For those not as familiar with the Amish culture, the Amish choose to live without many of the modern conveniences that we take for granted. Electricity is one of these conveniences and automobiles are another.

photo credit: saikofish

When you pass through an Amish community you will see windows with no curtains and black Amish buggies in the farmyards. The Amish refer to us as “the English”

Growing up around many Amish communities I have become accustomed to many of their customs and beliefs. Here are a few traditions:

1.  Sunday is a day for church and family. The day begins very early and lasts until dusk. There will be no business conducted on Sunday.

2.  Amish usually dress in black or dark blue colors. Many areas are using brighter colors but in my more traditional area black and blue are still the primary colors. They also have no buttons on their clothing.

3.  Amish children can sample some of the English ways when they are young but must choose whether to follow the Amish tradition at a certain age and forgo any modern convenience. If the choose the English ways they no longer belong to the Amish community.

4.  Most Amish do not allow their photographs to be taken. They feel it captures their soul. It is ok to photograph their homes or buggies – just not their faces.

There are many more traditions in the nearby Amish communities in Chautauqua County, Cattaraugus County and Warren County. The best way to learn more about them is to shop in their local stores or take a trip to a local Amish community. It is like stepping back in time.

photo credit: cindy47452

Cherry Creek Amish Community

The largest Amish community in Chautauqua County is located near Cherry Creek NY.  Several Amish families settled just outside of Cherry Creek in 1949 and set up a community where they use no modern conveniences.

The Amish are known for their skilled craftsmanship.  Many Amish make a living by making and selling furniture, quilts, and other handmade items from shops beside their homes. Recently Amish sheds, barns and garages have also been added to the skills they provide to the surrounding “English” communities.

The Amish are continuing to harvest Hickory off of our land for creating Amish rustic furniture. They will probably be here for another two weeks. They show up when it fits in their schedule and usually let me know before hand when they will return again.

So far I have picked up a few new recipes, learned more about the Amish traditions and found a great place to purchase my plants for gardening next year.

If you would like to find out more about Amish tradition in Chautauqua, Carol Lorec, Foxe Farmhouse Bed & Barn offers an Amish Flair Tour.

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The Amish have been on and off my property for the last few weeks harvesting Hickory branches for making rustic furniture. It’s been close to 15 years that they have harvested hickory off the land.

It’s not a yearly process and they only select small branches off trees or cut a smaller tree up about 3 to 4 foot high. The tree that has been trimmed will continue to grow and will either grow into a large mature hickory or be harvested for smaller branches again in three to four years.

Hickory is chosen for its strength, ability to bend and for its ease to work with. Many varieties of wood will work but they either do not hold up over time or crack when being nailed or after they have dried.

In past years the Amish have harvested hickory in February or March. They select small branches and twigs for Amish rocking chairs. My hill where they cut is steep so it’s fascinating to watch them scale the hill. Later they bring a sleigh (over one hundred years old) to take the hickory bundles off the hill.

This year, for the first time, the Amish are harvesting in the fall. This is because they are using larger branches. The branches are four to six inches in diameter and will be used for dressers, and bed headboards. They have also cut smaller branches to bend for décor and other parts of furniture.

My yard is now full of hickory that has been sorted by size. The larger branches are propped against trees and the smaller branches and twigs are in piles. Some of the larger branches have been bundled.

In about a week the Hickory will be loaded onto a one hundred year old wagon and carried home by a team of draft horses to our local community in Lander, Pa.

Eli, the elder Amish, told me the smaller branches will be steamed in preparation for making furniture and the larger branches, used for the furniture frames, can be used immediately without further preparation.

I always enjoy the time the Amish spend on the property. I usually end up with an Amish recipe or a story of their traditions.

Chautauqua County has three larger communities of Amish. Tours are offered through several travel agencies or local businesses of the Amish landscape and businesses.  Neighboring Warren County, Pennsylvania also has an Amish community.

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