The Amish Paradox

[wifezilla]

Exactly Lesa.

You don't have to become Amish to save money, improve your soil or grow a bit of your own meat. You look at the Amish model and see what makes sense to apply to your life. Of course, changing the way you do things reduces your dependency on an industrial food model, and that is how some make their living. Not having us totally dependent hurts their bottom line and reduces their power. Just the though of people moving away from the factory system even a little makes some people a bit cranky apparently.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The points to the article were:

1. Stick to your ideals

2. Think longer term

3. Avoid following the experts

The author saw an article on the Old Amish and drew these lessons from what he read. I suspect he was leaning toward thinking that way anyway and just used the Old Amish article as a vehicle to express his opinion. I don't see where any of this is restricted to living the farming experience.

Of course, this assumes your ideals are worth sticking to. It does not say your ideals have to be exacxtly in line with everyone else's. It does not say that you have to impose your ideals on other people. It assumes you have a certain moral character and beliefs. A lot of people don't. They just bounce along as life takes them.

Thinking long term is harder that it sounds. It is not watching a ten second political ad on a hot button issue and basing your whole life on that. It requires enough thought and research to find out how you got there and what the probable outcome of certain actions will be. It sometimes requires some sacrifice today for certain benefits later. It may require risk taking. But the main thing it requires is that you think for yourself.

I think the one about "experts" is harder. There are so many different ways I could head on this. He was using it talking about the differences in farming methods, but I think there is a lot more involved than that. To me, part of that principle was to avoid following trends but also to find a method that fits your own individual lifestyle, which falls back on Ideals and the Long Term. Learn from others, but adapt what they are saying or doing to your chosen lifestyle, or ignore it completely. Don't follow it blindly. Inclucing don't blindly agree with the thinking of the guy that wrote the article.

Anyway, that is my opinion. You can read the article and take away whatever you want. Last time I checked the Constitution that was still allowed.

 

[journey11]

Not all of the Amish are of the same order. Some do use the phone and drive, although for most of them it is a shared resource.

There's a lot of misconceptions about the Amish and in some things they also choose to take the more practical route. They often frequent Walmart, by the way. Ladies buy their hosiery there and they also use disposable diapers on occasion. Most of the restrictions you think of when it comes to the Amish actually have more to do with religious preference. Amish are of German descent and they are another denomination of Christianity.

We all have to do what is most practical for our own situation and really can only take bits and pieces from their SS ideals, although there are many aspects of their lifestyle I could definitely do without. 14 kids, for example, would be too many for me!

I have seen a few plump Amish women from time to time, come to think of it.

They are a fascinating people though. And although they are usually quiet, one on one, some of them do enjoy talking with you and if you're respectful, they usually don't mind if you ask a few questions.

The Amish sense of community provides their safety net. They take care of each other. They do actually go to the doctor/dentist, but they are more practical about than we are and don't go for minor things. I doubt they'd get a CT scan or MRI done, but if someone were injured in an accident, their community chips in to help pay the doctor bills (since they carry no medical insurance). Their average lifespan is the same as ours. Even without all of the preventative care and screenings that we have, their hardworking, healthy lifestyle brings them up to the average life expectancy. Less obesity=less risk for disease.

ETA: (Forgot to mention...while most Amish use organic growing practices, but some do use pesticides and fertilizers. The main reason for the things they choose to do without has to do with avoiding anything that promotes vanity.)

 

[sparkles2307]

interesting article. Wonder why they don't tell the whole story? They make it appear they make their money farming--& imply commercial farming just don't get it. They neglect to say they have 8+ kids who work off of the farm and give all the money to dad. They also carry no insurance, pay no SS taxes, and the obvious, no electric, cars, TV, etc............ How many of us want to live that way?

Um, me? If I weren't required to adopt a religious belief that I do not believe in I would pack up my kids and move 5 miles over to the closest Amish community tomorrow. Screw the man, screw the grid.

 

[sparkles2307]

We farm roughly 100 acres. DH rotates corn, wheat, and soybeans, plus we have hay acres in there. The pasture supports 20-30 head of cattle. We have a flowing well, which, yes, has to be pumped to the house via electricity, BUT, it flows into the wellhouse out back without power, and sits in a 500gallon holding tank which overflows into stock tanks for the animals. The water is about 34F ALL year, in fact, when DH was small his mom and gma used it as a fridge for milk by submerging the full milk cans into the holding tank.
We have a large pond behind the house and forest all around us.
There are 2 wood stoves on our place, either of which can be re-installed into the wood room at any time.
We don't use chemical on either of our large gardens, which sometimes affects yield and choice of crop, but makes me happier.
I would miss facebook, I would miss "House" and "Camelot" but really, I'd rather read than watch TV any day.
DH is an experienced horseman and cattle farmer, as well as a strong background in pig raising. I've raised chickens, ducks, sheep, and goats my whole life.
We're both avid hunters.
Most of the machinery on our place is so old it could be modified to be pulled behind a team.
I see no problems... other than not having a butter churn yet.

But, growing up homeschooled in a very rural area and being taught a lot of pioneer skills from the time I was small probably makes me see things differently....

 

[lesa]

You've got me green with envy, Sparkles. Enjoy your piece of paradise!

 

[seedcorn]

interesting article. Wonder why they don't tell the whole story? They make it appear they make their money farming--& imply commercial farming just don't get it. They neglect to say they have 8+ kids who work off of the farm and give all the money to dad. They also carry no insurance, pay no SS taxes, and the obvious, no electric, cars, TV, etc............ How many of us want to live that way?

Um, me? If I weren't required to adopt a religious belief that I do not believe in I would pack up my kids and move 5 miles over to the closest Amish community tomorrow. Screw the man, screw the grid.

You've proven my point, NONE on this board want to live that way. It's not a sin to not want to live amish. You (& others on this site) are probably closer to the amish life style than I am but again, not amish life style as there are things you want and pay for.

My personnal hot button but I take offense to articles that imply I'm a bad person for using 2011 technology and hold up amish as the ideal--especially when the author is __________. I refuse to feel bad or "long for the good ol' days" that weren't so good. I'll take all the electric, tillers, gas powered lawn mowers, modern medicine, etc that I can pay for and not waste a single moment in feeling bad. I make no pretence, I don't want to live w/out modern things--I like the internet, cell phones, TV (I'm addicted to college sports) etc. Could I, yes. Do I want to, NO!!!!! End of rant, now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

 

[NwMtGardener]

I grew up in pennsylvania near many Amish and Mennonite. Short little articles and blurbs often idealize their lifestyle, but just like any community or group, there is a lot of variation, as Journey mentioned. I think some of them are very happy, i think some feel trapped into their culture (altho they are allowed to choose to leave the religion, if they leave the family breaks all contact with them, and of course they dont learn how to LIVE in modern society, so the transition is rough). Some treat their animals very poorly, and some have even been accused of running animal mills (churning out large amou ts of small animals) in deplorable conditions. But i do admire the way they have reduced their impacts on the land, and how they are THERE for the community. But i cant say i would give up my modern life!!!

 

[chris09]

I would like to add that the "Amish way" is very covered up.
Most of today's Amish are allowed to have Electric and Phone in there barn as long as the farm is used as a business, a lot of Amish have a 9 to 5 job where they can and do use modern power tools, fork lifts and so on.

They don't have to have insurance, they pay into the "Church". If something would happen they have the "Church" to help them if need be.

I will also add that they will and do use Non-organic fertilizers and pesticides and if need be they will hirer in conventional farmers to plow and harvest there fields with conventional farming equipment, been there done that.

Chris