Plain Answers About the Amish Life (7 page)

No Old Order Amish settlements have been in Europe since the late 1930s.

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LIFESTYLE

I was astounded at the sheer quantity of food that was heaped upon platters on the table: pork chops in sauerkraut, homemade bread, noodles in butter, and a variety of vegetables that the family had likely grown and canned themselves. After a silent prayer, everyone dug in, and even the women scooped up generous portions of butter for their bread
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The meal passed so pleasantly that about halfway through I simply allowed myself to sit there and take it all in. How could I have forgotten what it was like to be in an Amish kitchen and listen to the gentle banter, the politeness of the children, the sweet teasing of the husband and wife?

—Excerpted from
Shadows of Lancaster County

by Mindy Starns Clark

13

AMISH LIFE

What is a typical day for an Amish man?

For Amish farmers, weekdays begin quite early. For most of the day, they can usually be found working with their crops out in the fields or in the barn, milking the cows and/or caring for the animals. Time may also be spent with the children and guiding them as they learn various farm-related chores, chopping wood, making household repairs, and more. All three meals are eaten at home. Evenings are quiet, most often spent reading or playing games or simply visiting with friends and family.

How about for men who aren't farmers?

As farmland grows scarce in crowded settlements, more and more Amish men are moving into the workplace, often at factories in positions of manual labor. Though this allows them to earn a living wage, the Amish see this type of situation as less than ideal because it keeps fathers from the home for far too long each day, and because it places them too fully in the midst of non-Amish environments.

Alternatively, many nonfarming Amish operate their own businesses, both the kind that serve other Amish, such as buggy shops, and those that cater to a non-Amish clientele, such as furniture making. The more that Amish craftsmanship grows in popularity, the greater the number of Amish-owned businesses that continue to pop up.

According to author Erik Wesner in
Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive
, entrepreneurship provides Amish men with a viable alternative to farming. As he says, “Amish
forefathers sowed their acres with the ultimate aim of perpetuating family and faith. Amish entrepreneurs today cultivate their businesses with similar ambitions in mind.”
¹

Because of this, Wesner contends, whether a man works in or out of the home, breakfast always “takes place at the table, bookended by prayer—rather than on TV trays, or wolfed down on the way out the door. Amish believe there should always be time for sit-down meal; it's not only family time but a chance to rest and recharge.”
²

What is a typical day for an Amish woman?

The typical Amish wife rises before dawn and labors all day long, especially if her husband works away from the home. She prepares three full meals a day, cares for the children, sews all of the clothing for her family, does the laundry (most often with a wringer washing machine and no dryer), grows a “kitchen garden,” cans fruits and vegetables, does the grocery shopping, teaches the children their various household chores and responsibilities, keeps the home clean, handwashes the dishes, and more.

With all of that work to do every day, are these women miserable?

According to authors Merle and Phyllis Good in their book
20 Most Asked Questions about the Amish and Mennonites
, “An Old Order woman is a worker, a child-bearer, and a companion to her husband, family, and neighbors.”
³
Though hardworking, Amish women are far less isolated than the average American housewife, and as their families grow they have more and more hands to share the load. Thus, most Amish women would likely describe themselves as content rather than miserable.

Certainly, there are those who feel overburdened and exhausted. But as authors Good and Good say, “When a woman's ambitions fit
her society's framework, and her peers' experiences parallel her own, she is less likely to be restless and dissatisfied.”
⁴

What is a typical day for an Amish child?

Depending on age, an Amish child's day usually consists of school, chores, and playtime. Comparatively speaking, Amish children typically spend more time in the company of their parents, interact more fully with older generations, and have more responsibilities around the house and farm than their non-Amish counterparts. As authors Good and Good say, “It is in the fields and the kitchen that the Old Order family is solidified.”
⁵

Can you tell the difference between an Amish home and a non-Amish home just by looking?

From the outside, there are usually some “giveaways” to indicate an Amish family lives inside. No electric lines run to the house, and the window treatments are extremely plain, such as green pull-down shades or simple white curtains. You might also catch the occasional glimpse of a horse and buggy in the driveway or Amish garments hanging from the clothesline. Finally, in some communities the presence of cockscomb flowers outside indicates that an Amish family lives inside.

Amish farmhouses also often have a typical “look,” as they tend to be large and rambling thanks to additional rooms and small apartments added on as families expand and/or members grow old. Even at homes with indoor plumbing, there may be outhouses in the yard as well.

What are Amish homes like on the inside?

Amish homes differ from non-Amish homes in that they have no televisions, stereos, computers, telephones, or other modern technological devices. They are also decidedly plain, with an emphasis on simplicity and thrift. Much of the furniture is handmade, of wood, using fine Amish craftsmanship. Decorations are primarily functional; for example, artwork hanging on the wall will likely include a calendar or weather chart.

Otherwise, the way things look on the inside can vary greatly depending on the district's
Ordnung
. Homes in less conservative districts can appear quite modern at first glance. Kitchens will have refrigerators, stoves, and small appliances; bathrooms will feature sinks and toilets with plumbing; and there will be lighting and heat throughout the home. (As you will see in chapter 18, “Technology,” the Amish do not use electricity but have adapted many household devices so that they work with other energy sources, such as coal, compressed air, diesel, gasoline, kerosene, propane, water, wind, and wood.)

Homes in more conservative districts may be less ornamented, with few personal touches, sparse furnishings, and only the most rudimentary of appliances.

Conservative or not, many Amish homes feature a large living room or other common area where the family can gather together in the evenings. Because church services are held in homes rather than in church buildings, sliding walls and doors are often built in so that they can expand these rooms even further to accommodate entire congregations.

Do the Amish shop in non-Amish stores?

Yes. The average Amish home has a “kitchen garden,” where fresh produce is grown for the family to eat. But for additional food items—as well as numerous other types of consumer goods—the Amish patronize a variety of non-Amish stores, from discount chains to hardware stores to dry goods stores and more. They also shop via mail order.

Do the Amish use banks and money?

Yes. The Amish use banks for checking accounts, savings accounts, loans, and sometimes even credit cards. When given the choice, they prefer to deal with small, local banks rather than large conglomerates.

In Amish-heavy regions such as Lancaster County, it is not unusual to see a horse and buggy in line for a bank's drive-through window.

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Sometimes we do agree to look the other way. For lesser things that are frowned upon, like smoking or hanging up decorations, well, those things are just kind of “tolerated,” so to speak, in the interest of community harmony.

Do the Amish drink?

There is no overall Amish rule against drinking. Instead, the practice varies by district. Where permitted, moderation is emphasized.

While alcohol consumption is not unheard of among the Amish, it is not the norm. As author Erik Wesner says, you'll be “a lot more likely to catch an Amish fella with a cold can of Dew, a piping-hot cup of coffee, or a tin of straight-from-the-udder raw milk than a cool Bud.”
⁶

Do the Amish smoke?

Pipe and cigar smoking are somewhat acceptable, but cigarette smoking among the Amish is rare.

A few Amish communities consider tobacco to be an acceptable crop, primarily because it is labor-intensive and can be grown and harvested without need for modern, technological equipment.

Do the Amish use guns?

Yes. The Amish generally have no bans against hunting and may own firearms. Their guns are never meant to be used as weapons against humans, however, not even in self-defense. The Amish believe in non-resistance and will not bear arms against other people.

14

FOOD

What sorts of foods do the Amish eat?

Derived from a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, the food the Amish prefer is simple and satisfying. Meals usually feature fruits and vegetables grown in their own gardens (either fresh picked or that which was canned while in season) and include much of what we non-Amish think of as comfort food, such as potato dishes, breads, noodles, and pies. Because the Amish live a physically demanding lifestyle, they do not generally worry too much about things like fat content or calorie counts.

What beverages do the Amish like to drink?

Coffee—usually black—is heavily consumed among the Amish. Other popular beverages include water, juice, tea, soda, and milk.

Do the Amish grow their own fruits and vegetables?

Yes. The Amish grow much of their own food, and they put up fruits and vegetables. A good harvest, well canned, will carry a household through many months.

Where do they get the rest of their food?