Greenbrier Farm

I met an Amish gentleman at the local Farmer's Market last week. Following my mother's trusty motto, "It never hurts to ask," I got permission to bring my "city-dweller" kids to his farm for a visit during the week. Two other families joined us on the 30 minute drive into the country. Mr. Cade was burning a pile of goat manure, to keep the flies at bay, when we pulled up. He introduced us to his gentle plow horse, Hans, and allowed the kids to pet him and feed him oats. We met several of his goats, who got acquainted with us by nibbling on our cuffs, pockets and loose threads. The children especially enjoyed cradling the tiny goat, Dottie. Ben loved perstering the volatile geese, and we were awestruck by the huge array of spiders in the rafters overhead. The children helped to gather eggs from the hen's nesting areas.

While wandering amongst the animals, I was able to glean a bit of history from Mr Kade. Mr. Kade was taught to craft of making goat cheese from his Grandfather and purposed to pass it on to his son, but his son rejected the Amish way of life for that of an engineer in New Orleans. The typical Amish way would be to shun such a one, but Mr. Kade maintains a relationship with his son and family, despite their "worldly ways." (He related with chagrin that they had a television in every room of the house). His daughter had chosen the lifestyle, and looked after things when he and his wife had to be away. On one of their absences, his daughter had to relate the news to them, that their buggy had been dragged into the front yard and set on fire. They reckoned it had been done by disgruntled neighbors that had been complaining of his driving the horse and buggy on the highway. I was apalled by this act, nearly reminiscent of the acts of the KKK, but he didn't seem particularly alarmed or resentful, just matter of fact.
He explained the reason for Amish refusing to use tractors. A one man tractor is seen as an impediment rather than an asset, as one wouldn't be required to draw strength and fellowship from a community of 10 men to do the job, but would labor alone. The Amish value community and unity so strongly, that they ensure that there is no broken fellowship within the community, before any of them partake of the twice annual Communion supper. One of the reasons he couldn't offer tours of his farm to the general public is his lack of insurance, which he says is typical among Amish. "Insured by the good Lord," is how he spoke of it.
I came away feeling that there was much which could be learned from this man's way of life. And we especially enjoyed the farm eggs the kids helped to gather: even if they were fertile.