I had a nice chat with a friend who provides services for the Amish community in northern Indiana. I didn't know much about the Amish community outside of "the

I had a nice chat with a friend who provides services for the Amish community in northern Indiana. I didn't know much about the Amish community outside of "they're the ones who don't drive cars" and the Amish turkeys my mom purchased for Thanksgiving (US). I learned a few things that surprised me enough that I ended up Googling for proof: - Some Amish communities allow electricity (limited, off-grid)[1]. What is allowed and isn't allowed can vary quite a bit, but only the teenagers can own cars[2]. - Amish throw the craziest parties; drugs, booze, you-name-it[2]. See "Devil's Playground (2002)", much of it shot in the community that my friend served. - If your view of "eating healthy" rejects conventional pesticides, Amish != Organic. My friend, who previous ran an organic farm, said that the community she worked with was obsessed with yields and used an appalling amount of chemical pesticides and fertilizers[3]. In that community, there were no organic farms (though they exist). Every conventional practice that didn't break community rules was used, including with meat products, resulting in the worst of centuries old farming practices mixed with modern chemistry. GMOs are also allowed if that's something that concerns you.[4] - Amish share some practices with Christianity, such as sex before marriage being forbidden, but some Amish communities encourage "Bed Courtship" (Bed Date or "Bundling"), where as part of courtship, two people share a bed ("Bundling" because they're bundled separately so they can become closer by ... talking). If my conservative parents had caught me sharing a bed with someone I was dating ... I don't even know what they would have done.[5] My favorite part was the description of Amish kitchen cupboards: Filled to the teeth with Velveeta and gelatin[6] and they use it everywhere. [1] http://www.discoverlancaster.com/towns-and-heritage/amish-country/amishandtechnology.asp http://www.discoverlancaster.com/towns-and-heritage/amish-co... [2] And many own really nice ones ... during Rumspringa. My friend's children were not allowed to hang out with Amish teenagers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumspringa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumspringa [3] http://amishamerica.com/do-amish-use-pesticides/ http://amishamerica.com/do-amish-use-pesticides/ http://modernfarmer.com/2014/11/amish-mennonite-farmers-polluting-lancaster-county/ http://modernfarmer.com/2014/11/amish-mennonite-farmers-poll... [4] http://www.biofortified.org/2013/10/amish-gmos/ http://www.biofortified.org/2013/10/amish-gmos/ [5] Here's an article explaining "why" it's allowed: http://www.sacred-texts.com/ame/amish/am07.htm http://www.sacred-texts.com/ame/amish/am07.htm [6] I had heard of the gelatin thing, but not about Velveeta. Hearing descriptions about some of the meals made me ill. The attraction to Velveeta is shelf-stability. http://www.amishreader.com/2015/03/12/the-truth-about-authentic-homemade-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe/ http://www.amishreader.com/2015/03/12/the-truth-about-authen...