There is a high demand for products that are not mass-produced at the moment. This is because, in part, of the fact that many people are becoming aware of quality issues with mass-produced products, especially when they’re made of wood, like furniture and sheds. Although mass-produced products are sometimes cheaper than artisanal products, the quality often just isn’t there — and your piece will never be one of a kind. Many consumers are also thinking more about what they’re buying, and where it’s coming from. They have issues with the fact that some providers of mass-produced products are exploiting workers, and not giving them their fair shares. For these reasons, among many others, people are turning to Amish-made products. Back in the 1920s, Amish furniture was first rediscovered during the “folk art” trend. Dealers and historians alike began placing a lot of value on the handmade products produced by Amish artisan, and that value hasn’t diminished. People now turn to Amish craftsmen not only for furniture, but many practical products as well, like Amish sheds and even Amish built garages. With that being said, let’s look into some of the products that you can buy — handmade, and often with custom specifications — from Amish artisans.
1. Furniture
As we’ve mentioned, Amish furniture is in high demand, is typically considered a fine and often even collectible type of product. There are many things that set Amish-made furniture apart from mass-produced furniture. For one thing, Amish furniture is 100% handcrafted, which means that a love of attention and individual details go into each piece of Amish furniture. Typically, this type of furniture is made from five different types of wood: hickory, cherry, oak, walnut, and maple. Often, Amish craftsmen are open to fulfilling custom orders, meaning that potentially, the piece of furniture you buy will be one-of-a-kind. Amish furniture is known for being not just beautiful, but long-lasting. These types of pieces are essentially collectible, and often are turned into heirlooms, passed down from one generation to the next. Of course, it’s important to note that this type of furniture isn’t just meant to look good — Amish pieces fulfill all of the necessary functions of furniture as well. If they fail to do so, many craftsmen are willing to mend or even replace furniture with no additional cost. Amish furniture might be more expensive than other types — and it does take a certain amount of time to arrive. But it’s well worth the investment.
2. Sheds
Amish sheds might not be the first products you think of when ordering something from an Amish craftsman. But Amish sheds are known for their high quality, just like furniture, and there are many reasons why a person might need a shed in the first place. Many people find that they need sheds to keep tools, and for that matter other items that don’t really fit into their homes. Sheds are often used by the Amish for similar purposes — and therefore, they’re especially good at making sheds that are both sturdy and attractive. Amish sheds, of course, often don’t come to customers fully constructed — Amish shed kits are popular orders fulfilled by craftsmen. They’re typically much more long-lasting than mass-produced sheds, able to withstand the elements in a way that others can’t. A wooden shed produced by Amish craftsmen typically lasts between 15 and 20 years. That’s plenty of time in which you can get a return on your investment.
3. Animal Housing
Many people who keep a large number of animals — or perhaps breed them — turn to Amish craftsmen for structures that will keep their pets not only safe, but comfortable. The Amish typically keep animals as well — so again, this is something that they’re very familiar with. Rabbit hutches, dog kennels, and horse barns are all available from Amish craftsmen. Often, these types of orders do have to be custom-made to an extent, as everyone animal’s needs are different. Luckily, craftsmen are more than able to fulfill such orders.
