***OFFICIAL 2026 WEATHER THREAD***

I figured they were down in the pit manually turning like, like they churn butter.
There was a news reporter in Bloomfield, who would dress up Amish and take his girl friend dressed Amish to a bar in Ottumwa, smoke (when you could smoke indoors) play pool, drink Bud Light and get a ton of stares. Did that all the time.
 
LOL! The Amish that make their money not farming are pretty close to Old Order Mennonites, outside cars.
Many in Davis Co. own all sorts of business, making windows, saw mills, lumber yards and many do carpentry work. They get around by hiring drivers to get them to the job site, or do the horse and buggy. the work ranges from high quality to complete garbage.
 
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My zoeller sump pump was a champ this weekend that saved my ass from having water in the basement. However, I would have been screwed if we lost power. Thinking of getting a backup to cover my ass in the event of a power outage. Would you recommend doing a battery backup or water powered sump pump?

Or would just a power station be a better investment?

I’ve had a battery back up for 8 years and can’t complain. It’s also never been used outside me testing it occasionally.

I’d look into a back system that uses water pressure from your houses water line. Those seem really fool proof
 
They get around by hiring drivers to get them to the job site,
I recently learned of this. I was in Independence and a bunch of them showed up at a gas station. A buddy of mine says a lot of retirees take driver jobs for the Amish and make pretty decent money.
 
I recently learned of this. I was in Independence and a bunch of them showed up at a gas station. A buddy of mine says a lot of retirees take driver jobs for the Amish and make pretty decent money.
Yes they do, but they smell up the cars so people around here will use an old beater to drive them around.
 
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I recently learned of this. I was in Independence and a bunch of them showed up at a gas station. A buddy of mine says a lot of retirees take driver jobs for the Amish and make pretty decent money.
You can make good money hauling them around. I know of at least one retired gal that purchased a multi-seat van to haul them to out of state to family weddings and gatherings. I know another guy that every Friday night he would be contracted by a group of them to order pizza from Casey's, pay for it and then delivery it to their house, where they would pay him for the order and his time. If they own a business they are allowed to have a cell phone for their business and many use that for other things.

My brother before he passed used to haul them rock for their buildings, farms and businesses. When he passed they owed him 10s of thousands of dollars in rock and hauling chargers that they had not paid. My nephew had to go to the local Amish elders in their area to explain the situation and gave him a list of people and what they owned his father. Within a week they all paid up, their entire community will shun a person or family that makes their group look bad, and not paying your debts is considered a huge no no in their society.
 
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I recently learned of this. I was in Independence and a bunch of them showed up at a gas station. A buddy of mine says a lot of retirees take driver jobs for the Amish and make pretty decent money.
My uncle had a decent livestock hauling business back in the 70/80s. My dad would work for him and would tell that the Amish would hire them for an auction. Dad would pull up and they would climb into the trailer and ride to the sale and then they would ride home with anything they bought in the trailer after the auction. It was ok to be in the trailer since that didn’t have the motor.
 
My uncle had a decent livestock hauling business back in the 70/80s. My dad would work for him and would tell that the Amish would hire them for an auction. Dad would pull up and they would climb into the trailer and ride to the sale and then they would ride home with anything they bought in the trailer after the auction. It was ok to be in the trailer since that didn’t have the motor.
Today most groups allow you to ride in a vehicle, you just cannot drive a vehicle, nothing that runs on gas or diesel. So those that own a fork lift for their business use natural gas to run their skid loader or fork lift. Many have small wind mills to get electricity, they just cannot be on the grid. In Davis Co. there is a mix of Amish and Mennonite's and the latter group is a lot less strict but for the average person they get lumped all together.
 
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Today most groups allow you to ride in a vehicle, you just cannot drive a vehicle, nothing that runs on gas or diesel. So those that own a fork lift for their business use natural gas to run their skid loader or fork lift. Many have small wind mills to get electricity, they just cannot be on the grid. In Davis Co. there is a mix of Amish and Mennonite's and the latter group is a lot less strict but for the average person they get lumped all together.
I e done a little work for the Mennonites and they only difference between them and the average joe was they were much more strait laced and had more livestock.
 
My zoeller sump pump was a champ this weekend that saved my ass from having water in the basement. However, I would have been screwed if we lost power. Thinking of getting a backup to cover my ass in the event of a power outage. Would you recommend doing a battery backup or water powered sump pump?

Or would just a power station be a better investment?

I had my sump pump back up in 2010. After that I have been through 2 backup Sump Pumps as a standalone unit with a 12 hour battery. - It has saved my ass at least 3 times since. I set it up so it just easily threw it onto the outside of the house. From there I could connect it to a longer hose to carry it out in the yard if needed.

I won't own another house without such a backup system installed ever again.
 
…. If they own a business they are allowed to have a cell phone for their business and many use that for other things. …
Depends on the bishop. My Amish crew that built our garage was allowed to have a phone, but our farrier from a different area cannot. But you’re right, most allow it.
 
My zoeller sump pump was a champ this weekend that saved my ass from having water in the basement. However, I would have been screwed if we lost power. Thinking of getting a backup to cover my ass in the event of a power outage. Would you recommend doing a battery backup or water powered sump pump?

Or would just a power station be a better investment?
I spent somewhere around $1400 a few years ago on a Honda generator. Can't believe how quiet it is. I figured I could use it for tailgating and also have it available to run the sump pump in emergencies.
 
Today most groups allow you to ride in a vehicle, you just cannot drive a vehicle, nothing that runs on gas or diesel. So those that own a fork lift for their business use natural gas to run their skid loader or fork lift. Many have small wind mills to get electricity, they just cannot be on the grid. In Davis Co. there is a mix of Amish and Mennonite's and the latter group is a lot less strict but for the average person they get lumped all together.
So God checks to see whether your vehicle ran on gas, diesel, or LP before deciding where you'll spend eternity?
 
So God checks to see whether your vehicle ran on gas, diesel, or LP before deciding where you'll spend eternity?
Nope just the elders and its a very close net community, if someone is doing something they shouldn't be doing, word spreads quickly and they either change what they are doing, or are excommunicated from the community.
Most people that have not been around the Amish do not understand how close net the community is and the power of the elders and the church in the community. An example if a couple has trouble paying a hospital bill, the church will provide the funds for paying it off. The church also provides funds for loans for young couples just starting out or their family will. In Wayne Co. the Amish are buying every acre of farm ground they can get their hands on when it comes up for sale. It pisses off the locals, because the Amish are pushing the price upward and out bidding them for the land.

Overall they tend to keep to themselves when possible, they support Amish businesses as much as possible. The Success Bank in Bloomfield had so much Amish business that they opened up a small satellite office in Seymour 40 miles away just so the Amish in the area can deposit checks in the bank. No tellers, just a building so you can make deposits and an ATM for withdrawals.
 

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