The Amish people have some survival skills that are really good to know. The fact that they live off the grid will create questions in many people’s minds as to how they get certain things done. How do they preserve their food that need to be kept cold or frozen? Some Amish families do ice harvesting. They harvest ice during winter to preserve their food.

Most of the Amish people do not use electricity (from the grid), so they find ways and means to supplement for some of the things that electricity would help with. One such thing is refrigeration. Some of them do it the old fashioned way.

While many Amish use propane or natural gas-powered refrigerators to keep food cold, the more traditional Amish use what they call ‘ice houses’ or ‘ice boxes’. These are insulated container-like boxes which they use to stack the ice in and use it to keep their food cool. Ice houses were traditionally made of wood. Today, some of the ice houses are made from the body of old freezer trucks. Others are made from styrofoam structures that are up to two feet thick.

Harvesting Is Not An Easy Task

The Amish will go to a frozen body of water where they use circular gas saws to cut blocks out of the frozen water. To lift the blocks of ice they have to use ice tongs. Then load it on to the carts. The Amish have to be very careful when harvesting the ice. They cannot just go to a body of water as soon as winter is on and the snow starts falling. They have to watch carefully until a time when the atmosphere is really cold and the bodies of water (lake, pond etc) are really hardened. This will ensure that the quality of the ice is good enough to last for a long time and also ensure that the body of water is rock hard and not just surface hard.

Transporting Ice

To transport the ice without letting it melt from the wind and warmth of the air, they harvest the ice very early before daybreak and stack snow between the ice blocks and on the outer areas. Horses are used to transport the ice. The ice is usually stored in a building such as a barn. It is stored covered in sawdust for insulation. Pieces are taken from the pile to be used in the ice houses.

How Long Does The Ice Last

Surprisingly, when the ice is harvested in January, it can basically serve some homes straight through the Summer months and into mid October. And we know that by then Winter is right around the corner. But if you think that is where it all ends, think again. Some Amish reportedly store so much ice that it last them throughout the entire year and into a second year.

Before the invention of the refrigerator, ice houses used to be the common thing  in America. Some men would travel around the neighbourhoods with horses and carts, delivering blocks of ice to households to use in their ice houses.

Photos Via Lovena West

Just like everybody else, the Amish need money to get by. They live as frugal as possible and are clever and versatile when it comes to generating an income. Here are some clever ways that the Amish use to make money that you can make money from too.

Farming

Farming is one of the oldest skills in the world. Today it has become a profession that peeks the interests of millionaires and billionaires all around the world. Long before money came into existence, farm produce used to be bartered as a way of life.

The fact is that we cannot exist as human beings without food, and that is simply what farming provides.

Therefore as long as there is life existing on earth, farming is simply a must. And the Amish have been feeding their families and earning a living with farming over the decades.

The Amish people understand that farming is a very profitable business, so they capitalize on it.

Making Money From A Farm The Amish Way

Some ways in which the Amish make money from a farm include:

Bed and Breakfast: Picture staying in a beautiful cabin or cottage on a farm. Some Amish families provide this kind of experience and make money from it. It is such a treat for lots of people who love to get away from the hassle of the city at times. You could try out this if you have a farm. Or even just a spare room on your house.

Farmers Market: Have a shop or space to sell at the farmers market. You can buy and sell farm produce. Or plant your own and sell at the farmers market.

Dairy: Cattles are not just used for meat, the demand for milk, pizza and whipped topping is extremely high also. So raising cattle for their milk is another way to make money on a farm.

Fruits and vegetables: Who can live without fruits and veggies? Selling fruits and vegetables could be a good business for you. If you know how to play your cards with this one, you could create a really profitable business in a short time frame. Especially if you sell organic fruits and vegetables. One farmer (not Amish), reportedly spent $2500 setting up a small farm and said he made $6,250 from his first crop of hot peppers in the first harvest with just half of an acre of land.

Flower Farming: This is another good business idea from the Amish. Grow plants and flowers and sell them in different forms. They may be sold for events and many other purposes. Sell dried, potted or simply as fresh cut flowers.

Other Businesses That The Amish Do To Make Money

Restaurants: There is always the need of another restaurant. As long as it is in a good enough location and the food is great, it will do very well.

Furniture Making: The Amish are good with their hands. A lot of Amish men make and sell furniture. And their pieces are in high demand because of the good quality.

Construction: Construction companies make really good money. The Amish people do construction and it takes care of their families.

