The Amish Do Something You’d Never Expect

The Amish are known for working hard. Work is sacred to them and they take it very seriously. But, for almost a century, hundreds of Amish and Mennonite families have left their homes in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Holmes County, Ohio, and even Canada to head to Florida for a break from the frigid winter weather and the grind of farm life.

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The snowbirds arrive in Pinecraft, a neighborhood in Sarasota, on charter buses that cater to “plain people.” These non-traditional vacationers leave their carts and buggies behind and stay for weeks or sometimes for the winter. They first arrived in the 1920s with the intention of farming celery. The soil wasn’t great, but the weather was. The New Yorker detailed their journey to the land with some very interesting photographs that give us a window into their vacation life.

While in Pinecraft, the Amish are able to mingle with people outside of their community. Their strict rules are relaxed a bit. Women can be seen wearing earrings and they may stay in houses that have satellite dishes. They even head to the beach to swim.

This vacation time is a big change from tending to a farm, particularly during the harsh winter months. While in Pinecraft, they often get around by using large tricycles with baskets large enough for groceries or small children.

In addition to the tricycles, the Amish will also use golf carts. The women in the picture below are in a patriotic golf cart adorned with American flags.

Beach volleyball is often a nightly activity that many in the Amish community enjoy while in Pineland.

They also regularly enjoy the Italian game of Bocce. The men stand on the sidelines and watch their wives play a female game of this classic sport.

While some Amish live in Pineland, most are vacationers and at some point have to return to their communities back home. They leave the sunshine behind and head back on buses.

Share this if you never knew the Amish vacationed at the beach!

Source: New Yorker