Amish “Stuff”
May 24th, 2009
Dawn asked what kind of ’stuff’ we can get in an Amish store. This post has pictures of what they had last Fall when we found them for the first time. I get all confused about who owns what but I think there are two guys who are married to sisters. One man owns the vegetable market and his wife’s sister has more of a general store down the road. I’ve only been to the general store a couple fo times but go to the vegetable market more often. The vegetable market has all kinds of vegetables in season. They have huge greenhouses, which they heat with wood, and that’s why they have tomatoes already. They also have fresh eggs and in a few weeks, we will be able to place an order for fresh chickens (read to cook type chickens) and go back the next week to pick them up.
They have all kinds of baked good – bread, pie, cookies. They sometimes sell plants . . they had lots of nice size tomato and strawberry plants yesterday. Lots of jellies, jams, honey. One of their sons has bees and they sell his honey.
In the fall last year, they were making sorghum syrup. We watched part of the cooking and bottling process. Also in the fall, they’ll have apples and pumpkins . . whatever is in season at the time.
The vegetable market just opened this weekend and they usually close the last weekend in October.
The general store has spices, flour, gadgets. That’s where I have found Prairie Gold wheat. They don’t have nearly as much as the Mennonite store up at Butler, MO (where I buy my white flour). I didn’t look around too much in the general store because I knew I wasn’t going to buy anything other than maybe wheat or spices. Next time I go, I’ll pay more attention.
They didn’t have fabric or sewing items, though I do think I remember seeing a new electric sewing machine in a box for sale. I thought that was odd since they don’t have electricity and they’re out in the middle of nowhere on a dirt road and it’s doubtful they get much traffic looking for an electric sewing machine.
I’ve heard some of the documentaries about the Amish, sometimes portrayed in a negative light and last year someone left a comment to the effect “Don’t get me started on what buying from the Amish does to the economy.” But, as you drive through their community and see them working and see those fields and gardens (vegetable and flower), I can’t help but believe that if Americans (generally speaking . . no one in particular) had a bit more of the Amish work ethic, we’d be a heck of a lot better off. Their kids are out working, no doubt some . . maybe all at that age . . would rather be hanging out in an automobile with a cell phone attached to their ears but as we drive through the Amish community, I always think to myself that if some major problem happened in our country where we were without power or without satellite systems and had no cell phones, no cable TV, no air conditioning, no way to cook . . most of us would be up a creek without a paddle and the Amish would never miss a beat.
I have not one inkling of a desire to live like the Amish but I do admire their work ethic and their commitment to their way of life.
I to surely admire their work ethic. They are wonderful engineers, most things that need power they find away to manage, off a generator.. or the power system on the tractor.
Its nice to see the kids as contributing members rather than just ‘existing’ till the next tex message. They have 2 hands…..use em !
We need to get back to some of those values.
The shop we go to is 30 miles away. They have nice produce and the spices in large containers. lots of dried mixes, noodles,,, home made candy, breads,,, cheeses,,, a green house with seedlings. Its very basic shelving and very clean.
~K
The Mennonite store near where we live now has some of the nicest looking ( and reasonable furniture) for sale- too bad I don’t have the room for it or I would be in trouble! The deli meats and cheeses are so inexpensive also and the breads and cinnamon rolls are the best!
someone left a comment to the effect “Don’t get me started on what buying from the Amish does to the economy.” If I was close to any Amish store, I know I’d be spending at least $13 a week there.
I wish I had a store like that near me! We do have a farm we go to for fresh sweet corn by the bushel and whatever they might have grown in their garden, but it’s a very small family owned farm. Nothing even available until late July or August
Have you ever read any of the Beverly Lewis books about the Amish? I really enjoy them. She has several series of them and they really tell about the Amish way of life through fictitious characters. Not far from the Amish market where we go (outside of Dover, DE), there is an Amish quilt shop. It is great. Fabric, supplies AND completed quilted items are there. The only bad thing is…if it’s a cloudy day and you go there, you can’t see the things very well as they don’t have electric lighting. But…it is a great place to shop and the service is wonderful. I agree with what you say about their work ethic, Judy. This is all making me think I need to get myself up there soon. Our Amish store is open year-round as they sell all kinds of foods beside produce (many of which you mentioned)….so I really have no excuse not to go more often. I think I’ll get the neighborhood quilting gals interested in a day trip soon…..Amish market AND Amish quilt shop!!!
