Lancaster Pennsylvania

[BIGNASTY]

Any one from around the Lancaster Pennsylvania area need some thoughts. I belong to another forum that is about farming with draft and mule power. I have contacted an Amish Gentleman about some horse drawn farm equipment that he has for sale. I have googled the address and it sure doesn't look like an Amish farm to me!!!!! First I was under the impression that these folks lived in the past so the Internet and the likes weren't on their list of must haves. Some of the Amish and Mennonite people that I have talked to on line say that there are different ordnons( not sure of spelling) of their beliefs and use new inventions but can not own them. So I guess that they can use someone else's computer but cant own one? Drive a car but can not own one? My question is before I drive out to Pa is this a true look at their beliefs? or is this not how they believe. Have done some reading but no yes or no on anything these folks believe in privacy and I can get a grip on that also. Thanks



BIG

 

[HHhuntitall]

BIG, I'm not sure as to their use of technology... . I know an Amish community in Clarita, OK, that uses tractors, and sells grain commercially, as well as furniture and wagons... . I've bought some harness hardware and wagons from them on occasion, and sold them some horses several years ago... ... They're the best wagons and hardware available on the market, as far as I know. If I'm not mistaken, computers are kept at the library in the community. They are not allowed to be used except for educational purposes by children..... Perhaps it's like the tractor, they use the computers to further their abilities to feed their families..... I remember on one trip several years ago, they were saying they started farming with horses back when they first settled that area, but the hard ground only let them farm 2 acres a day..... And at the end of the week, the moisture had evaporated, so the ground got so hard it couldn't be plowed. The use of the tractor allowed them to expand and feed their families and make a profit, to expand their farms and allow more members of the family to stay nearby in the future. Provided the elders of the church approved any purchases of land or equipment... ...



I got along with most of them fairly well, I guess. I drove an old, dirty, beat up Dodge truck, and we thought a lot alike. Waste not, want not. One fellow didn't take to well to me talking to his wife and daughter..... I don't think he liked me looking at his daughter. When someone explained I had offended him, I had to apologize for that... . They're pretty protective of their families, with good reason, I'm sure. But, being the Sasquatch I am, I stood square on his porch, looked him straight in the eye, and apologized. He instantly dropped the PO face, and lectured me on the evils of a wandering eye..... I really didn't care for that, but I think he was right on some points... .



Anyway, I think they're just like anyone. They hold to the belief that worldly possesions and the desire for profit can destroy a man. They're old fashioned, like, 200 years ago..... I bet you'll get along with them fine, BIG!!

 

[Wayne M.]

I vacation often in Lancaster. I see them quite often. I have a story but must defer since my phone is dying. Big, a coworker of mine is big on the stuff you ask about. I'm gonna do some homework. Stand by.

 

[Wayne M.]

Ok. Plugged in. First. If you goto amish country you gotta tell me.

My story
I visited a tractor supply co. store out there and sure enough there was an Amish man shopping. He was buying hardware and all kinda mechanical items. I was curious so I started to shadow him. Sure enough he goes and picks up a 5 gal bucket of hydraulic oil. Now he's got my attention. I was too shy to talk to him cause I didn't know what to expect. Later on I see him check out, and with his blackened bare feet and all he bought, in one trip, he walks across a big asphalt parking lot to his buggy. Barefoot. In June. I have a clue as to what he was gonna do with the oil. My coworker is off till Monday (guess where he is!!) and he gets a publication that caters to draft horses, treadmills for them and all kinda stuff. As soon as I get the name, I'll follow up.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Quote





They're old fashioned, like, 200 years ago..... I bet you'll get along with them fine, BIG!





HH thats kind of what drew us together on the website. He and his Pards/bud's/pal's what ever they call each other couldn't imagine living in Montana without some of the modern tools to live. After I explained that I LIKE TO DO THINGS THE OLD WAY. The wife had different thoughts about giving up her appliances for the old way. They are pretty good mule men also they are the one's that got one of my new mules over being an outsider ( what they called it) to working as a team member.



Anyway they have a John Deere horse drawn sickle mower that I would really like to have they didn't make many of them and the JD is a top line machine of the day also a horse drawn hay baler ( hardly ANY!! of those are around) and if they are they want the farm for them. Cant find a picture of the baler but this is the mower only rebuilt and one that works but could use some TLC



Wayne



If I do come out you can ill let you know. Have some bud's that still run 48 state with flatbed trucks so Im kind of hoping that they pass by and pick them up.

