Living Off The Grid

It’s our nature to fill the voids of our ignorance with our own assumptions. That's exactly what I had done with my beliefs about the Amish community. I knew that they typically didn't use electricity, and from that I drew a conclusion that they must have a moral objection to it based on their religious beliefs. As a former electrician, and current technology enthusiast, I didn't have an immediate interest when my girlfriend suggested that we travel to Ohio to visit some of the Amish towns and villages there. That would be like the antithesis of everything I find exciting, I thought to myself. I would be bored, and they would disapprove of my lifestyle and occupation if they knew about it. These were the thoughts that ran through my uninformed mind.

When we made the trip I discovered that my apprehension, and many of my assumptions, were unfounded. Instead of being bored I was fascinated by people and a lifestyle that was simple, but fulfilling, and without many of the annoyances and complexities that drive the rest of us crazy.

One of our destinations was a hardware store and historical museum named Lehman's. In addition to serving as a marketplace for goods and products it's also a great place to learn about the area's past, and the Amish communities and lifestyles there. When I decided to write about this I contacted them from a brochure I saved, and was able to ask some questions from Glenda Lehman-Ervin - an operating member of this family owned business.

Q. How long have you been involved with the Amish community?

53 years! My father, Jay Lehman, started Lehman's in 1955 to serve the local Amish community with the non-electric products they need to maintain their lifestyle. Today, in a twist of irony, we have some Amish customers, but more importantly Amish vendors. So Dad is still helping them preserve their way of life by providing an outlet for their hand-crafted products. This means that not only can they work from home, which preserves their farm lifestyle, but they teach their skills to the next generation. By buying large amounts of hickory rockers, custom wrought iron pieces, and hand weaved baskets, for example, we provide an income for our Amish neighbors.

Q. What do you enjoy most about this involvement?

Everything -- they are delightful, hardworking craftspeople, with a wonderful work ethic. They keep us in touch with our roots by reminding us of the importance of family and the beauty of simplicity. They like to eat every meal "with their feet under their own table," which means at home with their loved ones, and they live in a much less complicated, disposable world. They also don't have the capitalist/materialistic mentality that many of us do (more is better!) and they don't compete with each other. Sameness is valued so there is a lack of envy and jealousy. They are still creating hand weaved baskets, hickory rockers, wood toys and custom wrought iron -- items that are hard to find being made in the United States today.

Q. I had previously believed that the use of electrical energy, of any kind, was against Amish religious beliefs. I've since learned that this isn't necessarily true. Can you explain why many people may have this misconception, and what the Amish view of electricity really is?

They call it the invisible barrier -- they believe they are called to be IN the world, but not OF the world. They are also under the constraints of a local Bishop, unlike most organized religions. We sell some wonderful books and a DVD (The Amish, How They Survive) that explains this well.

Q. So how would they be affected, or unaffected, by a blackout or power outage?

When there is a power outage in our area, like the Great Blackout of August 2003, for example, many of the Amish aren't even aware of it. Their daily existence is not changed much by the electric grid. Although, if an Amish person works in an English business, such as a restaurant, they would be affected as would their co-workers. And if there were a long-term power outage (a week for example) they would notice the effects because they often shop at local grocery stores.

Q. What are some of the various ways that Amish communities have learned to enjoy a quality lifestyle without being connected to outside power lines?

Family and home is the most important thing to an Amish person. They are not caught up in the materialistic, capitalist mentality that the English (which is what they call us) are. Again, that DVD explains this in detail.

Q. What are your most popular products that help them have convenience in living this lifestyle?

We have everything you need for heat, food, light and water with no electricity. Wood cook stoves, hand tools, oil lamps, water pumps, gas refrigerators, hand cranked grinders and juicers, canning equipment, wheelbarrows and much more.

Q. During your interaction with Amish communities do they ever express a wonder or desire to enjoy more modern things like television, computers, or the Internet?

I would say no, but you'd have to ask them! It is very foreign to them and they know their families wouldn't approve. Plus they aren't used to it. If you didn't have a swimming pool and sauna inside your house, but knew someone that did, would you miss it? :)

Q. What are some things that technophiles, like myself, could learn from these communities that might benefit the quality of our own lifestyles?

The simplicity and the beauty of a rural life. If you have a regular lawn mower that won't start, you have to wonder about gas, or oil, or some other mechanical problem that you might not know how to fix. If you have a push mower, and it isn't working, you aren't walking!

You can visit Lehman's website @ http://www.lehmans.com/

P.H.