My Mennonite Neighbors

[seymojo536]

I'll try to be brief.

Guess I'm the one qualified to speak on this. As a practicing Mennonite, I am bombarded with questions about my faith from people once they find out my religion. Amish tend to be the "old order" types that shun government, modern technology, and keep outside influences to a minimum. They are the ones with the arcane rules that prevent them from using tractors or cars. They also are the ones that pool their money so a newly wed couple can purchase their own farm or business. They have their problems/issues but you will never meet a harder working person(s).

Then there's the Mennonites. We're all over the place. From the "old order" sects that differ only slightly from the Amish, usually in matters of faith and its practice, to the "new old order" and the ending up with me, the "new order" type that you couldn't pick out of a lineout if you tried. My kids look and act just like your kids. We are farmers, doctors, programmers, lawyers, factory workers and teachers. We do like our electricity and indoor plumbing. If one of our congregation falls upon hard times, everyone pitches in with help. Sometimes, it amazes me how much and often the members step up when asked.

 

[sjerden]

If any of my previous description is incorrect, private message me and I will edit and correct it. Just posting what I have seen, experienced, and heard. We've often wondered around here how they buy those farms. Thanks, I'll pass it on.

 

[seymojo536]

No, sjerden, you've pretty much nailed it. A lot of people have this romaticized idea of how the Amish/Mennonite live. It's not that cut and dried. Those youth "breaking the rules" could be experiencing rumspringa. Or they could just be what they seem to be, normal human beings. With the same phobias and dreams that we all have. The one thing that sets these people apart from the "English" is their support system.

 

[Western]

Rumsprigna! Anything goes huh? for a time. That would be the one time to "kick-up your heels" right?


I know when I was building custom "stuff" {furnishings} (and hope to continue in the future), I would order buggy wheels from the Amish. Wood was turned wonderfully, but it appeared more like a "commercial" endeavor which i guess it was. Quality though was far superior than the store bought or "south of the border" stuff.

 

[sjerden]

Speaking of Amish-built wheels - here's a shot of Civil War cannon at an auction I attended near Shelbyville Illinois a couple of years ago. The guy had the cannon barrels and the wheels and casons were build by Arther Illinois Amish. They brought between $9,000 and $14,000 each. I picked up a couple of dump rakes and an Oliver corn planter - cheap.

 

[hosspuller]

Will someone explain the rational of using a diesel forage chopper but have it pulled by mules? Seems one should be all one way or the other.

No judgement just asking ...

 

[Pilot]

Around here you can't pick out the Mennonite men from any other men walking down the street. The women, however, wear long print dresses and wear hair nets (there's probably a better word for that). Nice people.

I got a lot of bids to put in a concrete floor in my barn. Bids ranged from about $2,500 to over $5K. The lowest bid was from a guy who beats his wife. Next lowest bid, about $2,700 was from Ed & Merlin, a couple of Mennonites who did everything I asked for and did a great job. Ed & Merlin are known for building big expensive McMansions.

Last weekend, our EAA chapter gave free airplane rides for kids, ages 8-18. Ed's son brought his kids and we gave them rides and their dad talked to me about what he needed to do to get a pilot's license. Our local Mennonites certainly do not shun modern machinery.

 

[aczlan]

Will someone explain the rational of using a diesel forage chopper but have it pulled by mules? Seems one should be all one way or the other.
No judgement just asking ...

They do it because they believe that it helps them to minimize the effect of outside influences, remain humble and avoid "the vain things of the world"
As for what they can and cannot use, I believe that it falls under the "arcane rules" that seymojo536 mentioned.
I admire those who can live that lifestyle, but I would not want to live it.

Aaron Z

 

[sjerden]

Here's Arnold Martin on his farm mowing wheat straw with a mower conditioner. They call it a windrower.

And a close-up of the same photo

 

[bcp]

As for what they can and cannot use, I believe that it falls under the "arcane rules" that seymojo536 mentioned.

Going to the lake.

 

[2manyrocks]

Will someone explain the rational of using a diesel forage chopper but have it pulled by mules? Seems one should be all one way or the other.

No judgement just asking ...

A friend of mine said the group he deals with views it as a matter of trying to avoid becoming dependent on technology and remain self sufficient to the extent practical. By self sufficient, I think he meant that they retained the ability to repair whatever breaks and not having to routinely buy stuff "outside."

He mentioned that the particular group had an impressive machine shop, but the machines were belt driven instead of being powered by electricity. He's a machinist by trade and had seen their shop, so I take his word for it.

I guess other groups could see it differently, and I'm just relating what I was told.

He also said he made it a practice to wear long sleeve shirts when he went into their community and to be very careful about what he said. Some of the language that passes everywhere else won't be tolerated there. He said it was also viewed unfavorably to address the children directly as the parents didn't like it.

He has great respect for their work ethic and way of life.

