Reading an article about measles in NY state, it mentioned that many Amish people had moved to NY from Ohio and Pennsylvania. I was wondering, since they live by farming and self-sufficiency, how do they afford using money to buy new land? If their population is increasing they can’t be bartering or trading land within their community. So how do they branch out?
Many Amish work outside of farming, so they would be earning money in addition to income from farming. It’s also likely that families pool funds for this type of purchase, and maybe even beyond just family.
Many Amish are farmers, but this doesn’t mean they run a subsistence economy. They will sell farming products to non-Amish for money. Their lifestyle does not require them to live in isolation from non-Amish society or to shun the use of money.
The Amish are known for their furniture business.
Yeah, you can farm for profit. My aunt was once at the tax office and the Mennonite farmer next to her was paying more money in taxes on hay he had grown and sold than the income she was there to pay taxes for.
And some Amish are craftspeople: blacksmithing, carpentry/furniture-making (as @Moriarty notes), etc. Our dining room set (dining table, chairs, and breakfront) was made by Amish craftsmen in Indiana.
Lol. The Amish where I live are some of the richest folk around. They just don’t flaunt it.
I’ve got a few pieces of Amish-built oak furniture (through a middleman furniture seller). They were not cheap.
No spinners on the buggies…
Indeed, I was at an agricultural trade show once when a group of Amish (maybe they were Mennonite) farmers showed up. Other farmers followed them around because whatever the Amish farmers were interested in, they wanted to see as well.
It’s well-known around here that the Amish will lend money to one another when needed.
We bought our custom pre-built garage from an Amish company. While we were waiting to talk to the man in charge, we visited with an elderly gentleman who, as he was happy to tell us, was the founder of the company. He was proud of the fact that the organization had never had a bank loan. When I asked him how he got the capital to start the company, he told us that ‘it was a community effort.’
Another common thing that the Amish do is have places called things like “Dutch Country Farmers Market”. One is quite close to me. It’s one place in a small open mall. I often go there. They do a lot of food items. They’re only open Thursday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday 8:30 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. They have been running for many years now.
They engage in jobs and commerce. Amish and Mennonite communities make and sell stuff.
They live very frugally.
… and low single digit hp numbers …
Very low electric and phone bills.
Who says they don’t inherit land decide to move somewhere cheaper.
Sell and do it.
They have to be a great credit risk. I think
Years ago, when my parents were planning a kitchen remodel, one of the options was Amish-made custom cabinetry. As you said, very much not cheap, but the samples were very well-built. We didn’t go for that option, though. And I’ve seen websites offering Amish furniture. I like the idea, partly because it’s domestically produced and partly because I like good craftsmanship.
They would be, if ever they felt a need to take out a loan.
They’re well known for paying cash up front regardless of what is being paid for. Like… paying for an organ transplant in full, in cash.
They have all sorts of strategies - inheritance, taking over a farm from an elderly couple whose children are already established. buying farmland, starting communities elsewhere, going into a line of work other than farming…
This is also how most of them pay their medical bills, because few of them have insurance.