Ever wonder what the Amish read? Always popular on Timber to Table, are our guest posts by Erik Wesner. Erik runs the Amish America website (www.amishamerica.com) and YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/AmishAmerica). Welcome back Erik! Amish people tend to be big readers. This makes sense when you consider they generally don’t indulge in digital entertainment like most of the rest of us. Reading “dead-tree” sources like books and monthly publications not only fills Amish “down time,” it… What the Amish Read
In the age of Amazon where delivery drivers are literally running to our doors to deliver packages and online pre-ordering allows us to pull in and grab our merchandise, we’ve gotten used to getting things fast. One thing we didn’t expect to add to our waitlist was furniture. The good news is, there are solutions and answers to getting quality furniture a little faster. Roughly a year ago, the furniture industry saw an explosion in… How to Shorten the Wait for New Furniture
Guest Post by Erik Wesner Despite some depictions of the Amish as isolated, outdated and old-fashioned, Amish are in fact “plugged-in” to the economy and business world in a number of ways. So let’s have a look at some common questions on the Amish and money-like: Where do Amish do their shopping? Do they barter? How do they buy homes and fund businesses? Are there Amish millionaires? Barter Contrary to what some might think, the… 6 Things You Might Not Know About the Amish and Money
They wanted to follow Jesus in their own way and refused to serve in the military. They sought a life separate from the culture where they lived in order to speak their own language and continue their way of life. And they were persecuted, imprisoned, and fined. They sold their land, uprooted their communities, and found new homes. But when they discovered that no place in Europe was safe, they packed all their belongings into… Mennonite Furniture vs. Amish Furniture
Quilts are special. Whether you made one yourself, inherited a family heirloom, or received one as a gift, they are works of art that you might want to showcase. Sure you can throw them over a sofa or the back of a chair, but handmade quilts, in particular, should be handled carefully in order to maintain their beauty. Here are four safe and popular ways to display treasured quilts. Ways To Display A Quilt The… 4 Popular Ways to Display a Quilt
Many of us took a good look around last year. Inside and around our homes, that is. As the COVID-19 pandemic drove many of us into our houses and kept us there, we took notice of what furniture we needed to set up a home office, what rooms needed an upgrade, and ways to create more effective storage options. At the top of the list, we also looked for furniture that would bring us comfort… The American Lumber Shortage: What You Need to Know for Solid Wood Furniture
You might be surprised to hear that Amish communities can and do differ. Erik Wesner, founder of amishamerica.com, a great source of information on everything Amish, contributes this guest blog about how practices among Amish communities vary. Unusual Amish Communities by Erik Wesner The Amish might at first glance seem like a uniform group of people. Plain clothes, beards, buggies…yet within the 2500+ Amish congregations, there is a surprising amount of variety. While all Amish… Unusual Amish Communities
We are thrilled to have Erik Wesner, founder of amishamerica.com and author of Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive contributing to Timber to Table. Erik has written several posts for us in years past, providing insight on different aspects of Amish life. Here Erik contributes the various ways Amish people get around, and it’s not always by horse and buggy! 10 Ways Amish People Travel by Erik Wesner In our… 10 Ways Amish People Travel
Martin Yoder from Forks Valley Woodworking was speaking. As he stood in the conference room at our DutchCrafters corporate office in Sarasota, Florida telling us about a recent challenge with quarter sawn white oak wood, I thought, yes, this is what the slow furniture movement is about. Forks Valley Woodworking, which makes DutchCrafters Middlebury Collection, is one of over 150 Amish woodshops that makes Amish furniture for DutchCrafters. They produce stunning wall units for living… Why Does It Take So Long to Receive Amish Furniture? A Slow Furniture Movement Post
Sustainable, warm and unique, barnwood furniture is making its mark. At DutchCrafters, our Amish woodworkers take pride in their sustainable practices and crafting with reclaimed wood embraces sustainability on a whole new level. While there’s no doubt barnwood furniture is beautiful, the story goes much deeper than just knocking down barns and making furniture out of them. The Urban Barnwood Collection here at DutchCrafters is in high demand, and when Jonathan Fell, the sales manager… The Urban Barnwood Collection
Amish wedding traditions vary from community to community. Traditionally, Amish weddings are held in late fall after harvest time, in November or December. In some communities, Amish weddings are celebrated in the spring since there are so many there would not be enough days to host them if they were all held in the fall. Amish weddings are often planned on Tuesdays or Thursdays. They are not held on Saturdays since the day after the… Amish Wedding Traditions
We recently hosted a Facebook Live Q and A session about the Amish. All staff gathered in the DutchCrafters showroom for the event. CEO Jim Miller fielded questions from staff and viewers. *Answers have been edited for clarity. Jim Miller grew up in a Mennonite community and lived near Amish people for many years. For the last 15 years, he’s been leading DutchCrafters in connecting customers with beautiful Amish made furniture, and he’s developed relationships… Amish Q & A with DutchCrafters CEO Jim Miller
If you had 48 hours to spend in Sarasota, Florida, where should you go? What should you do? Located on the southwestern coast of Florida, Sarasota is home to dreamy beaches, fine cuisine, plenty of culture, and the DutchCrafters office. The team at DutchCrafters shares some of their favorite must-see spots in this handy Guide to Sarasota. SIESTA KEY BEACH (Voted #1 USA beach and #5 worldwide) My favorite place to visit in Sarasota is… Guide to Visiting Sarasota, Florida
Alan Barkman is always one step ahead. On a recent visit to his woodshop in Ohio, our DutchCrafters team found it bustling with activity. At Barkman Furniture, Alan and his craftsmen use a blend of traditional woodworking techniques and state-of-the-art woodworking equipment. They remain devoted to their top two priorities when it comes to building Amish furniture: #1 is producing furniture of the highest quality. #2 is making sure it’s worthy of being handed down… What’s New at Barkman Furniture
The Amish woodshop that crafts solid wood dining chairs for the Prairie Collection is nestled in the heart of Amish country, Ohio. There, the talented Amish artisans, both men and women, take to their work producing solid wood chairs with care and precision, with each chair part handled by the craftsmen. The Prairie Collection features high quality Amish dining chairs, bar stools and benches in a variety of styles ranging from classic to contemporary. The Amish… Amish Made Chairs from the Prairie Collection: The Habits of Handcrafting
