The Amish Frolic

The farmer is remodeling the barn this summer to make new facilities for storage, fermentation, and general food and order preparation. This past Saturday he hosted a frolic to tear down the top of the barn. They got half done on Saturday and finished the rest yesterday. Hard work!

A frolic is when an Amish community, especially the boys, unites to accomplish a big task, one that could not be done alone. Frolics are viewed as fun social activities. Amish farmers may also host frolics to build a barn, make hay, clear a field to make a new garden space, or build a fence around a pasture.

The idea of the frolic goes along with the Amish disbelief in modern “insurance”. Instead of exchanging money for protection, they rely on positive life decisions and the good nature of their community as backup.

For example, the Amish do not have health insurance. Instead, the Amish treat their bodies with respect. They eat healthfully and exercise regularly. When injured or ill, the Amish treat themselves with homeopathic or herbal remedies first. And, if someone does need to go to a doctor or a hospital, each community member steps up to help pay the bill. This sense of camaraderie and safety is so rare in modern America.

Freedom from health insurance is a major reason why the farmer chose to specialize in hands-on biodiverse farming and produce the most healthful nutrient-dense food possible. He writes, “Our vision is to end sickness by enhancing health, nutrition, and happiness in the lives of families and individuals. Our purpose is to inspire a generation of healthy children and reduce healthcare costs for families and individuals.”

This week, we had some illness in the family, so I made some healing food – soup! First, I soaked black beans and chick peas in water and whey for 24 hours. After rinsing, I added them to a big pot filled with chicken bone broth, dried seaweed, a bay leaf, and some salt and pepper. I cooked until soft and served with quinoa.