength, their forgiveness, their integrity and their wisdom.

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Love Thy Neighbor 

Fifteen Hours!

Mr. Graber reported: "I never thought we'd be rebuilding the next day. I thought we'd be getting ready for a funeral," he said late Tuesday afternoon.

The Grabers escaped unharmed from the tornado that plowed through Webster County.

Not so their home. It was torn apart by the twister's fury.

But in less than 15 hours, the Grabers were back in a new home rebuilt on the same spot - a peaceful valley south of Missouri 38 about 10 miles east of Marshfield - by more than 100 men and boys from neighboring Amish homesteads near the Grabers.

"By 2 p.m., we were mopping the floors," he said.

Read the full story here: Fifteen Hours

Amish Food & Farming 

Organics, Natural, Nutritious

Amish foods and their recipes are beloved around the world. When the rest of us eat corporate generated foods, genetically modified for packing purposes only; or hormone and antibiotic flooded meats and chicken, the Amish are strong, healthy and of sound mind. They make their wonderful foods available to us, for as long as they are permitted by government, law and industry......

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Maple Leaf Hex 

September

The Sugar Maple has long been tapped for sweet sap to make syrup, sugar and candy, & for much of history, was one of the easiest & best ways to add sweetness to a diet.

Maple trees are tapped in the fall, happily anticipated, and in this hex shown in the beautiful fall color of the leaves.

The eight petals mean the abundance promised the for the eighth day, the day AFTER God is finished with His rest. This hex is to bless the fall harvest and sweeten a pure life.

You can purchase these from an original Lancaster Pennsylvanian Amish craftsman here: Zooks

Amish Recipes 

Great Food

Amish recipes are very popular and it hasn't taken long for the lense to get unmanageable.

My friend, who wants to be called Mrs. C, has been sharing her Amish recipes with me. We have the regular Amish recipes but some new ones too, that reflect how Mrs. C feeds her healthy Amish family. You won't find those particular recipes anywhere else but here.

Soon I'll be splitting this into several lenses, but in the meantime you can find Mrs. C's recipes here: Amish Recipes

Amish Farms 

Small Farmers, Huge Problems

Like other small family farms, times have been tough. Too many expenses, too little income; too many 'scientific ideas'Genetically Modified Food Crops in farming that have turned out badly.

Organic Farming helped for a while. That too, thanks to Walmart and Corporate Farming, is changing.

The Amish are great farmers, and great stewards of the land Stewardship, yet the farm is one of the main ways the larger society has affected them. You can read about it here: Amish Farm

Amish Farmers Auction 

The Amish REALLY REALLY REALLY don't want their pictures taken. Watch how they handle this problem...

Amish

I bum rushed an Amish auction

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Amish Community Blog 

Commentary and Updates

The Amish seem to be a foil, an easy target, for all manner of ideas. Join the discussion.

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Organic Dairy Farming 

Another of the challenges the Amish community faces
Chinese 'Organic' milk
In a seriously polluted environment, China is hoping to tap into the 'organic' dairy industry.
Walmart buys Chinese 'organic' products
Walmart to provide its 'organic' products to Americans that are imported from China and other seriously polluted countries.
Wal-Mart's Organic Offensive
Not everyone is pleased by the giant retailer's push into natural foods, starting with some very anxious U.S. farmers
Chinese Children Poisoned
Chinese children poisoned by 'organic' Chinese products. Number of food poisoning victims at S. China school rises to 237¡¡ 15 Oct 2006 08:15 GMT ... poisoning at a primary school in southern Chinese city of Guangzhou has risen to 237 ... food poisoning was caused by bacteria-contaminated soya milk and red bean cakes that the sufferers ... have been contaminated with enterotoxin, a toxin produced by bacteria, which caused the vomiting and ...
Market Expansion or Market Delusion?
White paper PDF file discussing the facts of Chinese 'organic' imports by Walmart
Organic Certification: Time for Review | Participate.net
A demand for the USDA to regulate false claims of 'organic' in imported foods.
Banning Amish Foods
Regulators have targeted Amish foods in spite of all the facts and centuries of healthy traditions. Couldn't be just coincidence, could it?

RFID Microchips and the Amish 

the NEXT great challenge

As society adopts even more technology Digital "Angels", and with the advent of an age of terrorism, tracking technologies are being implemented. Tracking devices, the RFID chips, start first with people most frightened, next with people who can't say no (military, prisoners), and is supported by corporations Verichip Corporation who stand to gain a great deal.

They have come to the Amish farmers first. The Amish cannot accept these chips 666 The Mark of the Beast. It is RAPIDLY becoming one of the great dramas of church and state, and individual freedoms, right before our eyes. Read my lense about it here: Amish & RFID Chips and follow for updates, since this is an ongoing challenge for this community.

