On the Road to Better Health?
A study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine indicates that the Amish are in better health than the majority of Americans because of their high levels of physical activity (they get 3-5 hours a day of being on the go). (see also: CNN summary)
Now, you can go out and get a lot more exercise (run or walk 8-10 miles every day), or you can go Amish all the way. After all, if you give up technology, you'll have to get more exercise by default, yes?
My family has run a winery in Amish country for 30 years. The small community of Smicksburg, PA is home to several hundred Amish families, who live a simple, no frills existence, primarily devoted to farming and other rural occupations (logging, wood working, cheese making, etc.). This has given me a glimpse into the reality of living Amish.
Here's a sampling of what you would need to give up to Go Amish:
- Cars
- Electricity
- Refrigerators
- Dishwashers
- Washers/Dryers
- Television
- Radio
- MP3 players
- Digital watches
- Digital anything
- Computers
- Internet
- Oh, yeah, and Blogs
That's just for starters. I'm not kidding about electricity - they don't even use it to light their homes. They use oil lamps. Have you every tried to read by an oil lamp? When we first moved to Columbia County 10 years ago, we had frequent power outages. We kept a few oil lamps around, just to keep things moving when the power went out. Believe me when I say oil lamp lighting is for the birds.
As are horse and buggies, but that's what you're left with when you live an Amish life style.
But the bottom line is, it's good for your health to work your butt off (and it's probably good for the environment, as well). Less gas used, less emissions, you get the picture.
What'll it be folks? Sign up is in Smicksburg, PA this weekend....German required.
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