When summer turns into fall and you look forward to no longer running up your electric bill with the air conditioner, have you ever wondered how the Amish families cool their homes on the scorching hot summer days? Truth is, they don't.

Usually the Amish are well acclimated to the heat and know no other cooling method than to open the windows. Then they simply “grin and bear” it as beads of sweat roll down their skin all day long. Occasionally, you will see battery powered fans being used in less conservative communities. Cool summer nights are always a special blessing for them as they enjoy the cool breeze coming in through the open window, allowing them a decent night's sleep.

Even in the heat of the summer, the ladies are required to wear long sleeve dresses, and the men required to wear long sleeve shirts. Thankfully, in most communities, they are allowed to roll up their sleeves. You may wonder, why don’t they just wear short sleeves? In all practicality, most families can't afford seasonal sets of clothing for their large families, so the long sleeves intended for the winter months are simply rolled up on hot summer days.

Aside from simply adjusting to the heat, the Amish people do find various methods to cool down during the hottest months. Simply sitting in the cool grass under the shade tree or fanning themselves with a nearby newspaper or magazine often yields some relief. Due to lack of refrigeration, they cannot grab a cup of ice cold water or lemonade; however, the water pumped from the spring water in the well or cistern is often quite cool and provides great refreshment!

And if the heat becomes unbearable, perhaps a trip to you, the English neighbor with the air conditioned house, is exactly what is needed!

In my book, The Greater Inheritance, I share many more little-known facts like this!