Quilting:  Make some money with your quilting skills just like the Amish. Someone will definitely buy your masterpiece. A lot of Amish women do quilting as a hobby, but some use it to generate an income too.

Selling Canned Food: Another smart skill to use and make money like the Amish is canning. In the spring and summer months fruits and vegetables are cheap and widely available. If you can them and prepare yourself well enough, you can make a huge profit in the winter months. In fact, you could make money from canned goods even when it is not winter. From jams and jellies to pickled vegetables you could make a lot or cash from canned food just like the Amish.

Basket Making: Basket making is a big part of Amish culture. They make really good baskets and are highly sought after. Try making some regular baskets that can be used in the home or even picnic baskets.

Baking: It is easy to understand why baking would be a money making business. An soon as your apple pie gets hot in the oven. Your neighbour smells it and gets an appetite for some apple pie. How cool is that? The Amish women do a lot of baking for their household. And some do make money from it too. You could turn very simple baked goods into a real business. Pizza breads, chocolate chip cookies, burger buns and so on, are simple delights that are in high demand almost everywhere.

If you do some things like the Amish, you could create your own source of income. The Amish folk show us that it is not that complicated to make money at all. You just have to be willing to try something simple. Most times, it is the simple things that really turn over a good profit.

The word hygge is from Danish origin. So how do we connect hygge with Amish? Well, hygge is not just a word. It is a concept and a way of life. It is pronounced ‘hue-guh’ and it refers to a quality of coziness and comfort that causes a feeling of contentment or well-being.

Amish culture is not derived from Danish culture. But Danes do embrace certain lifestyle practices that embodies the art of hygge. And it is quite easy to see that the Amish culture is filled with the art of hygge as well. The Amish are masters of making their lives hygge. Embracing hygge in your own life will give you happier and more fulfilling life.

Here is how to make your life hygge like the Amish.

Have Quality Time With Friends And Family

This is when you cause time to stop! Not literally… We cannot stop time, but we sure can make someone feel like they do not want the time between you and them to end. The time to bond and have “one-on-one” moments with a family member or friend. Whether sitting and talking, walking and talking on a nice cozy evening, lying down on the floor and steering at the ceiling, or lying down on the outside and staring up at the stars. You may refer to this as quality time. In times to come, we look back and call it the “good old days.”

Eat Nice Food

Eating healthy is encouraged. And also…. Ehem… eating like the Amish is also suggested.

Bake a treat and have fun sharing it with neighbors and friends. An example of this is the Amish Friendship Bread. You do not have to do the same thing they do, but create fun memories around eating and sharing nice food, so you will have treasured memories to keep.

Spend Time Away From Technology

Technology has its benefits, but we have to know how to put it in its place and not let it control everything that we do.  If we are not careful, it will consume us to the point of not having control of our very own lives. By spending some time away from technology we “put it in its place” so to speak. It is good to have a balance of having internet time and some time for unplugging.

Embrace a Slower Pace Of Life

Have you ever wondered why most people like to study the Amish so much? It is because they choose to live such a  simple life. And when we look closely at life, we will realize that life really is simple. It is what we make of it. They show how dynamic life can truly be by not doing or living as everyone else does. The result of what they do cause them to be better able to manage themselves than most who are not Amish.  The more we live fast paced, the more stress and worry we take on as the news networks and social media throw us the latest trends and tragedy for consumption. The more tragic things are it seems the easier to share. Do things more slowly. Take your time in your garden, make time for smelling the roses and do some walking when you can.

Send Snail Mail

A letter from a friend can make the heart grow fonder. As old fashioned as this may seem, it may do a whole lot more for someone special than an electronic mail. That hard copy with words from you in the hands of your loved one is worth more than you may be able to imagine. Send a snail mail and let them have some words from you to hold in their hands.

Set the right Ambience

You want them to say – all this? For me?

An you just answer with the brightest smile and say – oh yes.

By the way… You deserve to be in a beautiful place too.

Set the tone of your surroundings so that it matches with the feeling that you want others and yourself to have. That “good” feeling may seep into the hearts and souls of those around you. One major aspect of a story is the setting. Your life is your story. So create a beautiful setting for it. Decorate with plants, wreaths and the perfect lighting. Candles warm the heart. So be sure to stock up and some, and use essential oils to make your home smell wonderful.

Gather For Fun Times With Family and friends Regularly 

It is very important to gather with our loved ones. It helps you to get to know each other much more and create a stronger bond. So have parties and celebrations when possible and keep that stream of life flowing in your relationships.