Judy, you have had my attention and curiousity is up about this amish store. Can you share where and store hours just in case I decide I need a road trip this week??? Thanks!
I agree Judy. They have a great work ethic. My daughter moved to Montana in January and didn’t have the cable connected. Since then my two granddaughters have been on the honor roll. Only local tv and it’s not much so they did their homework. I don’t think she plans on getting cable at all now. She had great results.
Hi Judy; I followed the link to the posting about your visit to the Amish store last fall and saw your canned tomatoes. Although they’re super easy to can, they do take a lot of time in a hot, hot kitchen. How do you do it all by yourself? Especially 90 quarts!! I was also wondering about using your pressure canner for tomatoes. I use a water bath method for tomatoes. Why do you use a pressure canner? I love home-canned tomatoes, but it’s so time consuming and unbearably hot in my kitchen with kettles of water boiling, etc. I find it’ hard to convince myself to spend 8 – 10 hours in a hot kitchen to put up tomatoes.
I am going to can tomatoes this summer God Willing, and have planted 3 rows of tomatoes of different varieties. I may take a run to the amish market when I come through that way, I miss going to see them. My ex used to tell them all the time he was going to quit his job and move into their community. I don’t think they believed a word of it though
Hi Judy,
We like shopping at Amish stores because they have items that are fresh and items we can not buy in commercial stores. I like buying pudding mixes and gelatin by the pound so I can use as much or as little as I want right out of the bag. It is easier to store the bag….usually in a jar rather then many little boxes. Our nearest “Amish” store is too far away to go to more then once a year, but we are satisfied with the Mennonite shops. When I visit my friend in Arcola, IL we like to visit the Amish general store in Arthur, because they have quilt fabric :>) at a discount.
I envy you living by an Amish community. It must be wonderful to get fresh items like you are able to do. We do have “markets” here, but they are not close.
I too envy you for living so close. We go several times a year to Amish country in Pennsylvania-the Lancaster area. Our friends live nearby and they take us over. They have huge bottles of vanilla and all sorts of spices by the pound. I just love that place. My friends here always send me with a list and I bring them back tapioca and spices and such. For any years we sent to Sauders Fabrics and you could get these things ther as well but now they partnered with Zooks and I haven’t been since the last time I went I literally couldn’t get through the door for all the people. I remember one time years ago when Roger and I were the only two people there. We need to go during the week when it’s more quiet.
Anyway, whenever we come home from Amish country all I want to do is clean and polish everything. Their places sparkle and shine. Love that.
When we lived in Kentucky we lived near a large Amish community. Those people are quite creative. They would take those brand new electric sewing machines and remove the motor then hook it up to a treddle machine and sew up a storm. When we had the shoe repair shop Bob’s patching machine was origionally a treddle but a motor had been attached and some of the treddle mechanisms removed. I took it out to the Amish and they remade the missing parts and wala! it was a treddle again. Have a wonderful day, Judy.
Hi Judy! I decided to go to Grandma’s over the weekend, left Saturday morning and decided to make a stop in Rich Hill to your market! I’m so glad I did! I didn’t know of the second location that you mention, I’ll go there next time I make it to Rich Hill. Oh, hey, is the second location you mention, is that the place on 71 that advertises Pecans? Have you been in there? I took a quick peak at that location, but didn’t stay as the Sun was getting hot and I didn’t want Gus (dog) to get too warm. I did make a few purchases at the produce market; cherry pie, tomatoes and cucumbers. Yum!
Then to get back on track, I took 54 west to 43 south and man was I confused! Your “little town” is NOT so little! I was thinking something along the size of Rich Hill! I come another route to grandma’s (down 69 through Arma and Pittsburg) but my parents always come through Fort Scott (54) and take 43 south, so I knew where your town was, but I hadn’t ever been to it. I waved as I was passing through and thanking you for mentioning this treasure (the amish store). I meant to ask their hours, but forgot. I was busy explaning to him that I was from Topeka. I don’t think he even knew where that was! I got the same black horse picture that you have.
I think I saw a sign for a fabric shop in Rich Hill, have you visited it???
Thank You again for mentioning their location. I enjoyed going to it.