 

[Western]

Speaking of Amish-built wheels - here's a shot of Civil War cannon at an auction I attended near Shelbyville Illinois a couple of years ago. The guy had the cannon barrels and the wheels and casons were build by Arther Illinois Amish. They brought between $9,000 and $14,000 each. I picked up a couple of dump rakes and an Oliver corn planter - cheap.

Now that is is cooool. Where these mock-ups, or could the function?

Going to the lake.

:laughing::laughing::thumbsup:

 

[sjerden]

:laughing::laughing::thumbsup:

Yes, they were real cannon from the Civil War. Never saw them fired, but they were used in re-inactments, so I think they were functioning. The auctioneer stated before they sold that the Arther Illinois Amish had constructed the wood parts, wheels and frame, one had a ammo cart hooked behind it, all made of wood by the Amish. The guy had found, or purchased the cannon barrels, he was a Civil War re-inactor, and took them to his outings. He was an older man. He told me when I went the next day to pick up my rakes that he had conjestive heart failure and was liquidating. I don't know for sure, but now that I look at it the grey one looks Confederate and the two black ones Federal.

 

[sjerden]

A friend of mine said the group he deals with views it as a matter of trying to avoid becoming dependent on technology and remain self sufficient to the extent practical. By self sufficient, I think he meant that they retained the ability to repair whatever breaks and not having to routinely buy stuff "outside."

He mentioned that the particular group had an impressive machine shop, but the machines were belt driven instead of being powered by electricity. He's a machinist by trade and had seen their shop, so I take his word for it.

I guess other groups could see it differently, and I'm just relating what I was told.

He also said he made it a practice to wear long sleeve shirts when he went into their community and to be very careful about what he said. Some of the language that passes everywhere else won't be tolerated there. He said it was also viewed unfavorably to address the children directly as the parents didn't like it.

He has great respect for their work ethic and way of life.

I agree, one of the ones moving in around me seems to be the repairman. His name is Frank. One of them told me Frank had purchased a whole hardware store. I see him at all the auctions and have talked to him often. He always buys all the repair manuals. His road sign says "Backroad Repair" lawn mowers and bicycles repaired. He also sells chain saws.

 

[RobA]

We're building a house on acreage that has nearby Amish farms. I've developed a decent relationship with an Amish neighbor. Here's a picture of him driving a 4-mule team pulling a load of firewood up my driveway...

 

[Western]

Yes, they were real cannon from the Civil War. Never saw them fired, but they were used in re-inactments, so I think they were functioning. The auctioneer stated before they sold that the Arther Illinois Amish had constructed the wood parts, wheels and frame, one had a ammo cart hooked behind it, all made of wood by the Amish. The guy had found, or purchased the cannon barrels, he was a Civil War re-inactor, and took them to his outings. He was an older man. He told me when I went the next day to pick up my rakes that he had conjestive heart failure and was liquidating. I don't know for sure, but now that I look at it the grey one looks Confederate and the two black ones Federal.

That is neat, I would almost trade my tractor for one of those, just for the history. You can bet the Amish did it mostly by hand, probably all of it. That sure would give it a more authentic appearance.

 

[schmism]

Ive also heard much of there faith/way of life is centered around family.

which is to say, they would never have a land line phone in the house for it take away from the family time.

but out in the field the cell phone reigns supreme.

(again it being an issue of family time not the technology that is the phone)

I always have wished i had some mennonite neighbors. I feel there is so much i could learn about running my small hobby farm from them. Mostly in terms of animal husbandry, mules, draft horses etc.

The idea that i could resurrect some turn of the century piece of equipment and use it to successfully work 5-10 acres of land for my personal good without it costing me $5 a gall diesel is very appealing. Whats the point of having horses (today) if you cant have them work for you?

 

[RobertN]

Cause horses are a lot more expensive than $5/gal diesel It is though, impressive what a team of Percheron's(sp?) can do.

The idea that i could resurrect some turn of the century piece of equipment and use it to successfully work 5-10 acres of land for my personal good without it costing me $5 a gall diesel is very appealing. Whats the point of having horses (today) if you cant have them work for you?

 

[beppington]

Don't know this fella, but though it made a good pic. Bowmansville, "Penn" Very, very cold that day.

 

[dave1949]

Cause horses are a lot more expensive than $5/gal diesel It is though, impressive what a team of Percheron's(sp?) can do.

I watched the horse pulls at the county fair last year. I can't imagine how much those draft horses eat, especially when they are being worked.

My wife's family is from an area with lots of Amish, south of Millersburg, OH. My FIL told me some of the Amish work their horses pretty hard, as someone else mentioned. I guess he would have known since he farmed with horses as a teenager.

To make this tractor related, one of my FILs favorite stories was from when one of his nine uncles switched from horses to a tractor. The uncle was going across a field and when he came to end, he was yelling Whoa, Whoa as the tractor went through a fence :laughing:

Those uncles and my FIL are all gone now, but I remember shaking hands with them was like holding burlap packed with sand. They were all farmers of the old school.
Dave.