Can The Amish Do It Better?

[@DownEastSaw]

That little Amish kid knows more about working hard and getting stuff done than 90% of American adults. What a treat.

[@ChrisFiggatt]

He’ll be running a construction business one day!

[@marklester161]

I am fortunate to live in an area rich in the Amish community as well. I, as a side hustle, drive semi during harvest season and deliver shucks to the local cattle farmers, most of which are Amish. I feel so fortunate to be able to interact with the community and the individuals that live in it. I echo your every word in this video. We “English” could sure learn a lesson or two from them … even the younger folks of their community.

[@ososkid]

90%, huh? You can say a lot of stuff about Americans. Like, 90% of Americans aren’t really great dealing in large numbers or 99.8% of Americans tend towards hyperbole. What you can’t say about Americans is that they don’t work hard or get things done. Americans work more hours for far less wages and fewer benefits with only as little as 1/4 the vacation time than every other industrialized nation and we have out produced every one of those countries too.

[@yotoma]

Try to find one out of a thousand average kids that age who is as articulate and aware and you would be set for any project in life.

[@cliffpalermo]

Was thinking the same. What great people

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

Neil, there is an Amish community about 60 miles from here… but, in our area we have Mennonites. They have different rules about equipment use, technology and such. But, their work ethic and sense of community is very similar. In 1993 I was wanting to have my first shop built. One of my buddies worked in construction as a carpenter. So I asked him to have his boss quote on building me that shop. After getting their quote, learning that it would be two months before they could start and four weeks to build it… another friend recommended a Mennonite barn builder. So, I contacted them for a quote. The builder quoted me 25% less, a starting date in two weeks and a three day build. I accepted it on the spot. When I told my carpenter buddy that I was going to have them build it, he warned that I wouldn’t be happy. He said that they don’t build barns the same way that his crew does. And, that they don’t pay taxes… so they are taking jobs away from other workers. Just as promised, the Mennonites showed up on time and built the shop in ONLY two days. As far as actual working time, they built it in 14 hours. When it was finished, my buddy, the carpenter came by to look at the job. He began showing me all of the things that he said were wrong… For example: they used 6 x 6 posts instead of 4 x 4’s. They used 2 x 8 purlins instead of 2 x 6’s. The pad was poured after the barn was built… instead of putting it on the pad. They also used trusses instead of rafters. He explained that all of those things ran up the price or cut corners. I listened and told him that I would have to live with my decision. And Neil, I must confess, that I have done so happily. That was in 1993. I kept his number and gave it to friends and neighbors who also used his company to have their garages, barns and sheds built. In 2014 I called that number again to have my shop doubled in size. The man who came out to look was the son of the man who had previously ran the company. He remembered helping his father build the original shop when he was a child. What’s surprised me most was that he remembered not only building it, but who I was. He also knew that I had recommended him to build the garage and shop for my neighbors. And, you guessed it. I hired him to build the extension on my shop. Since then , I also had them build a machine shed… So when I did some work for a family amusement park, I recommended that barn builder to build the visitor center. When I went by to watch the progress, it was not only he but several in his crew who welcomed me like old friends. So yes, they have a great community and a strong work ethic but they also remember others who help them. I wouldn’t be surprised if those Amish remember that you helped them move that barn.

[@digdrivediy]

That is a great recount Dave. Very much the same of the Amish around here. I’m glad you found a lifelong crew that would be back time and time again to assist with any building need. That’s getting harder to find these days too. When we built the addition to our house I asked my Amish neighbors to quote it. They told me they’d do it for the price of materials and wages for their employees, but they wouldn’t charge me. They treated me as a neigh and that’s all I could ask. I plowed the snow from their driveway every time it snowed from there on out until they moved. The Amish community around here is growing by leaps and bounds too! They are the only ones with an expanding birth rate and it has been apparent in the last couple decades. That’s the only beef we’d have is that we’re all competing for the same bits of land. At least we know we’ll have good neighbors! Have a great week!

