My Mennonite Neighbors

[sjerden]

I have to agree...........when I see 4 horses pulling (what is described as) a 100hp engine, with a 3 pt. tiller attached.............i'm at a loss for words.

Don,
I live next door to this guy. One day we were comparing "tractors". When I said my Allis WD was about 35HP, he laughed and pointed to his engine and said "That's 100 horse power"

He's a great neighbor. Open and honest. Its neat when I'm over there, or at another one's farm and they start talking Pennsylvania Dutch.

 

[etcallhome]

Reason for switching to the newer way of farming is its getting harder and harder finding the old machines their fathers and grandfathers had used. Been around Amish for the past 30 + yrs. I found out a long time ago very honest ,hard workers. If they quoted a price to you and this was your first time buying something from them ,they will test you. Meaning to see if you will tell them the true price they had given you or if you will try and cheap them and tell them he had told you a lower price. Then if you had tried to cheat them, they will lots of time sell you the item at that lower price, but don't go back and ask to buy something from them because they will not sell to you knowing you had tried to cheat them.
But very hard working , and they are just as curious of us as we are of them .
So of the stories they have told me over the years . One of the grandfathers told me when he was in the hospital the nurses wanted to know how many children he and his wife had.. He told them 3 and a half dozen.. Nurse ran out in the hall , saying Karen come here Mr M and his wife has 15 kids ,, He tells them no ,they had 3 and half dozen Oh you had 18 kids no girls he told them after 4 or 5 other nurses tried to figure how many they had.. Finally he told them girls we had 3 plus 6 more or half dozen or total of 9 children... He always had some tale to tell.. may he rest in peace passed away 2 or 3 yrs ago.

 

[whistlepig]

We have trail horses. My neighbor raises Clydesdale's to sell. I have watched him try to train a team. Sometimes on his property next door and sometimes he tries a team on the road in front of the house. It's rural here and not much traffic. If one knows horses they know it's almost impossible to get two horses to work as a team. The horses will work against each other in harness. They work themselves to death and are covered in lather in a very short time. I never realized how difficult this was until I started watching my neighbor 5 years ago. A matched team is pretty special to me after seeing the effort that goes in to the making. If I see two horses pulling as a team that's pretty special to me.

 

[sixdogs]

I have to agree...........when I see 4 horses pulling (what is described as) a 100hp engine, with a 3 pt. tiller attached.............i'm at a loss for words.

It's whatever the local Bishop decrees. An old order Amish guy I know has a cell phone for his business. He just can't take or make calls on a willy-nilly basis but he does have a cell phone and does ride in a horse and buggy.

 

[cqaigy2]

Interesting about the use of technology. Looks, to me, like a balancing act between utilizing technology and not letting it dictate your life style.

 

[sixdogs]

Interesting about the use of technology. Looks, to me, like a balancing act between utilizing technology and not letting it dictate your life style.

Things just can't be conncected to the outside world, as interpreted by the local Bishop. In the cell phone case, there are no wires connecting it to an electric pole so it's a qualified OK to the degree it's helps the man do business without violating their principles. A power saw connected to an electrical grid is not acceptable but a generator powering a power saw or a battery for cordless is likely acceptable to the local Bishop and is OK. Generally it's easy to see the reasonong in the decsions and one has to admire how effective their methods have been at preserving their culture and families.

 

[cqaigy2]

Very interesting. Thanks.

 

[NevadaMOGuy]

I wonder if there is a Mennonite Mafia around? :laughing:

Amish Mafia

 

[Hersheyfarm]

We are infested with Amish, and as someone posted they are not as 'disconnected' as most think. I've had a a Amish phone and deep freeze in my barn for years as the need us English to host them. The kids are mannered but, the social media nowadays is tearing Amish communities apart.

I for one am wanting to outlaw passenger vehicles that can't go over 15mph off of a 2 lane highway. Death trap for all involved.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I have to agree...........when I see 4 horses pulling (what is described as) a 100hp engine, with a 3 pt. tiller attached.............i'm at a loss for words.

So it's 104 HP?

 

[CBW1999]

So it's 104 HP?

That is too funny......correct but- too funny :laughing:

 

[nybirdman]

We have the "real Amish" up our way.Old Order Swartzentruber.The don't allow any moving motors of any kind.They carry the hay to the baler.They do use stationary motors for saw mills ect.They refuse to use SMV signs,just a small kerosene latern at night.There has been 12 car/buggy accidents this year alone with two fatalities.