I live right in the middle of one of the largest populations of Amish, and not city slicker Amish either. The Amish here are mostly farmers with a few operating businesses like small grocery stores, sawmills, bakeries even one of the largest produce auction houses in the Midwest.

While I have no intentions of giving up my electricity or internet I find the Amish very fascinating. They are living Jefferson’s dream of every citizen being a small independent farmer, and with very little technological advancement from Jefferson’s era. Amish in Missouri rarely work outside their community and the majority are self employed agricultural entrepreneurs. It is much easier to work with Amish as they are familiar with hard work and are usually open to earning some extra money. Although they will often be leery of someone who isn’t of their faith they do rely on business with the general population.

The average Amish family in my area is composed of an extended family on a small farm. They always have a large garden and almost every family has several milk cows as well as every other small farm livestock. While not Organic farmers they are more so than the average commercial farm. I farm 60 years behind the average American farmer, the Amish farm 60 years behind me with a few exceptions on technology. All Amish in this area are off grid, and most of their stores are also off grid as well. The Amish rely on real horsepower and Diesel engine power units for running the stationary belt driven threshers and sawmills.

I chose my location because of the many advantages like the rural nature (low pop), good growing season, cheaper good farm land and a good state. The Amish are an additional plus as I can get raw milk for $2.25 a gallon, small watermelons for $1, my cattle butchered for $0.25 a lb packaged weight, my logs sawed for $.15 a board foot and many more advantages. A good percentage of our food comes from the local Amish, and I see my local area having a much better chance of making it through any problems.

I think the Amish provide good stability for the area and are a great source for building materials and food. When you go through Amish country almost every farm has signs at their mailbox of what they have for sale, which of course changes with the season. They don’t sell in the cities directly very often (It is often a good trip under horsepower). Most of the Amish stores are in the country on gravel roads, with the exception of a few touristy type stores.

I think many people who dream of a homesteader lifestyle could learn a lot from the Amish. While not completely isolated from the outside world the Amish are very independent. They have private schools under their control, freedom from many of the more onerous taxes like land and social security. They instead provide for their retirement, insurance and schooling through the community. I am jealous of those freedoms and sense of community.

Amish also have a very strong entrepreneurial spirit. The average Amish family in Missouri runs their own business and they are not raised and trained to go into employment for someone else. That is something the average American has unfortunately lost.