What is HDPE?
HDPE plastic, also known as high density polyethylene, was first developed in 1962 by DuPont. It is a thermoplastic and extremely strong. HDPE has a tensile strength of approximately 130,000 psi or 1,100 Mpa. This property makes it ideal for heavy-duty items such as an outdoor furniture set. Unlike other plastics that can crack when exposed to sun and weather, HDPE lasts up to 20 years outside without degrading too much or becoming brittle. At Cauff we manufacture furniture accessories such as our cup holder. We also manufacture oriole bird feeders, mailbox flags and 4x4 post mount adapters using this heavy duty material.
Benefits of HDPE
High density polyethylene provides many benefits that make it a more eco-friendly option for outdoor furniture. For example, because HDPE can be recycled, it is more sustainable and less of an environmental burden than other types of plastics. Also, because of its ability to be molded into any shape, HDPE can be used to produce furniture with varying thicknesses, shapes and colors.
]]>The Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula) is the official state bird of Maryland, and it’s easy to see why. With its stunning plumage and large range, this bird makes an attractive addition to any backyard or garden habitat. At first glance, the nest made by the Baltimore oriole looks like any other nest—it’s built out of twigs, leaves, and grass and lined with softer material.
What is an oriole feeder?
An oriole feeder is a device used to feed Orioles, which are a type of wild bird. There are many different types of oriole feeders, but they all typically consist of a plastic cup that is filled with grape jelly.
Why You Should Put Out a Jelly Bird Feeder
A jelly bird feeder is an easy way to attract Baltimore orioles to your yard! Oriole feeders come in all shapes and sizes, but we recommend the Poly Oriole Feeder because it's durable and is easy to use. Plus, it's easy to clean and refill. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your jelly bird feeder:
Why Orioles Like Purple Martin Nectar
Orioles are especially attracted to the color orange, so an oriole feeder with a plastic cup that is orange is more likely to attract them. You can also put out oranges, nectar, or grape jelly to attract orioles. Orioles like to eat insects, so putting out a tray of mealworms or crickets will also bring them in.
Our Poly Hanging Oriole Jelly Feeder
Our Oriole Jelly Feeder is made with heavy duty HDPE plastic material designed to withstand the elements. Stainless steel hardware and the cup is easy to clean! Hang this jelly feeder alongside your other bird feeders or on your porch. We also sell the plastic replacement cup for our Oriole Jelly Feeder.
Why Orioles Like Purple Martin Nectar
Orioles are especially attracted to the color orange, so an oriole feeder with a plastic cup that is orange or has an orange top is more likely to attract them. You can also put out oranges, nectar, or grape jelly to attract orioles. Orioles like to eat insects, so putting out a tray of mealworms or crickets will also bring them in.
Ways To Get Rid Of Squirrels
If you're tired of pesky squirrels raiding your bird feeders, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them. One way is to buy a Squirrel Feeder to discourage squirrels from using your bird feeder. Another way is to put your feeders on a pole in the middle of your yard, so the squirrels can't climb up to them.
]]>Leather Fly swatters have been around for centuries, and there’s no question why: They’re one of the most effective ways to get rid of pesky bugs in your home or outdoors. That’s because flies are terrible at dodging anything that comes near them, making them easy targets for fly swatters. However, it’s worth noting that certain types of fly swatters are better than others, with some being far more durable than others.
The History of Fly Swatting
People have been swatting flies for centuries, and for good reason - they're pesky little creatures that are more than a nuisance. Early fly swatters were made of whatever materials were on hand, but eventually people started making them out of leather. These heavy duty leather fly swatters with wood handles are still the best way to keep flies away. Plus, they make a satisfying 'smack' sound when you use them!
Types of Flyswatters
When it comes to choosing a flyswatter, you have two main options: a heavy duty leather fly swatter or a plastic fly swatter. If you're looking for something that will last longer, go with the heavy duty option. If you prefer a more natural look and feel, then the wood handle fly swatter is the way to go. Whichever type you choose, make sure to get one with a long handle so you can reach those pesky flies without having to get too close!
Where Did The Word Flyswatter Come From?
