An Amish Farm and Tour outside Lancaster, PA

Fri. July 23-26 (3 nights) Jonestown/Hershey KOA 

It turned out to be a beautifully sunny travel day. Thankfully, the majority of our drive was on major highways. One thing this trip has shown us is how badly we do need to fix our highways and bridges. It’s really hard to sleep with all that shaking, rocking and rolling over the enormous bumps and holes. 

The Pocono Mountains were just as green as everywhere else we have been. Dad said the central theme for today was “Under Construction” on all these horrible roads. We had a number of slow traffic areas thanks to accidents too. Ugh! Never can understand how you can have accidents on a gorgeous day. 

We are in another smaller, but really nice KOA again. Pippi tried out the playground facilities here...Not to mention some of the ice cream at the General Store...our campsite gave Pippi a nice side yard to play in and attract other puppies to play. We have a river next to our campground and for the first time in months, we could see the sunset behind the trees...

Pippi entertained some teens who were using this wooden train too...Pip will jump up or down on pretty much anything including the picnic tables...What???

Evans House is now down to 15 acres from 100. It was built by the Evans, a Quaker family in 1805. In 1955, this farm and house was sold and became the first tourist attraction in Lancaster County. 

In the 1720’s Amish/Mennonites and Quakers started immigrating here from the countries they were persecuted (Germany & Switzerland) for being Anabaptist (not believing in baby baptism.) Thanks to William Penn in the 1740’s, they landed here and were given land. The term Amish came from their leader's name, Jacob Amman. 

What was so strange when we pulled up here; it was located between a Target and a small shopping center...very strange...The history of this farm is shown above. They had quite a few ingenious inventions to make their farm life easier...

Even at this farm, various Amish families sold their crafts, produce or food. There were lots of curious rules; they were allowed to use tractors for some uses, but not in the fields??? They could use washing machines, but not dryers.

Upstairs in the bedrooms, we saw one of their simple six sided coffins...Tim explained that when one of them died, they would call the English undertaker to embalm the dead (it was state law.) The deceased would be placed in their wedding clothes in one of these simple coffins to lie in their home for a couple days prior to burial in a simple grave with a plain headstone. There were no flowers, nor did relatives return to the gravesite except when burying another. The Amish believe that when they are dead, their souls leave and they are no longer in their body. 

As you can see, their clothes are very plain and handmade. Only the men and children are allowed to have buttons on their clothes. (The women use snaps or straight pins to keep their dresses/aprons together.) They do buy plain coats, sweaters and shoes for cold weather. If given the chance, they go barefoot...even when working in the fields and barns. (Which explains the lack of carpets or rugs...Yikes!)

Unlike the Mennonites and Quakers, the Amish worship in their homes every other Sunday. The pews are brought to one of the 25 homes within a congregation or district. Women are always on the right and men on left side. They have adopted a Pennsylvania Dutch dialect which is a mix of PA German and English. They worship Martin Luther's Holy Bible version; not the King James.  After 3 hour worship services, they have a huge meal of leftovers (since they aren’t allowed to work on Sunday,) and catch up with their friends and family for a few hours following lunch.

They have NO electricity in their home because it connects them too much to the outside world. Nor, do they own or drive cars except possibly during their "rumspringa". At age 16 having graduated from eighth grade, they start their rumspringa year. During this time, the young Amish go out into the world; working, making friends and seeing things outside their tight knit community. It's allowed because they are still living at home. Unlike what some have heard/read/seen...the majority don't go out drinking, drugging and having wild sex. It is their time to determine if they want to stay in their community. It turns out they are only "shunned," if they become baptized; and decide to leave the community later...Surprisingly, they think about 85% stay within this world.

Here is their phone that reminded mom of dad's first car telephone...Their current telephones are now called the "black box phone". They can make or receive calls, but are only for emergencies and for their business. 

It turns out, the Amish use rechargeable DeWalt batteries that are recharged from solar panels on their roof. Their refrigerators, gas ranges, water heaters, washing machines and furnaces work off propane.  As M & D said, it's kind of a ironic distinction. The newer homes have furniture, dishes and other essentials just like us. They will shop at Costco, Walmart and Target, wherever they can find the best buy. Other strange facts: There are two mirrors in the home; one for the men to shave their mustaches, and one upstairs for the women to part their hair. The women never cut their hair, but keep it in a bun inside a prayer cap. Married men have the beards, not the bachelors. 

The Amish's philosophy...“They are to be in the world, but not of the world” (Anyone not in this community are called English.) They hired the English for their drivers, even before Uber. As you can see above, they have large gardens which the women maintain along with the house and lawn.

They don’t believe in graven images of themselves; especially if they have been baptized. We weren't to take photos of them unless they were from faraway or they had their backs to us. 

Women take care of the house and gardens. In first grade they learn English and their education only goes to the eighth grade, but it’s a very concentrated education for farming and business. 

Above you can see one of their small one room schools that they place every 2-3 miles apart, since the kids have to use scooters or walk to get there. They have one teacher for all ages, she is usually a young woman who has graduated from their school and decides she would like to teach. The kids play all kinds of sports, board and card games. 

Interestingly, the Amish don’t pay Social Security since they won't accept it, but they do pay taxes. Amish get a thirty five per cent discount at local hospitals because they will pay cash before they leave. They tithe to their community and that money is used as their insurance for any emergencies medical or otherwise. Those that are still farming; their main crops are field corn and alfalfa for the animals while their cash crops are tobacco and soybeans. Only 25% farming these days since their farms are too small to be profitable in today's market.

It’s easy to spot Amish houses in the countryside because there are no electricity lines into their homes; loads of washing are hanging outside and very large propane tanks are next to their homes. In the fields you will see mules or draft horses, like Percheron or Clydesdales for use in the fields, while older thoroughbreds are used for their buggies. Since dairy farms are not as profitable as they once were. The Amish are having to be far more creative to make a living. (One Amish farmer even raises camels for their milk. To buy the milk you have to join his cooperate, so you can’t sue him.) 

At one farm we saw these silkie chickens for sale...another puppies and guinea pigs. They are now building furniture, homes, cabinets, selling their produce and/or canning, quilting, sign or gourd painting and a variety of other crafts...One of the more questionable areas that they have gotten into is their puppy industry...many consider them puppy mills because the mother and dad dogs aren't treated so well, but they charge high prices??? Our small bus tour took us to three different farms to see their handmade items and hopefully to buy, which of course mom and dad both did... Who needs some quilted potholders and peach jelly?

Sunday was a lazy, relaxing day. Watching the Olympic sports events. WOW!!! 

M & D left me in the afternoon to go to a late lunch at Mooze LZ by Fort Indiantown Gap Army base. (It turns out in PA; dogs aren’t allowed in outdoor restaurants. What’s wrong with this state?) Dad said that LZ stands for Landing Zone. (Mom took the photo of the bathroom condom machine...she hadn't seen one in years and years...it made her laugh...) Mom told me that they had fried bologna & cheese sandwiches on the menu which brought back memories of her dad, Bob. (His go to sandwich) My dad told us in the Navy, bologna was referred to as “Horse Cock” since they always had it sitting around during mid watch. They had silly nicknames for everything!!!

It turns out in 1975 there were 20,000 Vietnam and Cambodian refugees processed here before sending them to communities all across the US.  Now, it is used for National Guard training and maintaining and repairing helicopters and other large equipment.

We are off to our next place in PA over by Uniontown. On Tuesday mom finally gets to go to one of her bucket list places, Fallingwaters, whatever that is???