Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

Voting for the Amish

Tidbit: Conrad Grebel is well known in our industry for our level of customization. Because we make our furniture by hand, as opposed to a traditional factory system, we have the ability to do what many cannot. Are you looking for a special design with perhaps, a special color? Give us a call! Recently we made a custom pool table out of Black Walnut (see photo below). You might be amazed at just what we’re capable of doing for you!

Quote: “Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distresses of everyone, and let you hand give in proportion to your purse.” – George Washington

Just for Laughs: “If you can’t convince them, confuse them!” – Harry Truman

Fun Amish Fact: Many Amish vote in elections but at a rate that is probably far less than the national average. There really is no church ordinance that says one cannot vote, instead it is left to the individual’s choice (seems unusual since they live as community, not individuals). The Amish who choose not to vote tend to believe in simply staying out of the fray. It is more common that the Amish will be more active in voting in local vs. national elections. In the last few presidential elections the Amish were courted heavily in the swing states of Pennsylvania and Ohio by members of both parties.

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Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Amish Electricity

Tidbit: The new Amish Heirlooms catalog is done! These 564 page behemoths are beginning to fill up our office here in downtown Goshen. What began as an idea one year ago has finally materialized. Within these pages are many categories like occasional tables, home office, rustic hickory & log, fireplaces, vanities, entertainment centers, bedroom furniture and much more! We will start delivery to our fine furniture stores later this week…be on the lookout!

Quote: “A mind always employed is always happy. This is the true secret, the grand recipe, for felicity.” – Thomas Jefferson

Just for Laughs: “Americans are living longer these days, which is great news unless you happen to figure prominently in someone’s will!” – Unknown

Fun Amish Fact: It has often been asked of me as to how the Amish can use power tools to build our furniture without the use of electricity. In order to be competitive in today’s marketplace the Amish will use a clean diesel engine to generate the power that they need. The engine is typically placed in an isolated room off of the woodshop because of the noise level it creates. Electricity pulled from a standard power line is too assessable and thus, worldly to the Amish. A clean diesel engine can generate enough air and hydraulic power to replace electricity in order to operate a woodshop efficiently. Creativity can often lead to positive solutions within the Amish way of life so that they may adapt (competing in the marketplace in this example) without compromising their want of separation from the world.

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Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

Farmland

Tidbit: This spring Conrad Grebel will be expanding our wood species options. We will be adding Solid Elm & Solid Quartersawn White Oak to our line (in addition to the Oak, Maple & Cherry) so that you have more options. These two new wood species are beautiful, grainy woods that will give our furniture a unique and distinctive character. This is another way that Conrad Grebel is looking ahead to meet your needs.

Quote: “Keep away from small people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain

Just for Laughs: “You can’t leave footprints in the sands of time if you’re sitting on your butt. And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?” – Unknown

Fun Amish Fact: An Amish farm in Northern Indiana can reach up to 100 acres. Amish families who are woodworkers will have a farm of around 10 acres, which is enough for their home, woodshop, barn and pasture for their horses. An Amish family who farms for a living will have more acres to plant crops. A family will only have as much acreage as they need to fill the income needs of their family instead of working solely for profit. This is all within keeping of the Amish tradition of working with their hands to provide for their needs.

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Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Amish Retirement

Tidbit: Craftsmanship is only as good as the joinery used to put it together. Conrad Grebel uses many different joinery techniques including Mortise & Tenon. All of our face frame on our cabinets and bedroom furniture are put together by this ancient technique. This is one example of how we ensure that your furniture will last for generations! Wood connected to wood is always the better than joinery that is created by screws & glue.

Quote: “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” – James Barrie

Just for Laughs: “If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?” – Unknown

Fun Amish Fact: In the Amish tradition it is common for aging parents to live in a home connected to one of their children’s. This is called a “Dawdy Haus” in their Dutch language. Often it is addition added to an existing home, like an apartment. In the tradition of community it is rare for the Amish to live in a formal retirement home. Instead, they are cared for by their own family when the time comes.

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Friday, January 20th, 2012

Amish Education

Tidbit: It is often that Conrad Grebel will use scrap or offal wood on pieces of our furniture that are left over. This is part of our sustainability story of using as much lumber as we can with as little waste as possible. For example, some of the back spindles of our chairs, or the chair arms will be made from scrap when the parts are available for that. Any wood that cannot be used is preserved until the winter to heat the woodshop from a wood burning furnace.