No one is quite sure where the word flyswatter came from, but there are a few theories. One theory is that it comes from the phrase to swat at flies. Another theory is that it's a combination of the words fly and batter. Whatever its origins, the flyswatter is a handy tool for keeping pesky flies away.
Is An Old-Fashioned Flyswatter Better Than A Modern One?
When it comes to getting rid of flies, nothing does the job better than a good old-fashioned fly swatter. These heavy duty fly swatters are made with a solid oak wood handle and can kill a fly with one swift swat. Plus, they're much more eco-friendly than their modern counterparts.
Why Choose A Quality Handmade Traditional Flyswatter?
When it comes to choosing a quality handmade flyswatter, there are a few things you should look for. First, make sure it's made of durable materials like leather. You don't want something that's going to fall apart after a few uses. Second, look for a fly swatter with a wood handle. This will give you a better grip and more control when you're trying to swat those pesky flies. Finally, choose a heavy duty leather fly swatter that can take down even the biggest of bugs.
]]>There are many mailbox flag replacement kits available on the market, but the Heavy Duty Mailbox Flag Replacement Kit has become one of the most popular choices because of its high-quality construction and ease of use. With this kit, you can replace even your older mailbox flags, eliminating the need to worry about your mail getting wet or lost because of an inoperable flag! Use these steps to replace your mailbox flag today!
The Benefits of Replacing Your Flimsy Mailbox Flag
A decorative mailbox flag is a great way to show your personality and make your house stand out on the block. But what happens when that flag gets cracked, broken or old and worn out? You don't have to put up with a sad, tattered flag anymore - you can replace it easily with a mailbox flag replacement kit. These kits come with everything you need to get your mailbox looking like new again, including a new HDPE plastic poly flag and stainless steel hardware.
Why Buy from This Site?
The Advantages of Our Flags
1) Our decorative mailbox flags are made of high-quality materials that will last for years. 2) Our mailbox flag replacement plastic is much more durable than the flimsy flags that come with most mailboxes. 3) Our metal mailbox flag replacement is also very sturdy and will withstand wind and rain. 4) Our flags are easy to install and come with all the necessary hardware. 5) Our flags are Made in the USA
The Quality of Our Products is Superior
When you purchase a mailbox flag replacement kit from us, you can be confident that you're getting a top quality product. Our flags are made from heavy duty poly materials that will withstand the elements and last for years to come. Our flag can be mounted on brick, metal or plastic mailboxes.
Installing Your New Flag Is Easy!
Replacing your mailbox flag is easy with this handy kit. Just follow these simple steps:
When you’re out and about in the great outdoors, there’s nothing better than an Adirondack chair to relax in while you let the stress of your busy life melt away. One drawback of these chairs, however, has been their lack of cup holders, but no longer! Thanks to the Poly Cup Holder for Adirondack Chairs, you can now enjoy your favorite beverages during your next outdoor adventure! This innovative product mounts easily to any Adirondack chair in order to provide you with a handy place to put your drink.
Many Ideas Came Together Here
I was sitting in my Adirondack chair on a hot day, sweating and trying to enjoy a cold drink, when I thought there has to be a better way. I started searching online for Adirondack cup holder and found nothing that really fit the bill. So, I decided to design my own! I wanted something that would be easy to attach to the chair, wouldn’t take up too much space, and would keep my drink close at hand.
Quality Materials, Easy to Assemble
The Poly Cup Holder is made from quality HDPE recycled plastic material designed to withstand the elements. It's easy to assemble, and it's the perfect addition to your Adirondack chair. It includes stainless steel hardware and two mounting screws. With this cup holder, you'll never have to worry about putting your drink down on the ground again. Order yours today!
The Poly Cup Holder is the perfect addition to your Adirondack chair. Whether you’re enjoying a cold beverage on a hot day or a hot cup of coffee on a cold day, this cup holder will keep your drink within reach. Plus, it’s easy to install and comes in a variety of colors to match your chair. So what are you waiting for? Get your Poly Cup Holder today!
It Has Personality!