[@stephenlea5765]

That’s awesome! Thanks for the detailed experience.

[@LordNecron]

'Use 6x6 instead of 2x4, 2x8 instead of 2x6'.......sounds like sturdier to me, not 'worse'.

[@janetdupree6353]

That is a heart-warming story. Thanks for sharing it.

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

@@LordNecron I agree…. I may not have made it clear… the Mennonite builder used superior materials… my buddy argued they were ’overkill’. His crew used the lesser materials…. 4 x 4, 2 x 6, rafters, etc. I never revealed how much less the Mennonites charged…. My buddy assumed I paid more to get it built. Does that help clarify it?

[@countrylifetales2700]

The boy at the end, showing you around and giving you the details of things, was awesome. What a smart young boy. Teamwork and community is a powerful thing. Thanks for sharing.

[@digdrivediy]

The best part of the video happened by accident! :)

[@DKAB66]

I’ve gone through all your videos, some twice! I hate having to wait until Sunday mornings for the new ones. You do a great job with filming, editing and narration. It really shows in your videos compared to other people’s content. Great job!

[@chengpuzheng3843]

😮😮😮​@@digdrivediy😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😢😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@nanoresmith2697]

​@@digdrivediy🤭 So cool! 🤗

[@muskegonhunterscamp]

IMO this is some of your best work Neil. Accomplished very respectfully, which isn't easy.

[@TheBroStead]

Great video. The little kid at the end was great. Great community

[@brucemitchell5637]

I bet the boy understood more about construction than most men!

[@johnthomas3842]

What a wholesome video. Neighbors and strangers helping move a barn!!!! I equate this to the kind folks that cut lawns for free or put roofs on homes for free. Good people doing good things. Thank you so much for this video.

[@kevinritchie9227]

Little fella at the end has been brought up well. The Amish community is definitely one of a kind. We are lucky we are only a few hours from Lancaster, PA and love going there.

[@davidurfer7632]

Moving the barn was nice an all, but the son of the new owner was impressive! That young man (I'm guessing 8-10) was plugged in. He knew everything that happened and what still needed to be done. He held a conversation with an adult without his parents present.

[@tonynieuwlandt5407]

That was fun to watch, that little guy definitely gave you the grand tour. He knew what he was talking about, that's for sure.

[@dooks123]

Quite a neat accent as well.

[@digdrivediy]

Yeah he sure did!

[@garyc4983]

Kids will be Kids............Neil thanks for taking the time to showcase everyone especially the end with those boys loved it all... Thanks again...........

[@NameNaameNameeNaamee]

That little boy is so adorable with his accent and being all grown up about what worked and what did not :D

[@rchavez5056]

It's funny, Neil, that you say you are a little jealous of there community. I felt the same about your community when you showed the video of your community working together for the fair you all had a few months ago. I even commented that I wanted to move to your town. The world would be a better place if everyone got along and helped each other like the Amish and your community does. Great video.

[@robertmooney571]

AMEN!!!

[@kevndo]

Neal, you are absolutely correct. If we could all get along and respect each other like the Amish do, this world would be a much better place. We built a house 2 years ago( my girlfriend actually did the GC) . The Amish and Mexicans were the best contractors to deal with. They came in did the work and we’re gone. All the others would show up, leave early, or not show up at all. Thanks for sharing the move.

[@Barbaralee1205]

I’m a neighbor to a Kentucky Amish community. I had a small business in a cramped garage on top of a big hill. In 2016 I had a heart attack and triple bypass surgery. They came and asked me what I wanted to do. They thought maybe I would sell out. I said, “what do you suggest?” “We think you should build at the bottom of the hill just lots bigger. “. So I bought the materials. They showed up on a very cold January morning and in 4 days they put up a lovely 4,000 sq ft shop. It was so fast I didn’t even have time to take pictures. Neighboring is a concept and a value that could bring peace and love to the world. It made me a better person. And my job now is to be the ambulance if anyone gets sick or hurt or a birth gets in trouble! I can honestly say these are the best years of my life.

