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[deleted] t1_j79jghc wrote

Reply to comment by mattd1972 in I’ll never get tired of seeing a horse & buggy at the grocery stores in Amish country. by TyeDyeAmish

I’m surprised shopping at Walmart is allowed in their religion.

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googlebearbanana t1_j7ap3nd wrote

They ride city buses, shop at stores, and eat at restaurants now.

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Marqueso-burrito t1_j7c4uww wrote

I think you’re thinking of mennonites

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googlebearbanana t1_j7cdpho wrote

No I'm thinking of the Amish. I see them all the time in grocery stores, dollar stores, and fast food places.

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davyncarulli t1_j7cecn4 wrote

I've only known 1 Mennonite family, but also a whole lotta amish. The Mennonite family actually drove their own cars and didn't really live on a farm, they did have a huge garden though. Amish usually always live on a farm, and pay the English for rides or use the horse and buggy.

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AsBadAsAWetShit t1_j7d1dis wrote

I’m not trying to argue, as I’m sure you’re closer to the plain folk than I am, but is it a fact that Amish “usually always live on a farm”, or do we just associate them with farming work? Land for farming, even in PA, can be very expensive. I doubt these communities are full of wealthy people waiting to bestow farming money to their 13 children when they all reach adulthood. There are a ton of Amish carpenters, craftsmen, and various other occupations. I’d say it’s actually quite more likely the majority of the Amish are not farmers. I’m little just talking out of my ass while eating ice cream, so I’m probably wrong.

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Similar-Roll5056 t1_j7d2qug wrote

The majority of amish in lancaster county are farmers. They are self sufficient and have knowledge of many different skills. The farms have been handed down for generations. Both amish and mennonites are ridiculously wealthy but are obviously very modest.

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Hazel1928 t1_j7g5n3n wrote

But if you have 6-8 children, and 85% stay Amish, you can’t hand down the farm to all of them. I live in Chester County, which adjoins Lancaster County. There are still plenty of farmers, but there isn’t enough land to keep up with the growing Amish population. So I don’t think a majority are farmers. Therefore of them have businesses doing carpentry, building and selling furniture, operating stalls at markets (where they sell fruits and vegetables, baked goods, wooden handicrafts, fabric handicrafts, homemade candy, fresh squeezed lemonade, soft pretzels, and more). We had an Amish guy install hardwood floors and he referred us to another Amish guy that built our kitchen cabinets. Everything was done to perfection, and we really enjoy it.

And in Lancaster County, there are many tourists, so the Amish provide services to the tourists: buggy rides, stores with Amish baked goods and handicrafts, tours of Amish farms.

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SgtBaxter t1_j7b0kv5 wrote

They have a huge market in Timonium, MD and make the best hot wings I've ever had.

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FightTomorrow t1_j7btyop wrote

I don’t know about huge — it’s a lot smaller than other ones around southern Pa. But yea great food, just always so damn crowded and squished in there.

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DirtWizardDisciples t1_j7bhxv3 wrote

I recently watched the Mental Floss episode on Misconceptions about the Amish (YouTube) and it was pretty enlightening. It seems like if something may not be the Amish way but if it's a tool/resource that supports the Amish way, community elders/leaders may support its use in a proper capacity

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Hazel1928 t1_j7byarr wrote

There is a horse shed at the Walmart in Parkesburg. I see lots of Amish shopping there. Teenagers, presumably in rumspringa, dressed in Amish clothing, but buying video games. And other ages too. I feel a little disillusioned when I see Doritos and cookies in their carts, I thought they made everything from scratch. But I am definitely fascinated with them and admire many things about them. The Amish population in the US is growing very fast. They have an average of 6-8 children and 85% stay Amish. So they have started new settlements in some rural areas in the US and even in South America. I hope they can keep their culture and not lose it due to fast growth.

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tansugaqueen t1_j7c3dsb wrote

yeah I seeit too, some even ha e cellphones, I have been told the amish “menionites” (sp?) have adapted to more worldly things than traditional Amish

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