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Gardening the Amish Way: Everything You Should Know
Amish communities are well-known for living a really sustainable life. Even without relying on technology and modern tools, they are able to produce bountiful harvests for their families and the entire community. They are able to trade some of their produce, too.
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Now, if you are wondering how they are able to do that, below is a quick list of things that make Amish gardening truly impressive.
Freedom from Toxic Chemicals
Amish gardens are well-known for their minimal use of fossil fuel products and chemicals. This makes their produce a lot safer and healthier to consume.
Instead of relying on chemicals, Amish communities enrich their soil with animal manure and organic matter. They mostly come from the horses they use in their farms and buggies.
In addition to that, Amish gardens are designed to attract beneficial bugs and birds, too. They work really well in minimizing the need for insecticides and pesticides.
Preservation of Genetic Diversity in Their Gardens
One of the most impressive practices of the Amish is their commitment to preserving genetic diversity in the gardens they care for. They do seed exchanging, seed saving, and grafting of trees.
Amish gardeners also trade herbs, seedlings, and garden plants with their family members and friends to keep biodiverse gardens. Their ability to maintain a wide variety of plants and trees in their gardens make their communities a lot more sustainable.
Seasonal Planting Practices
Majority of Amish gardeners rely on the subtle signs of nature when planting and gardening. Instead of using a calendar, they look around the environment to get an idea of what to do next.
For example, if there are no bees or butterflies around, it's a sign for Amish gardeners to plant more of a specific vegetable or flower to attract insect-eaters and pollinators. They also search for weed sorrel to let them know if they need to raise the pH level of their soil.
Amish gardeners are very patient when it comes to checking the quality of their soil. They are aware that working on soil that’s too wet can make them regret it for the entire season. So, they check the soil and wait for another day if they find it too wet.
Promotes Economic Security
While Amish gardens don't generally produce the same large financial returns most modern-day farms are able to achieve, they are still able to have positive economic security and stability. This is due to their frugal nature.
They plant whatever produce they need to sustain the needs of their families and the community. They even make all the tools and accessories they need in their gardens. From Amish planters and plant stands to Amish garden furniture, they make everything by themselves and they don’t use any kind of advanced technology in the process.
As a community, the Amish don't really rely on today's monetary system. They use their goods and produce in a barter system if they want something that's not within their community.
Conclusion
Amish gardening isn’t just impressive for the way the community is able to produce bountiful harvests even without the advanced tools most modern farms use. What’s truly impressive about them and their way of gardening is how they value what they do.
They see themselves as caretakers of nature. With that, they try their best to preserve it in everything they do. They avoid using harsh chemicals in gardening and they patiently wait for the soil to be ready before they start planting. They attract bees and birds and use their help in keeping their gardens abundant and rich.
About the Author Laura Bennett
Hello, I’m Laura Bennett. I love nature especially when it comes to flowers and different kinds of plants. I started a very small garden behind my house and I named it Humid Garden. So, I created this blog to provide aspiring and inspiring thoughts about gardening for gardeners and anyone who has the intention of keeping a garden.
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