Green Options » amish

Amish Increasingly Accepting of Solar Power, But Still Shun iPods

Levi Novey — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:15:45 +0000

Known for a living in a culture that typically disapproves of modern technology, some members of Amish communities are now bucking their traditional ways by increasingly turning to solar power to meet their energy needs.

Philly.com highlighted this transition among the Amish in an interesting article that was published on their website this weekend. What is most surprising to me is that the Amish have fewer doubts about using solar power for purposes that relate to work, than they do for use inside their homes.

Are The Amish Extreme Green Quilters?

Skye Kilaen — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:17:57 +0000

Several years ago, I was working on a baby quilt from a book of designs inspired by Amish quilts. The pattern I was using included an applique border which I was going to skip because my hand stitches look awful. I was intrigued by a note that the author had included, though, about how traditional Amish quilts rarely include applique. The technique of applique was believed to be wasteful of fabric.

It turns out that wise use of resources is a hallmark of Amish quilts even beyond avoidance of applique. The Quilter’s Ultimate Visual Guide has this to say about Amish quilts:

Most quilts contain bits of fabric left over after dresses and shirts have been made for the family [...] Mitered borders are rarely used, since they require more fabric. In keeping true to their faith, the quilts the Amish make are simple in design and fulfill a utilitarian need of providing warmth.

Amish Embrace Solar Power

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 19:25:02 +0000

Tractors… no. Buttons…. no. Solar panels… oh, yeah. “In Holmes County, Ohio, home to the world’s largest Amish community, an estimated 80% of Amish families now have photovoltaic panels.”

Image: New Scientist Environmental Blog

(via peacefulbean at Stumbleupon)

Amish In Ohio Turned On To Solar Power

Michael dEstries — Sun, 13 May 2007 00:56:45 +0000

Here in central NY, we have a fair amount of Amish who have taken to living life in a more simple fashion. Horse-drawn buggies, hand sewn clothing, no telephones, etc. It's actually refreshing to see a mode of transportation that relies on true horsepower.

Their avoidance of technology does not mean they see such things as "evil". Indeed, the Amish view modern advances such as electricity or automobiles as items that depend on the outside world, and therefore get in the way of their intended separation from that existence. For decades, they have relied on kerosene or natural gas as a source of light. The rise of solar power over the past several years, however, has created a safe alternative that keeps in tradition with their independence. In Ohio, in particular, there is a great increase in solar arrays on the roofs of the Amish — something that's been drawing perplexed reactions from local residents not used to seeing such advanced technology. From the article,

"Squaring solar panels with the Amish tradition of forgoing the fancy is easy for Jake Raber, co-owner of The Lighthouse of Ohio Distribution in Fredericksburg. 'I am a Christian and I am Amish. But being Amish is not a religion. It’s a way of life,' Raber said. 'Being Amish means being independent.'

Raber and his wife, Betty, ordered $50,000 worth of solar panels last year from suppliers in Michigan and Japan and sold them all. Many of his customers are Amish families who don’t require the amounts of electricity their non-Amish neighbors use."

The Amish approach to life is something I very much admire. Environmentalists always talk about simplifying. Here we have people who most likely have the smallest footprint of any in North America. If peak oil hits, they won't blink an eye. Meanwhile, the rest of America will be struggling to survive.

Still think they're a "backwards" society? Sounds more like "forward" thinking to me….

Hit the jump for more.