 

[GHarman]

BIG,

I grew up with Mennonites and attended Sunday School and Worship Meetings with them. There are many different sects, from extremely conservative to very modern. Most Mennonites I know have work ethics that put many Americans to Shame. Looking beyond their traditions, they are just like anyone else. Many very good folks. A few outstanding special people and then, you will find a small percentage that are like a blowfly in yer breakfast plate. No different from anybody else. Their Church Doctrine is Anabaptist. Opposite from a Calvinist in regard to the Sovereignty of GOD!

The Amish are related/similar, but not the same.

Know what you are buying and how much you are willing to pay. Make sure it works!

We had a mower just like the first one you pictured. However, it was all a dark rust patina. There was no paint to be seen:-laf!

We also had a horse/Mule drawn rake and a flat bed hay wagon, with stake sides. The hay was handled loose, by hand, with pitch forks.

Hope you find what you need!

GregH

 

[Wayne M.]

Any one from around the Lancaster Pennsylvania area need some thoughts. I belong to another forum that is about farming with draft and mule power. I have contacted an Amish Gentleman about some horse drawn farm equipment that he has for sale. I have googled the address and it sure doesn't look like an Amish farm to me!!!!! First I was under the impression that these folks lived in the past so the Internet and the likes weren't on their list of must haves. Some of the Amish and Mennonite people that I have talked to on line say that there are different ordnons( not sure of spelling) of their beliefs and use new inventions but can not own them. So I guess that they can use someone else's computer but cant own one? Drive a car but can not own one? My question is before I drive out to Pa is this a true look at their beliefs? or is this not how they believe. Have done some reading but no yes or no on anything these folks believe in privacy and I can get a grip on that also. Thanks

BIG

Big. Recently my wife and I watched a documentary type show about the Amish called "Amish grace" I thought it was very informative.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Thanks Wayne Ill take a look at that we have Direct and use the netflix they have every documentary in the world on that. I like their lifestyle just dont know about not having ANY new technology.

 

[Wayne M.]

Thanks Wayne Ill take a look at that we have Direct and use the netflix they have every documentary in the world on that. I like their lifestyle just dont know about not having ANY new technology.

I was last out there about 3 weekends ago. I drove a road I haven't been on to sight a friend's campground, and it's a hotbed of activity. If you've seen "Kingpin", and in that they all gather outside for a feast- well I saw that going on, hundreds of 'em, also the young'uns buzzing around on bicycles of all sorts with the same twinkle in the eye as a kid on a YZ80 dirtbike :-laf and the teen on the open buggy with the mandatory orange caution triangle on the back crossed out and written in black marker "I'd rather be bow hunting". The best was being behind a closed buggy, and approaching an intersection, all these LED stop and turn lamps come on. So yes, in that area, they are quite modern to am extent. The LED lighting makes real sense due to power consumption. All their buggies and stuff are MINT.



In a local paper (I always pick up the local news wherever I go) I saw an ad for a modified washing machine. It was the classic open tub/ top wringer 1920's maytag , but instead of having an electric motor in the bottom, it had a flexible cable/ shaft running through a cement block wall, and there was a horizontal shaft gas engine spinning it.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Wayne

When we first moved to Montana we knew that we would have to make some changes because living on solar power conservation is key to making it work. I got one of these for the wife she said FAT CHANCE BUDDY!!!!! and then turned around and got me a hand crank ice cream maker. We think it works better than the electric one that I have for the two of us I only have to make a batch a week.

 

[Blu-meanie]

Those washboards can really skin your knuckles. How are yours holding up after pulling it out of @s?

 

[BIGNASTY]

Those washboards can really skin your knuckles. How are yours holding up after pulling it out of @s?

Don't understand what the @s is really supposed to mean but if your talking about this they are just fine some more scars to add to the collection. I really didn't think that they were that bad of cuts. I was willing to have one of the Vet's on the bear study put a couple of half hitches in and be done with it but ,USFS has to make a big deal out of it and gave me a free plane ride and a nite or two at home in a soft bed and hot shower. Something to think about WHEN YOU ARE WORKING AROUND LIVESTOCK IT'S NOT IF YOUR GOING TO GET HURT!!!! IT'S HOW BAD!!!! YOUR GOING TO GET HURT!! JUST PART OF THE GAME.

BIG

 

[HHhuntitall]

Just looks like a little scratch to me, too... . Hmm, what happens when someone really gets hurt??!?!? You were obviously in uncontrollable pain while you were taking pictures.....

 

[Dutch & Di]

We lived in Lancaster County for 17 years. I agree with the varied sects. Some were truly old school and were firm in their beliefs. Couldn't even get them to put a dune buggy whip on the back of their buggies for safety! Your heart is in your throat when you crest a hill at 60 and come upon a buggy right in front of you---and it's snowing! Others mix a bit of modern "stuff" in their daily lives if it was business related. Some have phones in a shed outside the house and in some sects young men can have cars to use on occasion that were parked behind the shed. They had to give that up when thy turned 18. While they all wore the same type of clothing, the material of those that were well off was definitely some fine fabric. We had business dealings with several of the Amish. Taught one fellow how to make wheel barrows out of fiberglass as they held up so much better than metal. Most of the ladies had graduated to Gasoline powered washing machines so there was some progress.