[@ritterjon]

My favorite part was the young boy telling you all about it! What a cool thing to be a part of. *Keep on tractoring!*

[@BaberFlave]

One of my favorite videos in a long time. The conversation with the kid was awesome.

[@425edsTP]

I watch a lot of your videos. I enjoy their variety. And this is one of my new favorites and I think your comments about their community is very well said. Not very many of us can influence 350 people at the same time.

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks so much!

[@richardsaxton5201]

I was neighbors with the Amish community in Wyoming, Delaware. Awesome people and amazing craftsmen. Like you, I was always somewhat jealous of the tight bond they all maintained. Very proud to call many of them my friends. Great video!

[@Joey-iy2ls]

That was amazing and thanks for sharing! We lived in PA for 12 yrs and saw the Amish work ethic first hand. You are 100% correct about their commitment to community. We had them build a detached 14’x24’ garage that I wish we could have brought with us to FL. Thanks again for sharing

[@frankwrogg2515]

That was 100 percent awesome. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@TinManKustoms]

What an amazing video. The Mennonite and Amish Communities are very hard working people. Ive been very lucky in my life to have worked along side some of these folks here in Ontario Canada. Ive seen first hand how quickly they come together to tackle a project. One good example was when their fertilizer plant burnt they had guys there the next day tearing down the building and rebuilding a new building in a matter of 4 days. The building department didn't even have time to approve the permit before they completed the work. Most will look after their neighbors even if your not part of the community. Thanks for sharing

[@blackdogexcavator21]

That kid at the end was a hoot. He is wise beyond his years, for sure. Thanks for sharing Neil.

[@ryany1753]

By far one of the coolest videos yet

[@cornebistouille]

so nice to see a different look on the amish community. a candide and without bias view or judgement

[@aaronburford5701]

Gm Neil, thanks for sharing this! Was fascinating to watch And listen to the Amish work thru and complete a project. You have a lot in common with their methods too. I hope you had a great weekend, tournaments went well.... Looking forward to catching up this week sir!

[@digdrivediy]

Many thanks!

[@gilchrist31]

Awesome video, thank you. That little kid knows more carpentry than I do....Impressive. This country could use alot more people like that community.

[@stevebonczyk3795]

Thanks for providing great content. Its nice to see you mixing it up

[@berryfisher4764]

I have the utmost respect for the Amish people, so hard working and so kind. We have quite a few here in northern Michigan and it’s a pleasure doing business with them. I think they know something we don’t 😂

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That was awesome! We had some Amish friends who made it possible for us to put our addition on. They're amazing (and fast!) carpenters. I loved that outtake at the end. :)

[@hunterwilkins3978]

The Amish kid was awesome he's a good worker

[@gabehill1462]

We became close to an Amish family with 17 kids. They were such a humble family and so loving. Your comment about the Amish community is spot on. My Mom and Dad would be invited to weddings and events as they saw them as part of the family. Thanks for sharing!

[@JonneOksanen]

That community is something everybody should aim for. You can do almost everything solo but helping each other makes it a lot better. Team work makes dreamwork !

[@Yetibiker67]

Amazing people and amazing work ethic. Great community. We need more of that in this crazy world. Thank you Neil. There still is goodness in this world

[@tonysickles9440]

Marvelous video. So much to unpack here. Fascinating to witness. One of the best vids you’ve produced.

[@jondurr]

Shunning: Amish Style The Amish practice of shunning means that those who leave are shut out of their family and culture for the rest of their lives with no contact.

[@danchapin7987]

Very impressive! Our country would be so much better if we adopted the community first attitude demonstrated here! Thank you for sharing.

