Routines In Amish Life…
As the Summer season unfolds across the Heartland, the Amish community embraces the longer days with a steadfast commitment to their daily routines.
In the spirit of sharing and connection, this newsletter offers a window into the Amish household's weekly rhythms. From the diligent care of their homes and lands to the communal efforts that underscore their deep sense of togetherness, each task is filled with purpose and intention.
The week commences with the diligent undertaking of laundry on Mondays. The Amish use traditional Maytag wringer washers to wash their clothes. The process often involves water heating on cookstoves or in large outdoor kettles, a practice that harkens back to simpler times.
Come Saturday, the air is filled with the aroma of baked goods as ovens yield an assortment of bread, cakes, cookies, and seasonal fruit pies. This baking day is a cherished ritual, providing sustenance and a touch of sweetness to the Amish households.
Throughout the week, both men and women mow and garden, ensuring their connection to the land remains strong. Tuesdays are often reserved for gardening tasks, which include hoeing, weeding, and tilling.
The upkeep of the home is not forgotten, with Saturdays designated for housecleaning and mopping—a tradition known as "Saturday Work." This day of cleansing prepares the home for the week ahead.
Some families may clean barn gutters and horse stalls weekly in animal care, providing fresh animal bedding. This care extends to their equipment, with farm tools and machinery maintained on a seasonal basis to ensure their longevity.
Thursdays hold a special place in the Amish calendar. They are often reserved for community service or assisting neighbors in preparing for church services. This day exemplifies their commitment to service and the collective well-being of their community.
Food preparation is a daily affair, with cooking and baking woven into their weekly schedule. Clothes-making and mending also find their place, with laundry day serving as a time for mending and the winter months reserved for sewing new garments.
Children are entrusted with responsibilities that foster a sense of duty and belonging. They assist with gardening, cleaning, and daily farm chores, such as feeding chickens and rabbits learning the value of hard work from a young age.
Chores like shoeing horses, carrying wood, and ironing are unique to each family or community. While specific, they are shared with a spirit of joy and togetherness.
The families dedicated to weaving the beautiful baskets featured on AmishBaskets.com have been busy this week.
The Mast Family
Blessed with a bountiful harvest, the Mast family is savoring the sweetness of ripened raspberries. Despite the challenges posed by the season's early heavy rains (which nearly claimed their radish crop) they are enjoying the bounty of lettuce and fresh peas gracing their table this week. The family has dedicated extra time to reclaim their garden from the extremely eager weeds that would like to take over.
The Yoder Family
The Yoder family joined hearts and hands with a neighboring community on Thursday evening by attending a benefit supper. Hosted at the local community center, the event drew a generous crowd. All gathered to support the Freeman family, whose baby Karen faced a battle with RSV earlier in the year and was hospitalized. The evening was filled with warmth and fellowship, featuring games of cornhole and ended with the harmonious blend of voices in song.
The Gingerich Family
The Gingerich homestead is reveling in the practical beauty of a fresh layer of gravel on their driveway. A local non-Amish contractor, with his trusty skid loader, skillfully spread the gravel, enhancing the path to their home and fortifying the routes connecting their shop and barn. In a delightful twist, the delivery truck's departure left behind tire treads that whimsically mirrored the shape of a double heart in the gravel—a charming reminder of the day's work.
"What lies behind us or before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
— Amish Wisdom