The best part about this cup holder is that it has personality. Whether you choose the classic black or the more modern charcoal gray, this cup holder will add some spunk to your outdoor décor. It’s also perfect for those who like to entertain, as it can hold small cups or larger mugs. And if you have kids, don’t worry – the poly material is easy to clean.
Final Thoughts
The Poly Cup Holder is the perfect addition to your Adirondack chair. It's easy to install and use, and it will keep your drinks safe and close at hand. Plus, it's made from durable poly material that will withstand the elements. Whether you're relaxing by the pool or enjoying a sunset on the deck, this cup holder is a must-have accessory.
]]>A great board game should be solidly built and come with pieces that will last as long as the board itself.
The Solid wood Chinese Checkers game board (with included marbles) made by Cauff Creations is built with ethically sourced, real, oak hardwood right in Northeast Ohio.
The Cauff Creations Chinese Checkers board is hand sanded and hand sealed and will last a lifetime. The board also comes with a velvet bag full of 60, real, glass marbles that will last as long as the board if treated well. If you lose any pieces, you can find some replacement pieces here.
Our Chinese Checkers board can accommodate up to 6 players and comes with 6 different colors of marbles and easy to read playing instructions.
We sell one size of Chinese Checkers board. Each measures 14 inches in diameter by 0.75 inches thick.
]]>Aggravation is a classic game that we all love to play. There are the cheap, folding versions of the marble board game that are common now, but there are also beautiful, handcrafted, Amish-made versions for sale as well. Cauff Creations sells a few versions, we'd like you to read about each here.
Just to be clear, Cauff Creations sells a handcrafted, marble board game that is just like the classic Aggravation (TM) Board Game made by Hasbro, but this is not an officially licensed Hasbro product.
Cauff Creations sells a single, 4-player-only version. This should be considered the budget option but is still hand made from solid oak hard wood.
The 4 player board game is the only round version sold by Cauff Creations and is 14 inches in diameter.
This version is hand made, sealed, and hand painted and comes with 4 different colors of real glass marbles and a black velvet carrying bag.
Cauff Creations sells 2 different wooden board game versions. Both are built with ethically sourced oak hard wood. Each of the 2 versions of the board are hand sanded and hand sealed for a smooth, long lasting finish.
A black velvet bag is included with each as a convenient way for you to store your playing pieces when not being used. Each board includes real glass marbles, a set of dice, and easy to read playing instructions (English).
Each playing board is handcrafted by Amish craftsmen in Ohio, double sided (a 4 player and a 6 player side).
Each of the 2 16 inch versions is 16 inches by 14 inches by 3/4 inch thick.
The difference between the 2 different board game versions sold by Cauff Creations is that version 1 is not colored, it is only hand finished. Version 2 has been hand painted to match each marble color as you go around the board.
The 20 inch wood marble board game sold by Cauff creations also comes in 2 different versions. Again, both are built with ethically sourced hard woods. In the case of the 20 inch version, one is made from Maple wood and the other 20 inch board is made from Oak. Each of the 2 20 inch versions of the board are hand sanded and hand sealed for a smooth, long lasting finish.
A black velvet bag is included with the 20 inch boards and each board includes 6 colors of real glass marbles, a set of dice, and easy to read playing instructions (English).
Each playing board is handcrafted by Amish craftsmen in Ohio, double sided (a 4 player and a 6 player side).
Each of the 2 20 inch versions is 20 inches by 17.5 inches by 3/4 inch thick.
]]>The needs the Amish deal with are valid needs; someone is ill, has an accident, or a building has been ruined. Those close to the family will take it upon themselves to get something going to help raise funds to either pay down the debt, or to simply help the family make house payments and keep their cupboards full.
A local store, Walnut Creek Cheese, has a brochure online that I will link here, describing their various fundraising suggestions. The pizza one is probably their most popular but we have seen many of these come through.
Once the folks heading up the fundraiser have decided which product they want to make and peddle they will make a phone call to a place like Walnut Creek Cheese and will place their order. There is a lot of organization that is involved in a fundraising production.