[@jasondonnelly4509]

You hoped that I liked it? I absolutely loved it ! I look forward to your videos every week Neil, thx, for so many things, like sharing your part of our world, your community and the small parts of your family life are treasures, plus you do a very good job of making entertaining videos.

[@jimmcginty8572]

Neil, one of best parts of your videos they are always about family, community, and hard work. A genuine recipe for a great way of life, keep up the great work.

[@br549rdr]

Amen Neil I agree I wish we all would help our brother/neighbor more. You can feel the power of love in the air when we all work together. 🙏🏻😇

[@beeroquoisnation]

The tenacity of the Amish is accompanied by their humility. They have committed themselves to He who is all Truth.

[@TheWeekendMedic]

Very cool video Neil - and good job documenting the process while being respectful of their traditions and privacy.

[@Tdale85]

Good morning Neil!! I live about an hour East of a very large Amish community in PA. Their work ethic is incredible!

[@digdrivediy]

Morning!

[@lisaleeper9399]

Great video Neil! Saw my amish neighbors farm, and alot of places i recognized. Drone shots were awesome. Little boys in the end were cuties!

[@maxobara1496]

Great job, shows the best when folks come together. Nothing is impossible!!💪🤗🇺🇸

[@Nicholaskleyn]

Thanks Neil for a great video. The Amish are fascinating people. Hard working and old school.

[@BigFarles]

Very cool video. Thanks for taking time to record this.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Awesome video Neil 👍🏻👍🏻 The Amish are very hard-working people! Thanks for for sharing this with us. Love it, my brother.

[@bramverkleij8844]

Loved that video,that was awesome and a bit scary at the same time. Team work makes great work. Thanks, Neil.

[@dmwi1549]

“Many hands make light work.” "No task is too big when done together by all".

[@robertrosicki9290]

At the end the little fella and his puppy giving you the tour was just a boat load of cuteness .

[@lilijean]

Little bro tells a story like a wise old man❤

[@john2willis70]

Amish kids take on responsibility at a young age. They are taught to work and given different chores around the farm that they are responsible for. They also go out on job sites with their dad when there isn't school. That's on the job training at a young age. I'd trust a 10 year old Amish boy to build me a dog house over an English boy the same age that plays video games all day

[@Hey_Its_That_Guy]

Really cool to see that, thanks Neil, for taking us along. The ending was precious, so glad you left that in! I often think the Amish and the Mennonites have it right and the rest of us are wrong.

[@seanmclaughlin3077]

The Amish are a national treasure. Thanks for sharing.

[@BFT88]

Neil that was really cool to watch. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[@kevinkenyon7045]

Great video! What an amazing showing of community! There are a lot more of good people than there are bad people! Thanks for sharing! Kevin

[@joshuaschneider3591]

As a math teacher who now mostly works with middle school students, I focus more on mindset than mathematics. One of the for parts of what I’ve come to dub ‘The American Mindset’ is “One for All = All for One.” Essentially one person’s willingness to sacrifice for a neighbor is the source of an entire community showing up to support an individual in need…. This video is a fantastic example (as is most of your content, Neil) and I will be working parts of this video into my classroom training sessions! Thank you for creating this. It is greatly appreciated!

[@lauraburnett9320]

Brilliant film as usual Neil and I fully agree about your views on the Amish. I am in the UK and involved in animal rescue and have seen several very sad films in the last year of beautiful horses being rescued from slaughter, they were taken there by the Amish and they were in a very sad and unhealthy state, worn into old age rather than retired gracefully in a field. This is such a sad state of affairs. The rescued animals were given an excellent retirement with their own kind.

[@Seven_Craig]

Got an Amish community by my lake property. Their general store and hardware store are my go-to for anything from simple grocery items to building materials. Friendly and always ready to lend a hand. My hat’s off to you and your neighbors. Thank you for another great video!

[@martynnewby6298]

That was heart warming Neil. Thanks for the effort.

