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.