Well Organized Machine
Cinnamon rolls, glazed donuts, fry pies, kettle corn, you name it, if it is something different the Amish will try it to see if it sells. Some folks say they tire of the pizza fundraisers, yet they have been going on for many years. I would say at least 15, maybe 20 years and still proves to be a great way to raise funds.
]]>Let’s dive right into our next common misconceptions about the Amish.
In this article I will refer to the offender as “he” just to make it easier, but the same would be true for a female member. The other thing to remember is that various sects of Amish will have different degrees of tolerance for offenses, so I’m going to write in general terms but for some sects it might look just a little different, but as a whole this is how things are done.
Crime - There is a lot that could be said about this subject. The misconception is that the Amish “do nothing” or “sweep it under the rug” which are both not true.
They are quick to call the authorities on things like break ins, harm done to another and even sexual abuse. The Amish member who commits a crime will have to deal with their consequences twice. Once with the authorities and once with the church once the offense is in the open.
They have a law within themselves and are quick to forgive in most cases. The idea of forgiving is difficult for those outside the Amish to fathom and this is where misconceptions about the Amish and crime stem from. They weigh the offense and depending on what the crime was, depends on what punishment the offender will have to endure.
Let’s say the crime is something like abusing a dog. Once he is found out, either by another person and reported or by himself and wanting to “make his things right.” The church will allow for him to bring it to the leadership in church, which is the Bishop, ministers and a deacon. After church services and when the non members have departed the Bishop will bring the offense to the congregation and the offender will simply admit to “failing before God and man and ask for forgiveness.” Some offenses require this confession to be while he is on his knees, and for more minor offenses like not obeying one of their rules of the church they can stay sitting for the confession of failure. After the confession the Bishop establishes this person to again be in good standings with the church and “nobody is to look at this person for this crime/misbehavior.” And that is it.
If the crime is something more severe, maybe sexual abuse, there is usually a breaking point and once it is found out someone will report it to the authorities. There is a local fellow who was abusing his daughters, even his married daughters and a single sister in law who lived on the property. From reports I’ve heard through the grapevine, one of his son in laws had enough and turned his father in law in to the authorities and justice has been served. That man was arrested and is sitting in prison and his daughters are finally free of his abuse. The church took it one step further and that man is being shunned while sitting in prison. As far as I know he will be shunned until he would get out of prison and then he would have to deal with the church before ever becoming a member of the church again.
Sexual abuse is a hard one for everybody. It is usually a secret held tight between the offender and his victim and once the family might learn of it they don’t quite know how to act, it brings shame to a family and some folks have a hard time facing up to the fact that this has been going on under their noses for a long time. For each case of sexual abuse not reported in the Amish community you will find the same in an English community. The misconception is that the Amish do nothing and it is simply not true. From time to time you will hear of some family not doing anything, but most often they do “do” something.
Some crimes seem to come in waves and spurts. In our area we have some Swartzentruber Amish youth who do what they call “tomcatting.” Tomcatting is pranking people. But the pranks are crimes, they destroy property and even borderline harm people. They might trash someone’s house or barn or throw apples, eggs or pumpkins at traffic passing on the road. Most often they target their own sect of Amish rather than others. Because the adults might have participated in this kind of activity as youth they “understand” and even though it scares depending on the incidences they aren’t apt to report it to the authorities as they see it mostly as a faze the youth will grow out of. The youth are largely not members of the church so there is no real punishment or shunning to dish out from the church’s standpoint. It’s a problem, it is reported and talked about, but little punishment is dished out.
Pictures - My how times have changed for many of the Amish. At one point in time you could have made a blanket statement and said, “The Amish do not allow their pictures to be taken.” In today’s world this is no longer true for many Amish. Even those whose church’s might not allow it, the individual oftentimes does not care and will allow to have their picture taken. A few sects of Amish even allow for camera’s or at least tolerate if their members have them. In some cases a camera is purchased because they are selling puppies and they need images of each of the puppies to put on the websites to sell them. I’ve noticed a much more relaxed attitude around cameras and pictures. There are still some sects that do not want their picture taken and yet, depending on the individuals, even they don’t mind it.