[@booneblackmon7749]

Love how the lil kid at end knows everything going on. He can probably already frame a house. Awesome video

[@gastbury]

Thank you for sharing this community event. It reminds us of the power of people. No big equipment just human hard work. An excellent glimpse into the Amish way of life. Thank you for keeping the youngins playing with the camera at the end. Doesn’t matter your background… kids are kids!

[@ischmidt]

That whole thing was impressive, but I really enjoyed the boy at the end who knew everything like he was the general contractor. I live about 35-40 minutes drive from Lancaster, PA so we have a big indoor Amish market with a bunch of booths selling everything from cuts of meat and baked goods to sausage-filled pretzel sticks. The first time I went I was a little taken aback that they had modern cash registers and credit card swipe machines, but I'll freely admit I don't know what the actual rules are for the Amish. The food is fantastic though!

[@ponypwr]

The young Amish boy is very smart and knowledgeable! Very impressed! Most modern of grown men don't have the attitude and work ethic that young man has!

[@digdrivediy]

Absolutely! He pays attention when Dad is talking!

[@cgoad]

What a wonderful effort and community spirit! The two boys in the last twenty seconds are priceless.😊 Boys just being boys! Thank you, Neil!

[@scottbaughman]

I live in Canada, specifically Perth County in Ontario. We have a large Amish and Mennonite population in this area and in Waterloo Region. They are great people and sell great furniture! Plus their produce they grow and sell at the road is also great. Its always interesting around harvest time when you see the little piles of wheat all done by hand!

[@dubberkm7200]

Like the old saying... Many hands , make light work. Every Harlan Day video you put out, I comment on how great your community is, and it REALLY is. However, we could all really learn from the Amish. Just imagine what all could be accomplished if we all would come together and work as one, it can be a very powerful thing. This was a great video to watch, I believe you are very lucky to have been able to take part and help in this.

[@johnkelly9451]

My grandfather spent time with his brother working building homes and structures in Michigan. He came home, got married and built a farm and started a family. He later moved and rearranged buildings to utilize what was already built to expand over the years. Then added onto the main farmhouse and went up two stories. An incredible generation. One I'm still in awe of. Good to see everything isn't lost. The Amish have good skills and are a resourceful people.-John's wife

[@johnkelly9451]

What a beautiful building. -John's wife

[@seanarcher6952]

Neil, your videos are the best part of my Sunday morning routine!! Love watching them!!!

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks!

[@lisaharvey4373]

I agree the little guy at the end hard working attitude and so knowledgeable for his age!

[@petertaylor5377]

To me beening English I can't not imagine here in England A community coming together to do such a thing here neil , was Fascinating to watch neil thank you for all your videos

[@jamesharrod8733]

i grew up over hardin/logan counties in western ohio - old order amish was in the area, we always helped other , - got to give respect

[@ugoogletube8873]

People helping people, Great Video, thank you Neil

[@aarongarber5977]

Great video! I can attest that living in a community like this fosters a strong sense of belonging and cooperation. Support from the community can be especially strong in times like this and even greater when tragedy strikes one of their own. But this strong sense of community also has downsides. There is very little privacy and limited personal freedom which brings great pressure to conform to established social norms. Community sanctions can be deeply isolating and emotionally painful for offenses that may seem quite minor to outsiders such as not dressing properly or having a buggy or home that is too "fancy" or modern.

[@shepgre]

That was so enjoyable to watch. While subdivisions are growing larger and larger within big cities across the country the idea of true community like that is all but lost. Thanks for sharing.

[@casycasy5199]

so cool ,amazing how they moved it.that little kid was great.

[@johnsterling7420]

I had a Amish roofing company put a new roof on my home, they came a had it on in less than 4 hrs. I was very pleased with their work. We also are good friends with a Amish family, he is a great man and a carpenter. His wife is a good friend and we adore their eight kids.😇

[@05xlt]

I live near a few different Amish communities. They have all of the shops you spoke of and really churn out some amazing, high quality products. I’ve heard of barn moving, but I’ve never actually witnessed. It seems more chaotic than what I would have imagined, but very impressive nonetheless. Thank you for sharing!