Amish Children 

Raised in the Traditional Manner

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Tree of Life- God's Creation Continues 

August- Marriage and its Beloved Children

Always, in Christianity, the circle represents eternity, and in this case that leads to some interesting conclusions.

The Tree of Life was in the Garden of Eden, and its promise of a return is mentioned in several places in scripture: our ultimate nourishment remains eternally in the mind of our God, and is what will nourish us in the here and hereafter. The Tree is laden with fruit, the bounty of a generous God. Families are given many children as God's sign of blessing.

Again we find the tulips representing the three theological (God) virtues of faith, hope and love.

The rosette Victorian Rose is an ancient Christian symbol and was adopted by the Protestants during the reformation. It refreshes the mind of the love in the book Song of Solomon, representing love of spouses and the love God has for our souls.

The eight pointed star, the day AFTER God is done resting, means generous abundance. The rain sign denotes harmony with life and nature.

Do the Amish home school their children? 

By now, everyone knows the answer to this question....

((This module was written before the massacre of the innocents in an Amish schoolhouse (see Amish School Shooting). Due to that tragedy, nearly everyone in the world knows how the Amish school their children. Just in case there are still questions, I've decided to leave this module.))

See our lense-in-progress Amish Children

There are one room schoolhouses, private Amish schools, that usually educate Amish children. In Indiana, many of the children are picked up by bus and sent to public schools through the 8th grade, which is the highest grade most Amish children complete, though not all.

After the eighth grade, the children stay home and help their families with the farm and home businesses Child Labor Issues until they marry.

At the age of 16, the children are considered old enough to make their own decisions, and many of them take jobs and adopt the technologies and interests of the English society around them, at least for a time. Some of these kids decide to continue their education, and so develop skills in computers and other technologies. Many of them own and drive cars, use telephones and computers, and even have televisons in their apartments or homes. It is up to the child to decide to be baptized into the Amish Church and adopt that lifestyle. An essay about the decisions facing the youngsters raised in the Amish culture can be found here: THE OLD ORDER AMISH: TO REMAIN IN THE FAITH OR TO LEAVE

Sun and Rain Hex 

Spring

The circle always means the Eternity of God in Christianity.

The rain drops making up that circle means it is the perpetual cycle of rainfall that life so depends on.

In the center is a sun, the light which we need, and the Amish order their electricity free lives by, that grows the crops in the field. Both are necessary to a bountiful and fruitful harvest. You can purchase these from an original Amish craftsman here: Zooks

Amish Newspapers 

Subscriptions may also be obtained to the weekly Amish "newspaper," Die Botschaft, by contacting Brookshire Printing, 200 Hazel Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 (717-392-1321).

The Diary, with subscriptions available at PO Box 98, Gordonville, PA 17529.

Pathway Publishers, RR4, LaGrange, Indiana 46761.

The Budget

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Amish Community 

Special Links

Direct assistance, help, and support by the Amish/Mennonite community for the Amish/Mennonite community.
Home - Mennonite Disaster Service
AKRON , Pa. - Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) express their deep sympathy and prayers for families affected by the Oct. 2 shooting at an Amish school in Nickel Mines.
Southern Tier West Recreation
amish culture
APA Newsletters 98:2 - Social Strategies for Software
The following appeared in Volume 98, Number
2 (Spring, 1999)
Controlling Distraction in the Technological Society
Controlling Distraction in the Technological Society

So what can we do about this? How can we control
the effect of technology on our lives?
The College Dispatch : Articles
Lancaster PA
Amish Telephones
Amish Telephones
Visitors to Lancaster County’s "Amish Country" often come with misconceptions and inaccurate information gleaned from a wide range of books
about the Amish. Many people think the Amish use nothing modern.

Dutch Irish! Even the Amish are Irish on St. Patricks Day! 

June

Of course a Shamrock Irish and these denote the good luck of the Irish. The trinity is represented by the tulips and the theological virtues of faith, hope and love.

One of the most popular hex symbols is Dutch Irish. It features a large, green shamrock, the traditional good luck sign of the Irish, as the design's center or heart. The Distelfink birds represent married love and happiness, in double measure. Its a very neat and popular hex.You can purchase these from an original Amish craftsman here: Zooks

Humor 

by and about the Amish

The Amish have a great sense of humor. They poke fun at themselves, and enjoy when other poke fun at them. Now, with some of the younger folks in their 'away time'- Rumspringa we even see Amish guys using lights and electricity, and computers!

Check it out here: Amish Humor

8 Pointed Star Hex 

Winter Blessing

Eight points of the star are a symbol of generous abundance, the promise of God's eighth day. This star is popular in Amish quilt designs. The tulips signify the Trinity, and the cardinal virtures of faith, hope and love. Sheaves of wheat are the abundance of the bread of life, a sign of nurturing, health and productive crops. A popular blessing seen on many barns and large buildings. You can purchase these from an original Amish craftsman here: Zooks

Amish in the Media 

A great big list. Let's start here...