Take Time With Yourself

Time with self to reflect, think and figure out life and it’s many challenges is really empowering and can make you feel happy. Have you ever wanted to find out the answer to something and the answer never came until you were somewhere by yourself reflecting? We all need to connect with our inner self. This fast pace world, consisting of social media, television, cellphones, our husbands, wives, children, pets, friends and family can sometimes take up so much of our time that we forget about ourselves. If we do not take control of this situation, soon enough we will become non effective and without purpose to the very same people we love so dearly. Take time to build that person within you and clear your mind of most of the clutter that the outside existing factors bring to us.

Take Up A meaningful Hobbie

Living simple like the Amish does not mean that it should be boring with you having nothing to do but chores at home. Lots of fun and pleasure can be found in gardening, quilting, baking and so on. Which ever lets your creative spirit come alive – do it with as much passion as you can muster. You will find so much more fulfillment out of life itself when you apply passion to the daily activities you undertake. Writing is also a wonderful hobby. It is a great way to express yourself.  It could be in the form of a journal, blog, creative writing or writing books. It may be the same pieces written today that become inspiration for you of your children tomorrow.

Embrace Activities that Makes You Feel Good About Yourself

These activities can include reading at a particular time of the day such as when the children are off to school, when the children are off to bed or just before they are up and out of bed in the mornings. Make a habit out of taking a walk around your neighbourhood in the mornings. Or even in the evenings when you soak up all the light and coziness coming from your neighbours windows.

The Danish are said to be the one of the happiest group of people in the world, as they do not expect too much from life. The Amish are the same. They do not make a practice of setting unnecessary goals and they enjoy the little things which are really the big things.

Let’s take a look into the Amish way of eating. It might not be the healthiest way of eating. But they do have a wonderful combination of comfort food, healthy food and even home grown food.

One important note is that the Amish believe that God wants them to work closely with nature and with that in mind they plant most of the food they eat and do not introduce much technology in their food preparation as they believe it will corrupt their way of life.

An Old Order Amish yard normally has a good size garden which is maintained by the family.

What They Grow

Sweet corn, celery, beets, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, peas, are just a few out of a wide variety of the vegetables the Amish plant.  Amish may have fruit trees or grapevines on their property as well.  Amish eat a lot of fresh foods in the growing and harvest months, and can large quantities of fruits and vegetables for the winter.

The Amish usually have livestock such chickens, cows and pigs, which they raise for eggs, milk and meats.

What They Eat

Dishes that the Amish love include:

Morning meals such as scrambled eggs and toasts, pancakes, country brunch casserole, cooked cereals, fruits and juices.

Snacking

Some Amish are big fans of Granola Bars, which they buy by the cases for both adults and children.

Lunch and dinner meals include:

Potato salad

Pasta dishes such as ‘Dump and Go Amish Casserole’

Old Standby Amish Macaroni Salad

Vegetable salads

Shepherd’s Pie

Chow-chow (a pickled relish made from a variety of vegetables)

Amish Church Soup- just a simple dish with half dozen ingredients that is so handy when you are on a budget.

Bread – their delicious handmade breads are normally served on the side.

Desserts that the Amish love include: Amish Apple Fry Pies, Old Fashioned Funeral Pie, Amish Peach Upside Down Cake, Classic Amish Buttermilk Pie and traditional Amish Oatmeal Pie.

Baking is a common occupation for Amish women. The most common desserts among the Amish are Fry Pies, Whoopie Pies, and Friendship Bread.

Canning

Canning is a yearly tradition for the Amish. They do their canning when fruits and vegetables are available in large quantities. They can fruits in the form of jams and jellies, and vegetables in the form of pickles.  They are also known to make their own peanut butter – which is said to be a bit sweeter and runnier than normal peanut butters.

Food For Celebration

The Amish do not use a lot of gifts and decorations for celebrating holidays and special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. They use food as their special for their families. Amish families love to gather and have meals together. Other members of the community may also gather and share in the yummy occasion.

Amish eat a special meal after church service on Sunday. The foods served at these gatherings are pretty basic. They typically consist of bread and cheese sandwiches, cold cuts, sliced pickle, pretzels, a special peanut butter spread sweetened with molasses, coffee, tea, and cookies. Sometime cheese, bologna, and pickled red beets will be served as well.

The Amish diet isn’t exactly one that will help with losing weight. But it will sure keep you licking your fingers and satisfy your family and even your guests when entertaining.