The Old Order Amish April 2014 | Page 6

5. Farming

5

5. Farming

From the time the Amish arrived to America, their main occupation was farming. The new continent provided cheap and numerous pieces of lands, good soil and climate beneficial for farming. An average Amish family lives not in a single house, but rather in a farmstead. Usually, there is a main building serving the purpose of home, but there are several farm buildings, such as stables, barns and sheds (Schaefer and Zellner 13).

As I mentioned before, machinery is not allowed to be used in an Amish community. This also excludes the use of tractors and any other agricultural machines. Though most people might consider this fact as a big disadvantage and hindering factor, Amish farmers try to make the best out of it. We shouldn’t forget that a farmer has free labour force through his sons, saves money on avoiding machinery and using horses helps to fertilize the soil Schaefer and Zellner 14).

Amish farmsteads are actually considered one of the bests around the world. Their fields and buildings are well-kept, their crops and goods are good quality. Apart from knowing everything about farming, an Amish man also loves his job and being a farmer. It is not simply an occupation; it is a joy that provides a lot of advantages to the farmers and their families (such as homegrown food) (Schaefer and Zellner 14).

Amish farming