I guess you'll just have to take a ride out there-which is beautiful by the way, and see for yourself if this is someone you want to deal with. Di

 

[BIGNASTY]

We lived in Lancaster County for 17 years. I agree with the varied sects. Some were truly old school and were firm in their beliefs. Couldn't even get them to put a dune buggy whip on the back of their buggies for safety! Your heart is in your throat when you crest a hill at 60 and come upon a buggy right in front of you---and it's snowing! Others mix a bit of modern "stuff" in their daily lives if it was business related. Some have phones in a shed outside the house and in some sects young men can have cars to use on occasion that were parked behind the shed. They had to give that up when thy turned 18. While they all wore the same type of clothing, the material of those that were well off was definitely some fine fabric. We had business dealings with several of the Amish. Taught one fellow how to make wheel barrows out of fiberglass as they held up so much better than metal. Most of the ladies had graduated to Gasoline powered washing machines so there was some progress.

I guess you'll just have to take a ride out there-which is beautiful by the way, and see for yourself if this is someone you want to deal with. Di

Thanks for your input I have talked to these folks for quite some time on the Internet. They belong to a farming web site and they bring in pretty interesting thoughts about different aspects of farming that our CHEMICAL based farms have forgotten or are in to big a hurry to feed the public DOW CORNNINGS or DuPont's chemical laced food. Im looking forward to taking the drive its just I kind of like to know what if anything im getting into. And as posted the address that I googled didn't look like a Amish farm.



BIG

 

[GHarman]

BIG!

Just an aside! If you go to Dutch Country yerself. Make sure you have some Shoo Fly Pie and Funny Cake! Both are loaded with calories and will make yer heart scream, BUT Man ARE THEY GOOD! The Oatmeal Shoo fly Pie is a step up from the traditional Shoo Fly Pie! Both are lip smackin good! They'll tickle yer innards!

Fer breakfast, have some fried "Scrapple" with yer eggs. Yer Heart will go into spasms and do a final meltdown, but you will die HAPPY:-laf!

Ifn you ate like that on a regular basis, you would have to pack all yer gear into the BOB on yer back and let the Mules follow along and take bites out of yer buttocks ta keep ya motivated:-laf! That would be the onliest way to burn off the fat and calories!

GregH

 

[BIGNASTY]

Just looks like a little scratch to me, too... . Hmm, what happens when someone really gets hurt??!?!? You were obviously in uncontrollable pain while you were taking pictures.....

It was pretty hard to take the Pictures HH im right handed. :-laf The nurse asked when I walked in to the ER whats the problem? I pulled off the bandage and said I had a shaving accident

 

[BIGNASTY]

BIG!

Just an aside! If you go to Dutch Country yerself. Make sure you have some Shoo Fly Pie and Funny Cake! Both are loaded with calories and will make yer heart scream, BUT Man ARE THEY GOOD! The Oatmeal Shoo fly Pie is a step up from the traditional Shoo Fly Pie! Both are lip smackin good! They'll tickle yer innards!

Fer breakfast, have some fried "Scrapple" with yer eggs. Yer Heart will go into spasms and do a final meltdown, but you will die HAPPY:-laf!

Ifn you ate like that on a regular basis, you would have to pack all yer gear into the BOB on yer back and let the Mules follow along and take bites out of yer buttocks ta keep ya motivated:-laf! That would be the onliest way to burn off the fat and calories!

GregH

I dont know G man I had a physical not long ago and the Doc had me write down what I ate for a week before I went. He took a look at the list and at my records and asked HOW DO YOU DO IT? Do what ? keep your weight down and not have cholesterol/high blood pressure and not be over weight? I have a farm full of kids!!! 1 horse 7 mules a beef/pig and some chickens that are temporary guest's and 15 or 20 egg chickens and my milk cow and only one hired hand ME!!!

 

[BIGNASTY]

HH now THIS is just a little bit more than an a little cut and yes IT HURT LIKE HELL Pard :{ But I didnt let anyone see me so it dont count

 

[HHhuntitall]

Yep, you win. I'd have cried on that one!! :-laf Especially if'n I had to do it intentionally!!!!!!!!! But it's for the better, right? Gotta do what ya gotta do. I had a friend that had to have part of his patella removed and his tendons cut to relieve pressure. It was 5-6 months before he was fully back into the swing of things, and he's a tough "hombre"!! He's got little bitty scars compared to yours!!!