[@SusanTaylor-k7c]

Loved this video! I have witnessed this before and think it’s incredible. Seems as if National Geographic did something on this once. As always your videos are in my top 5. That little guy was simply amazing wasn’t he? ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@owestyo]

Amazing what any community can do when they work together. You live in an amazing and diverse area. You’re so lucky.

[@thewuf]

Kids will be kids there at the end! Ha! Love it

[@goodness-mercy]

What a wonderful video. Some of my best friends are Amish - and most honest and straightforward! You helped bring up some great memories. I could keep on telling you Amish stories.

[@Oklahoman-in6ph]

AMAZING! Thanks, Neil for sharing this Spectacular event with us, just absolutely AMAZING! I hope to see you on the next one neighbor.

[@IWasntListeningToYou]

That little guy was so smart. The Amish children are doing better than most of the children in the nation. Shizz goes sideways, those children will survive and thrive. ❤

[@prymtme]

Fantastic! Lift where you stand. Great lesson on what we all can do together, if we lift where we stand.

[@leolarocque-v5v]

Love the video Neil and love that Kid too .

[@Jade-d]

Neil that was beautiful, thanks for sharing.

[@robertmccall8666]

Amazing the worth ethic ... That little kid .. wow ... Amazing. They work so hard

[@chooch1995]

The little Amish guy who gave you the ‘tour’ of the freshly moved buggy shed was a breath of fresh air! He’s proof that the Amish way is the right way. He was so knowledgeable about every aspect of the building & its pieces! If you go back in time when this nation was formed, the Amish would not have stood out. As time progressed, they didn’t….or did they? Yes, the English ( us ) progressed as far as our inventions are concerned ( cars, planes, spaceships ) but as far as our communities are concerned…forget about it. We’re headed for a cliff, I’m afraid. We no longer elect the best & the brightest to lead us….instead we have stuffed suits & political puppets masquerading as leaders. If there’s any hope for the future of this nation…it’s tightly knit communities like this. Imagine if we could recruit the strongest, sharpest men from the Amish community to govern! Their key strength is their faith in God Almighty. I respect them immensely. Thanks for this gem of a video, Neil!!

[@lisaharvey4373]

WOW Great video Neil so kool to see all those people working together never seen anything like it!!!!!

[@jamowallace]

The Amish Community always amazes me, if the world were to end, the Amish would still thrive! Great video as always Neil, greetings from the UK

[@DavidB-Scotland]

What a fascinating and enjoyable video! A case of too many cooks perhaps? Thanks Neil. 👍💪

[@paulhauter3773]

I love the amish grow up with them all my life (homes county Ohio)

[@argee55]

We had an Amish construction crew do a job for us seven years ago. They were here for 13 weeks. They were a joy to work with.

[@chrissym9514]

That was an awesome video! Amazing power of man.

[@philknapp5051]

I used to have a customer in the town of Grabill (R3 Composites) and Grabill Country store in town has a lunch buffet I would partake of each time I was in town. Highly recommend it. Small world.

[@aconnelly9534]

Fantastic video. The Amish are great folks.

[@terryrogers1025]

Thanks Neil, I lived around an Amish community for a number of years, and your right, the sense of community is strong, really enjoyed watching, brought back good memories.

[@Mr_Timi1]

I got a good laugh off those kids at the end, looks like they got a stern look too. great video. Happy sunday!

[@ericreinoehl4350]

Thanks for the view. It is very interesting to see the process and effort in there community. Cool you where able to be a part and show us. Thanks

[@digdrivediy]

Thanks for watching!

[@richieanderson1256]

wow! all in a days work huh. just incredible neil. ❤