School - The misconception is that all Amish children only attend school to the 8th grade and then they get jobs and go to work. While this is true for many Amish, it is not uncommon for them to leave 8th grade and head to a local place that provides classes and help to take the GED tests and they end up with their diploma. Beyond their GED many girls, especially, take typing and computer classes so they are equipped to work in an office somewhere. Within the Amish community you have a whole bunch of self starters, innovators, really, and the youth seem to find their way into modern society in their own way. Conventional high school doesn’t happen much, but they find ways to move ahead and come alongside their peers and make it happen one way or the other.
I hope my series has helped you understand the Amish a little better. Feel free to leave a comment if something isn’t clear and I will try to elaborate a little bit more on the subject. I enjoy sharing with my readers of my heritage and teaching others that the Amish are not much different than anyone else is these day. The big difference is their sense of community, they still do life together where the rest of the world seems to isolate themselves more and tries to conquer life alone.
As I was writing last week's post I realized I had enough common misconceptions about the Amish to talk about to make it into a small series of posts rather than bombard my readers with information overload. In case you missed the first post of the series you can go here to read the first post. Common Misconceptions About The Amish.
Vaccinations
This hot button issue relating to children is an ongoing conversation in many circles. Some feel it is the right thing to do, others do not. It's the same with the Amish. It is an individual's choice to inoculate their child(ren) or not.
Some Amish families place pressure on each other to not inoculate while others feel it necessary. I know of one family who didn't get vaccinated and when the measles made a visit to the area this family was of the first in line to get their vaccinations.
The church does not dictate if a child gets vaccinated or not though. It is the parent's choice.
Beard Cutting
A distasteful topic. It only came up one time, as far as I know, when a group of former Amish folks decided to take matters in their own hands. Sam Mullet, a cult leader disliked how the Amish church had dealt with him and his "congregation" after they left to start their own settlement a couple hours away. Sam was a manipulative and persuasive leader and was able to get his congregants to do evil and immoral things.
Sex with the women in his congregation to cleanse them, men imprisoned in cold corn cribs for not obeying and more have all been listed in a couple books authored by folks in the know. One such book authored by Sam Mullet's own grandson who was in the middle of it all.
Beard cutting was an orchestrated way of revenge and punishment by Sam Mullet for those he disagreed with in another community. He, rightly, sits in a prison somewhere and can no longer rule as he once did, however, there are reports his community calls him weekly and they still get advise from him and continue with business as usual on some level.
The real Amish do not cut each other's beards for revenge or punishment.
Insurance
This is one of those subjects that seems a mystery for many folks. It is often assumed the Amish do not have or use insurance. I will try to break it down a little bit for you.
Health Insurance - Some sects of Amish feel strongly they should not have and use health insurance and if something comes up for one of their members the community helps each other out. Only a small percentage of Amish don't have any kind of health insurance, though.
If the bread winner has a position with a company who provides health insurance some of the Amish opt to go with their employer's health insurance. This percentage has grown over the years. There was a time when it was heavily frowned upon to use that kind of health insurance but as time passes many sects of Amish seem to have relaxed their hold on their congregants and the individual decides what they want to do.
A large percentage of the Amish have what they call "Amish Aid." It is their own health care coverage. They pay a day's worth of wages, monthly, or more often at times if there are more bills coming in than what they can pay for. They also have a deductible of sorts and then a percentage of the bill gets paid. Similar to what insurance companies require.
There was a bit of a split with Amish Aid, at some point the Old Order Amish decided the New Order Amish were no longer welcome and so the New Order now has their own version of Amish Aid.
For anything that isn't covered by whatever insurance they have; fundraising happens. The Amish get really innovative when it comes to fundraising. Auctions are a great way to raise funds, all items sold are donated and the money made goes to pay off bills. There are also pizza, stromboli, subs, popcorn, donuts fundraisers. They make "X" amount of whatever amount determined for the fundraiser and then hire up to 50 taxi van drivers to take them around selling their products door to door. It is very organized and each van has a map of which roads in Amish Country they are to sell on. This helps that a greater area is covered and people aren't knocking on the same doors multiple times.
Liability Insurance - Most Amish hold a liability insurance policy. One can never tell when an animal spooks on the road and the liability coverage comes in handy.
