The Amish affinity for solar says something essential about the difference between fossil and renewable fuels. Not quite sure I know how to put it into words, though.
Amish solar
Amish solar
The Amish affinity for solar says something essential about the difference between fossil and renewable fuels. Not quite sure I know how to put it into words, though.
Comments
Post a Comment +
supply or demand?I'm not sure what it says about the energy source, but I do think it might be interesting to know what the Amish are using the energy for. It seems to me that the Amish lifestyle can be cleverly frugal. So how do the Amish make most effective use of limited quantities of electrical power? I think the answer could be instructive for the larger population.
"being independent"GMUnger does well to ask about the purpose of this independence project that the Amish are apparently committed to. It is indeed very attractive, in a way. But do we all really want to be "independent," like that? Is it not more loving, really, to acknowledge and accept our dependence, one on another?
Chickens are our cousins!
So are other sensitive animals!
Enough is enough!
No more factory farms!
Amish independenceThanks canis. I might suggest, however, that your black-and-white characterization is not sufficient here. The independence of the Amish from the larger US culture is easily acknowleged, particularly r.e. their selective use of "modern" technologies and their eschewing of pop culture. But they do greatly depend on each other, especially at the local community level.
Social critics of much greater stature than I have written of the dearth of "community" in the ...read more
"interdependence"Very well put, GMUnger, and I agree with everything you have written (except that I was being "black-and-white" -- ha ha).
I rather mistrust the Amish, because they seem to have hardened the virtuous voluntary lifestyle of the Benedictines into something that is too inflexible and involuntary. But I do not know enough about them, really, and so am not seriously passing judgment.
By the way, I similarly mistrust Islam, nay, positively dislike it, for hardening ...read more
21st century MennonitesThe Advocate says they're using the power for light. Makes sense. That's gotta be nicer than living with than kerosene, or even nat gas, lamps.
I hope Raber is selling CFLs, too.
Light readingHaving lived for years with only candle and oil light I can appreciate their need for solar light. I tried mirrors and extra candles for reading but could not make it work for me, and that was when I did not need reading glasses.
kerosene lampsRight, romantic for a few minutes, but in fact really stinky.
The guest quarters of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, a bit north of Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, had kerosene lamps, and wood-burning stoves -- and perhaps that is still the case. Firing up the stove was fun, though nowadays I would have questions about where the firewood came from. But the kerosene lamp was pretty poisonous.
Chickens are our cousins!
So are other sensitive animals!
Enough is enough!
No more factory farms!