Lehmans the Ultimate Homesteading Store

Lehmans has got to be one of my very favorite stores and catalogs in the whole world. (See how things change? Used to be Chadwicks of Boston for the career clothes - now it's Lehmans for their non electric utensils and old fashioned cooking supplies.)  We went on vacation to Ohio one year, and while it sounds boring, like "What in the world can you do in Ohio?" that Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia vacation was one of the best we've ever taken. Two highlights from that trip were Baltic Mills and Lehmans Store, located very close to one another in the heart of the Ohio Amish country.

Many people think of the Amish and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as synonymous, but there are Amish communities right here where I live as well as in upstate New York, Indiana and Kentucky. We almost bought a beautiful Amish farmhouse but the challenge of bringing in electric wiring and plumbing scared us off.  It was in Kentucky, and so sturdy that it was almost - but not quite - worth the effort to us.

Baltic Mills is an old-fashioned grain mill and country store. Their freshly ground red winter wheat made the best loaves of homemade bread I've ever made and even with the great flour from my local country store, Miller's, I haven't been able to replicate the experience.

This morning I saw an ad for Lehmans and it made me think of their store. They focus on non electric goods and have everything for homesteading!  Canning supplies are hot right now but they also sell kettles, and soap making supplies, and all sorts of kitchen gadgets you thought only your grandma knew how to use or you could buy at an antiques store. Nope, Lehmans probably has it.

You can send away for their free catalog here.

Now why all this gushing about Lehmans? Because I'm frustrated with modern technology. Yet another appliance in this house - brand new, mind you, since we only moved in four years ago - malfunctioned, resulting in a service call, and I guarantee you it will set me back at least another $250 or more.  This is the third major items to go zonky in the new house since we moved and I'm annoyed as heck about it.  And it's not like I can blame one manufacturer; all different companies. But it's like modern appliances are made now to BREAK.  And what is breaking? Mostly the stupid computer sensors in them. Shorting out, whatever.  I am tired of it.

Whatever happened to making quality that lasts? And why, for example, does my stove need a computer board inside to rival NASA? I'm not launching the space shuttle from my kitchen. I am making a cup of tea.

Honestly....it is so tempting to flip through my Lehmans catalog and think about that Amish farmhouse these days.

Although I'd miss the hot showers, flush toilet, and air conditioning.