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There is no fixed set of Amish rules. The elders of each community decide what the rules are for that community. The general principle is to avoid entangling themselves with government - to be off the grid and self-reliant.

Many communities in Lancaster County, PA use electricity, but it is generated from solar power and stored in banks of batteries - and they have rules about what they can use the electricity for - mostly for tools and work, but not for creature comforts. A guy my dad did some business with had a computer and a printer to write up contracts and invoices - but the rule was that it had to be in the barn and not in the house. They hired a guy to drive them to the job site each day. The guy slept and read in the van all day then drove them home.

I must admit that it's funny to see an Amish lady in her black dress and bonnet running a John Deere gas powered weed eater along the driveway with a buggy parked in it.

The Amish faith is very legalistic - lists of specific rules of do's and don'ts. Rules that are not necessarily all in the Bible, but the premise is that the rules stem from the principles in the Bible and the elders of the community interpret them to apply to their 'modern' society (as opposed to Biblical times). The Amish do not believe in Eternal Security; they believe it is presumptuous to assert that one can know the mind of God.

Having lived not far from Amish in Pa the ones I knew only used electricity from batteries and not for creature comfort. They would buy a modern saw and remove the motor and run a belt from the arbor shaft to a power shaft that was powered by wind, water, animal or hand depending on where they lived and what was available. The power shaft has a clutch to allow them to hook up belts and turn machines on and off.

What I remember most was how clean their barns were and how good the food they raised/made was. An Amish ham is to die for. And their bacon is like none other.

I intend to plan a trip up to Hartville one of these days. I have a buddy that stops there very often and he is always raving about how great it is.

I'm told the resturant, flea market and produce stand is worth the trip even if you aren't into woodworking. I figure there is enough there to keep the wife busy while I finger and play with all the tools.

Another huge flea market is near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border in Rogers, Ohio. The flea market is open Fridays and you likely can't get through there in a day.

I used to live in Youngstown Oh and we would go to Heartville Kitchen every few months, wonderful food. The flea market is massive. The entire community is unique. I always enjoyed just walking around down town too.
I used to work about 5 minutes from Rogers sale and it is massive as well and we used to go for a "carnival lunch". You can find lots of tools of all qualities. Its fun just to walk around. It is in the middle of nowhere.

I was talking to some locals in Hartville and said there was some kind of tool place "On the square" Anyone know what they were talking about? I ran out of time that day to go and check it out.

cincinnati wrote:I was talking to some locals in Hartville and said there was some kind of tool place "On the square" Anyone know what they were talking about? I ran out of time that day to go and check it out.

it is right on the square. the old tessemers hardware store. i personally don't waste my time there as i found no deals. the guy has a few used ieces and tries to resell harbor freight stuff at much higher prices. just mt .02

bettyt44720 wrote:it is right on the square. the old tessemers hardware store. i personally don't waste my time there as i found no deals. the guy has a few used ieces and tries to resell harbor freight stuff at much higher prices. just mt .02

Thanks! Now I don't feel bad missing it.

I'm going there tomorrow! I haven't been yet. My eye doctor is right down the road from there so I'll be stopping in to check it out after my appointment.

Wow! A hardware store that resembles a Bass Pro Shop or Cabelas. Probably a good thing it is not within driving distance for me to check out.