Life Insurance - As a whole the Amish do not seek out life insurance. They trust that if there is a need in their family that the church will take care of those in need. Some folks do work for employers who provide a small life insurance as a benefit and so they will often accept that. Some of the Amish are advanced enough that if I were the betting kind, I would bet there is a handful of Amish who do own life insurance policies, but it wouldn't be common knowledge because who needs to know that kind of information anyway?
I hope you found this post informative and it shed light on a few things that you weren't clear about because of all the misinformation that is floating around out there.
Next post in the series will address things like crime, school and pictures!
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Here is a list of common misconceptions about the Amish I thought my readers might enjoy reading.
It is good for an outsider to understand the various sects of Amish because each sect does things a little bit different from the others. One can rarely make a blanket statement lumping all the Amish together. For example, “The Amish don’t allow their picture to be taken.” This is not true of all Amish sects so you can’t make a blanket statement about it. It would be more correct to say, “The Swartzentruber Amish and a few other sects of Amish frown upon having their pictures taken.” That would be a truer statement.
I will discuss more topics such as vaccinations, beard cutting and insurance in my next article. If you have anything you are wondering about, please let me know and I will see if I can get you an answer.
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]]>So much of the Amish lifestyle is about routine, structure and diligently following the rules of the church. In today’s world with everyone hustling off to appointments, games, after school activities a family can often feel like they have no structure and are losing each other. When I look back at my Amish heritage I have to say the structure and routine are what I really value so much. It has been a great foundation for my life and since Cameron and I have become a family it has helped us to build from that as well.
The family unit is important to the Amish. The family will sit down together at mealtime and bow to pray a blessing over their food before digging in. There is generally a routine with the whole meal, dinner is not served until all have arrived at the dinner table, the father at the head of the table, mother most often on one side of father and the children each have their designated spot to sit at. Father will usually start passing the food around after helping himself to whatever he is passing. Mother is usually the last one to be served. She wouldn’t have it any other way.
Many Amish families have a bit of dessert at the end of their meals. This is where leftover pie, pudding, cake and jello come in handy. If the family belongs to a sect of Amish that allows natural gas refrigerators they will have ice cream handy for those evenings when dessert is scarce and everyone wants a little something sweet to top off their meals.
Mother and daughter(s) spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Early in the morning mother arises and makes sure breakfast is served. Maybe her family wants eggs and some kind of breakfast meats. Possibly cereal is all the family wants with a nice slice of homemade cake to add to the cereal before being doused with cold milk fresh from the icebox or refrigerator, depending on which order of Amish you belong to.
The evening meal is often the biggest meal for a day laborer’s family. The mother/wife will have to start preparing dinner early in the afternoon, she will be making things like meatloaf and mashed potatoes, casseroles, roasts and stews, chicken and fried potatoes or noodles. The list is endless of what an Amish lady comes up with for her dinner table. In the summer she puts up rows and rows of canned goods, making sure she has plenty to work with in the winter months. A jar of homemade soup will be a dinner meal with grilled cheese sandwiches when mother has been away for the day and needs a quick dinner. (Amish women hire a taxi van to take them grocery shopping about every 6-8 weeks and a few ladies in the neighborhood will go together. They often hit places like Good Will and Aldies along with Walmart. They simply make a day of it and come home with bags and bags of groceries they then have to carry in their houses and pack away in their cabinets and pantries.)
Most Amish families use the dinner meal to talk about what went on in their day. It is a time of connecting with everyone. Sometimes there are funny stories to regale over or a serious happening to ponder about. The younger the child the more quiet they are, learning early on that they need to respect their elders when there is a conversation going on around them. Depending on the family is how much a younger child will get to talk while eating.
Guidelines are helpful for children growing up. It teaches them that the world doesn’t revolve around them but that they must be respectful of others. If you walk into a restaurant and an Amish family is in there eating you won’t hear much noise coming from the average Amish family’s children because they have been taught to be respectful while in public and especially at meal time. I’m sure there are exceptions from time to time, but for the most part Amish children are well behaved in public.
