So you've heard the stories of how quick and efficient the Amish are. Have you ever wondered how to go about hiring them for your build project?

NEW YORK'S AMISH POPULATION

The Amish have a strong presence in the state of New York, with over 50 settlements scattered throughout the state. As a matter of fact, New York ranks fifth among all U.S. states in Amish population, behind only Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

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There are reportedly five Amish settlements here in the Mohawk Valley. And we've all seen them around at some point, usually at the local farmer's markets. They sometimes make appearances at estate sales or antique shows.

The fact is, Amish people can't just drop what they're doing to come help you with your project. Some Amish communities are simple dairy farms and don't dabble in contracting at all. But the ones that do can often be hired for projects like:

New construction (residential)
New construction (commercial)
Remodels
Masonry
Roofing
Siding
Driveways
Garages
Storage buildings
Barns

For your average modern American in 2022, contacting the Amish seems like an insurmountable obstacle. There are no Amish websites where you can get a quote. And you obviously can't call them. There's no 1-800-AMISH-NOW.

As it turns out, the best way to find out if the Amish can help you is...

California Costumes Store via Amazon / Canva

It's really just as simple as that. Next time you see them out and about, introduce yourself and ask what kind of work they do. See if your project is something they'd be willing to take on, and see when they might be available.

Everyone agrees: Working with the Amish is fantastic. They're punctual, do what they say they're going to do, and work hard. And you know their craftsmanship is going to be top notch.

Best of luck finding an Amish worker to help build your Amish Paradise!

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New York State Barn Life

How would you like to live in a barn? Before you answer, take a look at these pictures of a barn ready for conversion in Chestertown.

Gallery Credit: Karolyi

Are These the Best, Most Fun "Retro" Furniture Stores in Upstate New York? We Think So!

Remember when couches were purple, dinette sets were bright red, and living room lampshades came in every color of the rainbow? If you do, your are a Baby Boomer and we have found your old furniture at these great Upstate New York retro stores!

And if you lived through those times, you have to remember when everybody thought, "Thank God!" when those styles went, well, out of style! So, how could they ever come back to being one the hottest collectible styles of furniture today? The answer is simple.

We all got old.

We yearn for the good old days, which seemed simpler and better (OK, put your rose colored glasses down). The furniture, which dawned at the infancy of the Space Age, was zany in design, dazzling in color, and made your home look modern and fun. So why not bring it all back. Can you believe what happened to vinyl records?

These stores are among the best in Upstate New York that sell the Mid-Century Modern furniture that our parents' had. We want them now. And these stores are stocked to the walls with anything you need to enter the "way back machine" and relive the days of your youth with original furniture and accessories from the 1940s-1980s.

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio