#HTE

What the Amish Use as a Light Switch

While the Amish typically don’t use electricity–if they purchase a house that’s been wired up, one of the first things they do is remove the wiring–they do have indoor lighting. Instant-on indoor lighting, in fact.

Erik Wesner is the founder of the Amish America website, and as he explains, the Amish have gas lamp fixtures in their homes, with a knob that regulates the gas.

Hanging from these lamps is a “switch:”

Close-up of the “switch:”

Wesner demonstrating how to light it:

If you’re interested, Wesner also lists some things the Amish will use electricity for (washing machines!), as well as some workarounds, here.