Quote: “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill

Just for Laughs: “Did you know that dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish?” – Unknown
Fun Amish Fact: • The Amish believe that the Bible teaches that parents are to be responsible for their children’s early education. In the Amish tradition there is no such thing as day care, pre-school or even kindergarten. Instead, children are to be instructed by their parents in these youngest of years in the ways of the culture through community and family interaction.

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Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Amish Holidays

Tidbit: Conrad Grebel uses a unique floating panel system for all of our cabinet tops (dining room and bedroom). The steel-driven pins that we use (glorified screws) are flexible allowing the tops to expand and contract with the season’s changing humidity. This will help prevent cracking/season splits on our cabinets & bedroom furniture. It’s a very simple, yet effective technique.

Quote: “He who is really kind can never be unhappy. He who is really wise can never be confused. He who is really brave is never afraid.” – Confucius

Just for Laughs: “Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average… which means, you have met your New Year’s resolution.” – Jay Leno
Fun Amish Fact: • The Amish celebrate the Christmas holiday much like other Christian traditions with gift giving and family get-togethers. In addition, they will celebrate “Old Christmas” on January 6th each year. This is traditionally believed to be the time that the Three Wise Men arrived in Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus as described in the New Testament Gospels. During the Middle Ages the days between December 25th and January 6th culminated into the “12 Days of Christmas.” This was a time of great feasting and celebration each night beginning on December 25th. This is where we get the famous Christmas carol of the same name.

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Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Table Slides

Tidbit: Conrad Grebel uses two different kinds of table slides. Our pedestal tables have dual equalizing gear slides making it easy for one person to open or close their table. Our leg tables have unique, all wooden slides allowing tables to expand to longer lengths (see our New England tables for example). Both types of slides are made from Solid Maple and are an example of the sustainable quality represented by Conrad Grebel.

Quote: “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot

Just for Laughs: “Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together.” – Oprah Winfrey

Fun Amish Fact: As a symbol of community each Amish congregation will don a dress code for its members. This is another way of reminding each other that they are part of a united community committed to Christ, not to the world. By dressing alike in plain clothing the Amish set themselves apart from the world in which we live. Plain clothing does not allow any one person to be ostentatious (symbolizing pride) with fancier dress than their neighbor.

 

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Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Cold Sunday Morning

Tidbit: Conrad Grebel has eleven different table legs to choose from. You may choose any of our leg tables and swap any of our leg styles for no additional charge! In addition, you may create your very own leg table and its size. We can build you a table up to 60” wide x 84” long when closed up (without leaves). We can then add up to seven 18” leaves to make your table open to 210” (17.5’) long! Now that’s a big table! Simply let us know your custom requirements.

Quote: “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just stand there.” – Will Rogers

Just for Laughs: “Why does somebody believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?” – Unknown

Fun Amish Fact: I happen to teach the oldest member’s Sunday School class at the Mennonite church we attend. I’m blessed to have around 30 folks who’s youngest age is 80! I confess that I don’t try to “teach” them anything, I listen and learn as much as I can from them. It’s truly a wonderful experience. This past Sunday the temperature on the way to church was around 3 degrees…COLD! The sun was out and the trees were crystallized with ice & snow. It was really beautiful. As I started the class I asked the folks what they thought of the cold weather. As usual they smiled back at me nodding their heads in agreement that it was indeed a cold morning. I went on to joke that it took the heated seats in the family minivan extra-long to warm up that morning! A gentleman in the second row, Alvin, started laughing…at me! I probed a little knowing that Alvin grew up Amish and would have gone to church as a kid in a buggy. I asked him how they kept warm and he said, “Well Chad, we didn’t even have a buggy with a cap (it was all open like a carriage). We had a thick, horse-hair blanket that we kids cuddled up with while my dad held out an umbrella to block the wind!” Well, needless to say, once again I learned something! 

 

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Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

Welcome to our New Blog

Thank you for visiting the Conrad Grebel blog page. In the coming weeks we’ll be updating you on all of the happenings around Conrad Grebel. Stop back often so you don’t miss out!

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