[ISL] "Amish communities checking out province"

[rfmcdonald]

The Guardian of Charlottetown's Maureen Colter writes about the apparent interest of some Amish to set up colonies in Prince Edward Island. It's worth noting that some commenters have suggested that this settlement could be economically problematic due to low Amish labour costs. Inexpensive farmland and a compatible culture, though, are definitely alluring.

[Amish ally Anthony] Wallbank has tried moving some communities to Northern Ontario where the land is cheaper but the terrain is rugged and not conducive to mixed farming, he said.

“This past spring they couldn’t even grow oats which is a pretty basic crop. You can grow oats almost anywhere but up there the crops were no good at all so that was discouraging to the Amish I took there.”

There are many reasons why Amish would thrive on P.E.I.

The soil is excellent, the growing season is longer than Northern Ontario and the land prices are cheaper, said Wallbank.

On Oct. 14, Wallbank and a group of Amish from Millbank Ontario made the 22-hour drive to check out P.E.I., mainly the eastern part of the Island.

The Amish noticed Route 3 and Route 4 had paved shoulders wide enough for a buggy to go down, he said.

“There is little chance that there would be a collision. It’s a safer environment than what it is here in Ontario.”