There has been more media than you might expect about the Amish. Here are a few interesting links.
CJR Daily: How Do You Photograph the Amish? Let Us Count the Ways
How Do You Photograph the Amish? Let Us Count the Ways
Amish Communities
What Do An Amish Community and a Prison Have in Common?

Wilkum 

October

This is a Pennsylvania Dutch welcome sign used in homes, someplace that guests will feel welcomed in a warm and friendly way, by a door, on a porch, in a foyer. The Distelfink birds are a sign of good fortune, or even luck. The star is a symbol of luck, so the double luck sign and the double birds gives the effect of a 'double blessing.' You can purchase these from an original Amish craftsman here: Zooks

Unusual Things 

Amish referred to in Science Fiction, how to convert to the Amish religion...
Amish Science Fiction
Annotated bibliography guide to mainstream science fiction and fantasy literature with Amish characters or references.
APA Newsletters 98:2 - Social Strategies for Software
Philosophy and Computers
How to Join the Amish - WikiHow
for those who want to jump right in....
Old Fashioned Letter Writing
Amish letter writing & literacy
Black River Middle School Students Named Finalists in National Competition
Kids Present Reflector Idea for Amish Roadway Safety WASHINGTON, D.C.—April 23, 2002

"We care about our Amish people and don't want any more of them to die in traffic accidents"

Essays 

In our own country and around the world, people find the Amish very interesting
Hindus discuss the Amish
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 23, 2006
Japanese
I Visited an Amish Community Sachiko Watanabe from Japan

Amish Superman 

Alan Davis, Comic Book Man Extraordinaire!

Superman, in this unusual series, was raised by an Amish family in an Amish community, not the Kents as in the other Superman series.

We have a special affinity for an artist with a concept like that!

Alan Davis is a top notch comic book writer who's done great work for years. Click here The Nail for his bibliography, covers, unpublished drawings and further information.

Plain Prey 

Amish difficulties in a complex world
Crime Victims
The Amish have difficulties prosecuting criminals who steal from or hurt them.

Amish Health Issues 

Health issues relating to the Amish Community
Maple Syrup Urine Disease
A genetic disorder that affects some in the Amish community
Choroideremia
Affected males suffer progressive loss of vision (reduction of central vision, constriction of visual fields, night blindness) beginning at an early age, and the choroid and retina undergo complete atrophy.
Musculoskeletal Disorders: Congenital Anomalies: Dwarfism: Ellis-van Creveld Syndrome
Dwarfism/Ellis-van_Creveld_Syndrome
Why don't the Amish have Autistic Children?
Autistic Amish children 
 are few and far between. Why?
TV might cause autism
Researchers might also turn new attention to study of the Amish. Autism is rare in Amish society, and the standing assumption has been that this is because most Amish refuse to vaccinate children. The Amish also do not watch television.
IU School of Dentistry | Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry | Working with the Amish Community
IU School of Dentistry
CAT.INIST.FR
Fibromyalgia in the Amish community
Lessons learned while conducting research within an Amish community Journal of Multicultural Nursing & Health - Find Articles
Lessons learned while conducting research within an Amish community from Journal of Multicultural Nursing & Health
Amish-ize? Vegetarian Times - Find Articles
Amish-ize? from Vegetarian Times in Home & Garden
PubMed
life science journals for biomedical articles back to the 1950s.
What Can The Amish Teach Us About Early-Onset Bipolar Disorder, Part II
Behavioral risk factors in an Amish community.

Government 

Interactions between the Government & the Amish community
Buggy & Road Safety
Lots of Amish die terrible deaths or suffer grave disabilities when our vehicles crash into their buggies.
Pratie Place: Lorax Hall of Shame: IN DOT
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 Lorax Hall of Shame: IN DOT The second Lorax Hall of Shame award for the day goes to clones of the previous winners - the Indiana Department of Transportation!

(Too bad that's not the last time they'll win the honor.... lensmaster)

Declaration of Independence 

The Amish Love America

Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!"

The Amish have created this exact replica of the Declaration of Independence on solid cherry, with a mahogany frame, linen border and gold filet around it. Genuinely beautiful. Declaration of Independence

Amish News Feed 

Amish Inbox News Feed

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Amish Made Stuff 

Amish Country Popcorn, Set of 3

Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 11/25/2009) Buy Now

Amish Country Popcorn Popping Oil

Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 11/25/2009) Buy Now

Wrought Iron Hook Small "S"- Lot 3 Hand Made

Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 11/25/2009) Buy Now

Send a Message to the Amish 

They are wonderful and friendly people.

Sign our guestbook, send the Amish a message, make a suggestion, help us improve this lense. Do you have a question or a comment? Did we omit anything important? Tell us!

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by Margaret_Schaut

I work directly with several Amish communities and do advocacy for their issues and concerns.

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