Later, in an Amish-owned store in another settlement, I viewed an array of technologies designed to harness the wind and sun. Amish, at least in some places, are taking up these technologies designed to latch onto the forces of nature.
A recent article looks at the first Amish household to adopt solar power in the community at Lyndonville, New York (Orleans County). Jonas Miller may be setting a trend for his community, where the church has officially sanctioned the technology. High diesel prices have driven the change to solar, which will be used “to power the lights, cash register and other electrical needs for his general store” in his community of two dozen families.
Not all Amish are agreed on solar, as the article notes. On the one hand solar and wind seem like they’d fit the Amish (or at least the popular perception), being “pure” power sources derived directly from God’s natural abundance.
On the other, the appearance of solar technology just seems a little on the high-tech side. Sleek solar panels still look starkly futuristic and out-of-place attached to 19th-century Amish barns. Perhaps this is why some Amish groups balk at the idea of solar. Also, if a technology is adopted by a higher (less traditional) Amish group, that in and of itself can be enough to make lower groups resist signing on to it.
Do you use any solar technology? The only piece I own, besides an old calculator somewhere, is a little yard lamp, the kind popular among Amish, purchased in an Ohio Amish store. Amish are ahead of the curve here (or at least ahead of my curve).
It will be interesting to see to what degree Amish incorporate solar and wind technology. Maybe one day we’ll observe Amish buggies rolling down the road, plastered with solar panels, or with whirling wind turbines planted on their roofs. Or maybe not.
On its own, that’s a dramatic statement. There is some context, of course. First of all, who said it? This was Chet Lapp, a 37-year-old Amishman from Lancaster County. Lapp also happens to be a real estate agent in the community. From the WITF story by Rachel McDevitt: Chet Lapp, an Amish realtor, argues more of his fellow Amish should leave Lancaster County for the purpose…
Another feel-good story for your Friday – at least “part one” of the story. An Amish man named Nelson Troyer is spearheading an effort to move the garage of a non-Amish neighbor. Mike Kinsey lost his home in flooding on the Yellowstone River in 2022. The move is happening tomorrow and Troyer is looking to have 150+ people to get the job done. Amish moving…
Holmes County locals had a really nice idea a few years ago – to convert an old train bed into a multi-purpose pedestrian and horse trail. The Holmes County Trail was the result. The paved part actually stretches from Wayne County – Fredericksburg -around ten miles down to Millersburg, the Holmes County seat. It continues on in both directions unpaved. Motorized vehicular traffic is banned….
‘Sylvan’, one of my Amish friends in Lancaster County, runs a scooter workshop in addition to milking cows. In Lancaster County and related settlements, you rarely see bicycles–in Lancaster, for instance, there are only a few church districts I’m aware of that seem to allow them. I’ve also seen scooters in use among the Amish of Allen County, Indiana, and I’d imagine they’d be found…
Did you know that Amish have light switches in their homes? Neither did I. Well, I should say some Amish do have switches that don’t turn anything on. For instance, when they buy a home that was previously English-owned, then tear out the electricity, as they’d be expected to do. The wall switches remain. Not those. I mean a light switch that actually brings light…
I’ve got another singing video for you today – this one is titled “Amish Grandchildren singing for their Grandpa’s Funeral.” I share it for two reasons. One – it’s another nice example of singing I hope you’ll enjoy. Two – a comment attached to the video caught my eye (more below 🙂 ). First, the video. We are in a large open space, but I’m…
I have a couple of outdoor lights, that is about it. But on an interesting note, while I was camping in Bellefonte, PA this past summer I noticed several of the Amish farms did have small solar panels placed around their property kind of out of the way. They did not have the rather large panels you typically see on roof tops.
I am hoping within a year or two to add solar panels here if finances allow. Time will tell. This is also a good area for windmills as the wind is usually blowing in off the prairie. I am all for going more natural with my energy source even if it is considered “high tech”.
Interesting observation Alice, I think Amish aesthetics will push these to less obtrusive locations when possible given sun angles and so forth. Solar panels are kind of ugly (even if you’re not Amish 🙂 which I don’t think gets talked about too much. However that is just one factor in the decision to use them.
The Amish in both Bloomfield and Kalona Iowa have been experimenting with mounting an air compressor on a tower with airplane style blades to generate their air needs. They store the air in large tanks that often are in the 1,000 gallon range. This is one of the most efficient way to run their air motors in their shops and homes. The biggest draw back is the need for frequent maintenance as their is incredible pressure placed on the compressor turning at such a high rate of speed. It is my understanding that this idea originated in one of the Amish communities in IN
Very interesting Lowell, thanks for this info. Your post also reminded me of the gigantic wind turbines in Van Wert County, Western Ohio near the Indiana border. Not the same thing as what you are talking about, but wind power tech on a much larger scale.
When I was a full time RVer several years ago, they were a hot item on Travel Trailers for people who wanted to stay in places where there were no power hook-ups. I never had that installed on my trailer because the prices were high then-they were just coming out. Now the Amish have it. It sure has come a long way.Marilyn
We’ve noticed quite a few schools down in the Shipshewana Indiana area that have solar panels on the roof’s. We commented on this exact thing a few weeks ago when we visited the area.
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