A little diversion..

Taking a quick break from Netherlands, i thought you Feeder Reeders might enjoy something completely different, so here's a piece i wrote for the Tourism folk (embellished a bit here and there)..

One of the really unique things about our Mother County of Maryland (aka St. Mary’s) is that we have a large population of Amish and Mennonite families.  It isn’t my job to go into the history of these folks, but reports are that they began moving here (mostly from Pennsylvania) in the ‘40’s and were able to buy lands that were depleted by intense tobacco farming.  They maintain a lifestyle that is unique and is kind of a world apart from (most of) ours.  We sort of know they’re here, but generally don’t get much of a chance to interact with them.  That changed a bit for me last week.  Our Department of Aging (which we all do, some of us have been at it longer than others) has what they call a “Learning is Forever” program.  They offer a variety of tours, both locally (the Naval Air Station) as well as trips “up the road” to such places as Monticello, the National Colonial Farm, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.  One of their most popular outings is a daylong “tour” of local Amish and Mennonite businesses and farms.  If you want to go (limited to 14 people) you have to remain alert and sign up (early in) the day they open registration.  We did that, and took the tour recently.  It really was a fascinating day. Visiting some 15 places, although the resource list we received had about 30 listed.

Those of you who drive around the Leonardtown area (and rural roads further north) are used to seeing these kinds of signs in front of a plain farm advertising various services and products, which we recognize as "Amish" 

There are a few more familiar places most of us have visited.

Anyway some of those smaller less familiar places usually have a long driveway leading to the farm and house.

I have always found them to be intimidating and hence haven't adventured past the road, which we did in our little STS type bus. Besides utilitarian things like tack and engine repair, many offer crafts, and if they do, there might be a separate little building for that purpose.

where they display their work..

and this place had a avian pet watching over things

Some have Antiques

Or maybe wooden crafts or furniture

We visited two really neat grocery stores which i didn't get any photos from, but they contained an amazing array of flours, flavorings, spices, dried foods (ever see a dried green bean?).  Apparently "they" make most everything they eat, so need a lot of ingredients. We even visited a little cheese making shop.  

In all the places we visited, we were welcomed by the friendly owners.

While riding between the various farms and shops our guide talked about the cultures of both the Amish and the Mennonites, and some of the differences between and even among the groups.  Old Order, New Order,  rubber tires on buggies, no rubber tires on buggies, beards, no beards, buttons or pins, various practices of schooling, courting, and worship, all very informative.  She emphasized that there are "no generalizations", and local practices can be different in different groups. Both groups do not want their pictures taken.  While they speak their own (sort of a German based) language to each other all are fluent in English, and they refer to us as: “the English”. 

Besides becoming aware of the great variety of things out there, I learned to overcome my reluctance to visit these places.  It was said that “if there is a sign by the road, they expect you to come and see them”.  So when you see that long, forbidding, driveway, drive on down and see what is at the end.  It could be very rewarding.

A lot of us travel a great distance to see different cultures and experience different customs, and here we have a wonderful opportunity to do that right here at home.

And of course one always wonders about different "ways of life".. and who's to say..

DFD