Meal prep and cleaning up the kitchen can be time consuming. I was told of a family back in the depression era who would only wash dishes once a day. They would each get a slice of bread and once they were finished eating they would take their bread and sop up anything left over on their plate and would “clean” their plates that way. A sheet was placed on top of the table so the flies couldn’t get to the plates and at the next meal the sheet was lifted and everyone sat down to eat off the same plate. This was a farm family and they were incredibly poor and had to work really hard. Saving time in this way was crucial for them while they were putting up their harvest for wintertime.
In today’s world the Amish ladies would not think that to be clean enough for them. Most Amish homes are company ready at the drop of a hat. The ladies are generally pretty meticulous about getting the dishes washed and put away after each meal and the kitchen/dining area gets swept after each meal. They like to keep things neat and tidy. This isn’t always possible when a family has a lot of small children, but as the children grow up the homes get neater and cleaner and are most often company ready at all times. They don’t mind if someone drops in on them for an impromptu visit. It is always a pleasure to get company.
Thinking about this habit of families sitting down to eat with each other seems to bring about so much good in a family dynamic: structure, security, counsel as they talk with each other as they eat, laughter, stability and so much more. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if more parents chose to raise their families this way, training them up so they know how to go when they become adults?
This father is taking out some time to play tag with his children in the front of their home.
Photo's provided by Lue Shetler from Amish Country
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I thought it might be interesting to write about the different types of businesses the Amish work for and own. Farming is still thriving in Amish Country, however, there are way too many people for everyone to own their own farm. In today’s world the Amish have become quite innovative in how they make a living. I’m going to make a list of some of the jobs and businesses Amish work for or own but I know my list will not be exhaustive.
Farmers have one of the most labor intensive jobs around. The work has gotten easier for the New and Old Order Amish in the past 20-30 years as they have adapted to more of the modern conveniences of the day. Many of them have solar power to run their milking parlors off of. It is an interesting sight to behold, the behind the scenes of what a solar power system looks like. It is expensive to invest in solar power but once they have it installed they are ready to go. The way they farm today is much different here in Ohio than how they used to. The Swartzentruber Order and probably a couple other sects of Amish still farm the age-old way. Milking by hand, using the old fashioned equipment in the fields, no help from tractors or any modern conveniences.
Work Crews usually have a two seater pickup truck so they have room to take their Amish employees with them. The pickup truck has a large work cap on back and oftentimes towing a trailer behind with equipment and/or material the crew needs for the job. The driver of the pickup truck is generally a young Amish boy who has not joined the church yet. He drives the truck because he has driver’s license and then works on the job with the rest of the crew. The types of jobs typical work crews do are the following:
Cleaning Homes and Offices
Amish women make a nice paycheck cleaning. Some of them will clean new construction and their paychecks are really, really nice. ;)
Blacksmith
Amish folk drive horse and buggies. Horses need shoes. It makes sense there would be a few blacksmiths in the mix.
Machine Shops/Welding/Motor Repair
Just because an Amish fellow doesn’t drive a car doesn’t mean that he doesn’t know about motors. You will find Amish men working as mechanics, welding, repairing motors, and working in machine shops.
Harness and Shoe Stores
Harness makers and selling shoes seems to be a nice compliment to each other. You will find businesses with both incorporated in the same business.
Office
Many of the Old and New Order girls are leaving their 8th grade education and getting their GED, then taking some typing classes and learning how to work with Microsoft Office and then gobbling up office positions in the area.
Factory
The types of factories Amish folks work in are many. If the company provides transportation they are more apt to get the Amish to work for them.
Artisans are unique with what they do. They are often incredibly talented and have found a way to make a living off of their talent. It doesn’t matter the sect of Amish nor the gender. If they have a talent or an interest you will likely find them working at something they love.
Produce Farming/Orchards
This has become a huge industry among the Amish, and all orders of Amish. Some specialize in vegetables while others devote their time and energy on ornamental gourds and pumpkins. Some Amish also have small apple orchards and a lot of their apples get made into cider. There are one or two cider presses they can take their apples to and get the apples processed. Others have their own press at home and they labor to make the best cider possible that way.
