[AT] OT Barn floor question

[Steve W.]

George,
 Can't talk about firewood but Amish cheese and butter are sold
locally --- By the Amish who make them.
They also sell bread, cookies and some other goodies. They also sell off
extra vegetables and such.
Not all of them are woodworkers, very true. Just like in every other
group, not everyone is good at everything.


Steve Williams
Near Cooperstown NY


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George Willer" <gwill at toast.net>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 6:29 PM
Subject: Re: [AT] OT Barn floor question


> Carl,
>
> I understand the reasonably part well, and agree that the well part
usually
> applies.  The unfortunate part is that in spite of their German
heritage
> (like mine), that alone is not enough to assure a workman's skill.
I've
> been a woodworker and contractor all my working life and as a sideline
have
> built museum quality antique reproductions.  I've been called upon to
> re-construct poorly designed and poorly executed furniture that people
can't
> understand why it failed.  Their idea is that since it's Amish it must
be
> the best???  It *can be*, but taint necessarily so!
>
> Maybe you can explain to me why something would be marketed as "Amish
> firewood", or "Amish cheese"?
>
> George Willer
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Carl Tatlock" <carllary at surfglobal.net>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 5:58 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] OT Barn floor question
>
>
> > Cecil E Monson wrote:
> >
> >>> At the risk of offending many... Why Amish?  I know they are hard
> >>> workers, but there are others with better skills who can and will
build
> >>> exactly what you want.  There are even some that aren't of the
WASP
> >>> persuasion.
> >>>
> >>> Why choose a workman based on his religion?  Or why not?
> >>>
> >>> George Willer
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>     I think it is a good question, George, and shouldn't offend
> >> anyone. In our area, most people consider contacting Amish or
Mennonites
> >> to build farm buildings (or do repairs, such as re-nailing roofs,
etc)
> >> as they are known to charge less than most local contractors.
> >>
> >>     My oldest daughter and my SIL, who live in the Finger Lakes
area
> >> in western New York, hired Amish to build a pole type construction
garage
> >> several years ago. They came as a family, a father and two or three
of
> >> his
> >> sons, and built a very nice 2 1/2 car garage in week's time. They
were
> >> not
> >> unknown in the area and were known for excellent work and low
prices.
> >> They
> >> started work in mid morning after their chores were done and left
in mid
> >> afternoon to do the evening chores. My daughter and SIL were not
> >> disappointed
> >> and feel they saved several thousand dollars.
> >>
> >>     My father and a friend of his, both retired farmers, did this
type
> >> work for years after he quit farming and moved to town. He loved
being
> >> out
> >> and around and doing this type work. They charged a lot less and
worked
> >> at
> >> their own pace. Sort of like the Amish and Mennonites do today. The
money
> >> wasn't as important as leaving something behind for when he was
gone - so
> >> to speak. Sadly, an accident while doing soffits and fascia on a
new
> >> house
> >> resulted in his death in the late 1960s. People still say to us
> >> sometimes,
> >> "You know, your father built my machine shed." or something
similar. So
> >> he
> >> did leave something behind.
> >>
> >> Cecil
> >>
> >> Cecil
> >
> > To Cecil and George:  One of my daughters lives in Amish country is
> > Catteraugus County NY a few miles from PA.   If you want something
done
> > reasonably, and well, crafted in wood such as furniture or
buildings-- 
> > or if you want repairs to furniture or quilts or  carpentry
done--"Go to
> > the Amish."   It is not about religion-- it is about attitude:
Some of
> > the American  principles of the 1850's are still alive and well in
the
> > Amish communities.   They treat "the English" (non Amish) very
honestly
> > and well.    They do good work for their pay.   There are enough
Amish in
> > her community that there is a shed for horses as the local
small-town
> > "supermarket".
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