Visiting the Most Conservative Amish (Swartzentruber)

I take you inside a woodworking shop run by a member of the plainest and most conservative Amish - the Swartzentruber Amish. Despite what you might think, they are quite approachable folks and I was able to film at several businesses. The owner of this shop, Gideon, makes several products, one of which I'd never seen before.

*This is my 100th video since starting the channel in April 2021 - thanks to everyone for your support!*

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If you'd like to visit Gideon's workshop, here are the details. This is one of the few Amish communities that doesn't permit any sort of phone whatsoever. So you either need to show up or write a letter 🙂

Gideon H. Hershberger
Porch Rockers & Cutting Boards
2982 Hollis Road
Ellenboro, NC 28040

Related videos:

[AmishAmerica]

This is my 100th video since starting the channel in April 2021 - big thanks everyone! 👍👍Also 2 things - the other guys who were there working on the buggy fired up the saw mid-video. So I had to drop the volume. Hope that didn't startle anybody 🙂And if you'd like to visit Gideon's workshop, I left his details in the video description 👍

[zalkona]

That’s beautiful work. Made to last a lifetime. Just yesterday we were out camping in a part of Lancaster county in a tiny town called Holtwood and while driving around the area I definitely got the feeling that the Amish presence was even stronger than it had been in years passed. Lots more farms that are now Amish owned as well as many small businesses. The scenery in that area is stunning. In some areas you can see for miles!

[starletsatori]

I love living near the Amish in Lancaster County! I shop their farms for most of my food. Especially happy to support them with all the crazy things going on today.

[isaweesaw]

Brings me back to woodworking lessons at school. I have to admit, these handcrafted things look and function way better than what you get in the shops

[wade]

The older I get the more fascinating that life seems.

[mrs.g.]

Such beautiful workmanship! I hope Gideon's shop continues to do very well and his community will thrive.

[zachsmith]

I’ve never heard an Amish person with an Appalachian accent. That’s pretty interesting hearing an Amish person that sounds like one of my neighbors.

[susiecox]

Hi Erik, Gideon does beautiful work and it would last a life time. I love the rocker and at a pretty good price I think, it is a beauty and would be worth every penny I'm sure. Thanks for sharing.

[witdwfjeannetteelizabeth]

Such beautiful cutting boards! I have a tray table from one of the shops in Bird-in-Hand, PA, and I just love it; everything is made so well by the Amish! It was nice that he did not mind being interviewed. I hope he does well with his new business. 😊

[vallis]

You may now know that the kitchen tool some of us use for making sauerkraut, pounding the cabbage/salt mixture into the Canning Jars. It can be used for other thing, obviously...but kraut is most often what it's used for. Can your audience purchase the cutting boards through the mail? I'd love to have several. Thanks for the video. It's always fun to be here. (Oh, great!...I see we need to write him personally to purchase something. Thanks so much.)

[lindaedwards]

Beautiful wood work ! I’ve seen some similar and they are generally pretty pricey. These are definitely fairly priced . Beautiful, beautiful work. I live in upstate SC and get up to western NC 4-6 times a year so I hope to get to visit at some point.

[TheLizardKing]

Swiss German Craftsmanship at it's finest. Only the BEST! Great video Erik!!

[marylee]

I really enjoyed this one, I love wood furniture. The rocking chair was right up my alley. I like how the wood on the seat curved. I wish this man well, he seems to have his sights on what he wants to make and how he wants to grow his business. I'm in VA, but I love a real southern accent, he sounded sweet if that even makes sense. Lol. It was so nice of you to post his address in case others are interested. I'm assuming it's all done by mail. Or do they have a website? I know that many Amish businesses do. Thanks for posting and looking forward to seeing the other shops.
Actually adding on: I'm assuming no website as I realized you would have listed it. Duh 😊

[thejourney]

He does beautiful work. That item for packing food into canning jars is a really good idea. My Mom just used a spoon. I can still hear that spoon as it hit the sides of the can. This seems like it would work much better.

[cindynielson]

OMG Gideon's cutting boards are beautiful. It is a long way from AZ to NC. I wish he had an Esty shop but I'm sure that is forbidden. I love the made in USA! TFS 💯👍👏

[jerryvincent]

Love your videos. As I have mention last summer my grandson and myself visited a Amish bakery and purchased a few items.They are very grateful people!🇺🇸🐻

[riggs]

I love those cutting boards! Especially the first one. I know they wouldn’t appreciate this, but some of their work I would even consider art.

[lilbatz]

Admire the hustle, and wish Iived closer to buy a few of those beautiful cutting boards.

[kellyhanson]

i saw some amish around springfield MO and i'm curious about them. I don't get too far into Missouri very often but it was interesting seeing them in a buggy going along the side of the busy highway. Everyone seemed to be good about moving over so they had plenty of room at least.

[TheMtggrl]

I love handmade and Gideon certainly has wonderful woodworking skills, I'd love one of those cutting boards and heck yeah to a rocker. I have a friend who has a Summer home in Upstate New York on Lake Seneca, they had all of the cabinetry handmade by an Amish cabinet worker who lives locally in that area. I was surprised to find that they had a community there, but its such beautiful country I totally understand why they would want to farm there. The cabinets were stunning, unfortunately they had some pipes freeze and burst in their home while they were away for a few months, when they came back they had to gut the house and start all over, I don't know if they were able to wait for the Amish cabinetry on the rebuild, but I can say the workmanship of the originals was stunning. They were pricey, but worth every penny. Thank you for sharing these types of little shops with us, I'm on the West Coast and we have no Amish in California, but if I ever make my way to an area with Amish, I will see out these crafters, especially as a crafter myself, I love to support these businesses.