Teaching
There are many Amish schools dotting the countryside and each school holds about 25-45 children. The first eight grades are offered and German classes. On an average each school has two teachers. The teachers pick which four grades he or she will teach and they work with each other to get the work accomplished for the day. If a school is on the larger side they will also hire a teacher’s helper who might only work part time, coming in to help everyone stay caught up. Sometimes a school will have problems; meaning there might be disrespect for rules or bullying going on and so after some time the school board of that specific school might look for a man to come in and take over the school. This happened recently, the children were incredibly disrespectful and the teachers could no longer handle the students so the board found an Amish man who consented to come and see what he could do. From what I understand things have been alleviated and the disrespect has discontinued.
Honey Bee Farming
It seems like every other Amish person has a bee hive or two or three sitting around and they make their own honey and might have a little leftover to give away or even sell from time to time.
Butcher shops
There are a number of Amish butcher shops around these parts. You take your beef or hog to them and they will butcher it for you, cut it up and even package it for the freezer if you like.
Greenhouses
There are a number of larger greenhouses in the area and what seems like a multitude of small scale greenhouse dotting Amish Countryside.
Furniture and Finishing Shops
Furniture stores are big employers here in Ohio’s Amish Country. Furniture gets shipped all over the USA and Canada and they are always busy it seems. The finishing shops employ a lot of Amish young ladies. The young ladies I’ve talked to who work there like the hours. They like coming home at 3 in the afternoon and not having to work evenings and Saturdays.
Sewing
Ladies sew for the local Amish stores or for custom orders they might have.
Network Marketing
One young lady was on her company’s radar earlier this year. She is so high up in the ranks of her company that the company had to come up with an alternative “prize” for her when she won a Cadillac. The story I heard was the company shipped a horse from overseas (her father and brothers helped her pick out the horse) and they built her a carriage that is supposed to be quite impressive.
How did the young lady get to that point? By hard work, pushing through her obstacles and making her way to her local library a couple times a week to use the library’s computers to input her orders and to catch up with her company. What others might have seen as the obstacles too great to overcome and might never have thought of utilizing the library, this young lady was innovative and used all the tools she had to become successful.
There are other Amish in network marketing businesses as well. I was talking with a local blacksmith and he was telling me how his wife is with a company that is all about health care and she is on the phone much of the day helping and advising folks on which products to use from the company she is in. He told me she is about as high up as she can go in the company.
Restaurants and Bakeries
Holding jobs such as assistant manager and manager to dishwasher, line cooks, prep cooks, salad bar prep, hostessing, waitressing and baking. If you are a youngster, maybe 14 years of age you will be clearing off tables and washing dishes. As you get older you get more responsibility. Oftentimes older Amish ladies want something to do for one or two days a week and they take jobs such as prep cook, cutting up meat and vegetables and making dressing and peeling potatoes so they are ready for mashed potatoes.
Stores
Amish country holds a variety of stores. Some are Amish owned and others are not. Amish folks work at either and usually hold jobs as a stock person or a cashier. You might find them in middle management also, supervising a department depending on how big the store is.
One of the frustrations I’ve been picking up from employers is that they are having a difficult time getting Amish folks to come work for them. Depending on the type of job, the hours and the pay the Amish won’t touch them with a ten foot pole. A few short years ago businesses like restaurants had more than enough applications to pick through but in today’s world the Amish don’t like to work late, nor do they like to work on the weekends and they like better pay than what they were used to getting. The businesses who have late hours and require working on the weekend will not be as appetizing for the Amish folks to work at.
Recently, I spoke with a business owner who makes furniture and they are incredibly busy but they don’t have enough help. He is having to hire Swartzentruber Amish men to come work for him because the Old and New Order Amish don’t want to work for the wages he wants to pay them. The Swartzentruber Amish folks will still work for less money because their church kind of monitors their money intake and they aren’t really supposed to make a lot of money. That is another story, for another day, though.
Cauff.com has been partnering up with some of these Amish artisans and businesses and helping them sell their products via the internet. We are the bridge that helps out of town customers find Amish made products at good prices and it helps the Amish artisans move their product a little more quickly than usual.