Amish barn-raising. NO Shopbot-Just interesting

[scottp55]

Not at all Shopbot related, in fact ZERO power tools!(you should see his belt-driven full woodworking shop! Special dispensation allows him to use a diesel to turn a driveshaft that goes full-length under his floor).
Apparently Amish boys get a carpenter's belt on their 13'th birthday as a "Manhood" ceremony(Jona's son got his a year and a half early to help with this).
Jonas is our hardwood supplier as he is the communities furniture maker, and he's the reason I'm doing Vinlays, as he wants to add them as customer options(Kirks Desktop is only 30 miles away).
Jonas and Dad get along fantastically, and he approached Dad for financing a barn as he'd wanted one all his life. Funny story was Dad wanted a legal document simply to describe what his money was buying. The lawyer asked for collateral and Dad said "I don't need any cows or land in Northern Maine" and then the lawyer asked " Well, what are the terms in case Jonas defaults?" and Dad said"I probably won't be alive to see this 5 year loan finished(3 times what he was getting in returns from his retirement portfolio) and nothing we can do, is worse than what the community will do to him if he doesn't satisfy the Debt". Lawyer was fairly astonished and said "I've NEVER done anything like this! You're going to put lawyers out of business!!" Dad just shrugged he said, as if that would be a BAD thing :)
Following is copy/paste from Dad's e-mail.
Hope Nobody minds a Non-Shopbot thread.
scott

These are better photos of the barn I watched being raised last month in northern Maine in two half days. A torrent of rain mid day cut off day one and I noticed no Amish gentleman had a rain coat. Shirt, vest, hat, and jacket was it. Wet and slippery beams called work to a halt. These photos are from the second day.

The youngest was Levi a son of the owner, 11 years old out of 13 siblings, who I watched walk beams about 2/3 up in the frame. He pounded nails throughout the whole process. The sheets of metal siding were stacked if all alike and if there were angles they were all laid out on the ground like the one you can see in the photos ready to fit into the triangle at the roof level.

The barn was built for $25,000 cash with much of the materials coming from within the Amish community. The largest cost was the metal siding and roof at $10,000. Labor cost was a collection of the past and future labor this family has given to raise other barns and future barns like the 8 new ones in Aroostook done in the past 6 years. I doubt there are 8 new real barns built in Maine in the same period. There are sheds to hold 800 cows that are milked three times a day 24 hours of every day. It's milk factory filled with milk making machines that wear out the machine in 2-3 years max. In Canada cows get to be 12 years old. The Amish cows will also get there. They get no grain but get wonderful hay and clover feed that are too difficult to harvest here.

I stood beside the farm owner on the second day and he told me "I have wanted that barn all my life". What a wonderful feeling he had to have watching it happen.

The cash income for the family is the furniture they make, baskets they weave, plus raw milk and butter. Frugal has to be an understatement for how the Amish spend money.

I think this is a small portion of the answer when asked "Why would anyone want to be Amish"?.

[MogulTx]

Awesome post, Scott. I hope your Dad lives much much longer than the term of the loan. And that he and his friend enjoy the barn and your woodworking for many years to come.

Monty

[scottp55]

Thanks Monty!
Forgot to mention that 3 weeks previously, another family in the community had there house burn to the ground(has to be a significantly greater fire danger using candles and lanterns) and 2 days later, independent contractor (bulldozer/backhoe) had gotten rid of the rubble. And the NEXT day the had a house-raising!!
3 days from burnt-out to living in the new house:)
Took me that long to arrange an APPOINTMENT for the electric code guy for MY house!

[myxpykalix]

It takes you back to the beginnings of this country and the neighbor helping neighbor attitude we used to have. During the last presidential race i recall someone exclaiming that Romney would take us back to the 50's (no political flames please, only use it as a reference point)

And i thought..what was wrong with the 50's? I think it was a simpler more cordial time much like how the Amish are today where if you need help, all you need to do is ask. I truly admire their work ethic and sense of community but don't think i could do without my Shopbot!

[shilala]

Jack, you should see an Amish workshop. All contemporary equipment run on drives and belts powered by an old V-8 out in the shed.
The generator on that V-8 runs all the low voltage controls that power the lawn mower deck clutches that throw the shaft power to the machines.
They literally want for nothing. If a Shopbot was necessary, or desired, they'd figure a way to work it in. :)

[scottp55]

Yeah, was pretty neat Scott, He'd converted a pressure pump from an orchard backpack sprayer for his spray gun:)
Jonas explained to Dad that "No Growth Hormones" Does NOT mean hormones are not a part of a dairy farmers don't use Other hormones. One of the hormones that is standard s one that tell a milker to convert the corn diet to as much milk as possible. They don't use ANYTHING except grass and clover. I was wondering why anyone would drive miles out of their way to buy the milk and butter, BUT Dad brought some back for me(thought it was vanilla pudding:). Only used with eggs,a roux, and a chowder, BUT it not only looks different but Tastes MORE buttery. Dad's father was chief herdsman at UMO and Dad said " I forgot! THAT'S what Butter looks like!!"
Can't imagine how good my coffee would taste with their Cream:)

[Red F]

Similar to the butter, Scott, that's how I felt when I had my first farm fresh eggs. The yolks glowed orange.

[ssflyer]

@Blaine - I can appreciate that. My neighbor got some chickens a while back and brings me eggs - I forgot how different real, organic eggs look and taste from store bought. :eek:

Even though I'm far from Amish country, being in northern California, I still remember friends an neighbors pitching in to help raise a barn, or whatever was needed.

Too bad that seems to have fallen by the wayside. Now it's hard to even meet a neighbor, if you are in even a small town, here...

Thank God, I live in a bit of country.