“If we were to buy a farm in
rural Pennsylvania, do you think
we’d meet with hostility from the
local residents?” was the dilemma
posed to this column a few weeks
ago by a reader considering relo
cating at retirement.
Located on a farm rapidly being
encompassed by urban sprawl, our
reader yearned to live in a more
isolated area. However, a relative
who had moved to a very rural
part of the state felt so unwelcome
he finally moved away again. That
experience left our correspondent
concerned over acceptance of
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HERNLEY’S FARM EQUIPMENT. INC.
2095 S. Market St. Elizabethtown, Pa.
717-367-8867
STOLTZFUS FARM SERVICE. INC.
Rts. 10 & 41 Cochranville, Pa.
215-593-2407
ZIMMERMAN’S FARM SERVICE
School Road, Rt. 1 Bethel, Pa.
717-933-4114
C.J. WONSIDLER BROS.
Finland Rd., Quakertown, PA
215-536-1935 / 215-536-7523
Rts. 309 & 100, New Tripoli, PA
strangers by rural neighborhoods.
Several of you kindly took the
time to write about your experi
ences as strangers in a new rural
neighborhood. Responses have
run two to one on the positive
side. Thanks...thanks...thanks for
sharing!
From a Mississippi-born grand
mother of 20 who has moved eight
times in her life, comes this
advice! “People here are (and
were) friendly and helpful. If you
want or need help, generally
somebody in the neighborhood
will supply it. I think if you treat
will get you out of any tight spot
in a hurry
And its long, 110 inch conditioner makes
for even faster drying. You’ 11 get
unmatched maneuverability
with the 1340, and it’s easy to set for
swathing or fluffy windrows
A 12 foot cutting width and a
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See your AGCO Hesston dealer today.
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STANLEY S FARM SERVICE
RD 1, Box 46 Klingerstown, Pa.
717-648-2088
UMBERGER'S OF FONTANA, INC.
RD 4, Box 545 Lebanon, Pa.
717-867-2613
A Nobody knows hay lifco
Ahesston
your neighbors with respect, they
will, in turn, treat you with
respect. Living in the country is
the best place to be. We love it.”
Mirroring that philosophy is the
advice of a former Philadelphian:
“My advice to a person relocating
to a new rural area is to appreciate
the beauty of your new surround-
These wonders are all a Gift
from our Heavenly Father.
Respect and care for this new land
and have a warm smile and a
simple greeting. Stay out of the
gossip.”
From one who has lived in vari
ous parts of the country and
returned to her native county after
marriage comes a different
viewpoint: “...it seems we ‘outsid
ers’ are to be constantly reminded
of our lower status. Since she/he
does not have the involvement of
raising a family, a move to rural
northern U.S. would not be wise.
It would be extremely difficult to
make strong connections with
neighbors and would take a long
time.”
Still another reader who found
rural folks initially distand com-
mechanical
ee top
ifficiency
11 16, high-
speed,
swmgaway
nives are
ough rough
lem fields
itenance
•e reversible
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Dacambar 9, 1995-B5
ments: “...But the longer we live
here the more understanding we
have of their lifestyle. We find our
neighbors to be lovely people—
just very busy with their own lives
and responsibilities. If you’ve
moved rurally, don’t try to change
the way things are to the way you
think they should be. Accept the
differences. Remember the rea
sons you wanted the country
life...”
A single, professional woman
Twho worked in Pennsylvania for
a couple of years and did not feel
personally accepted into the con
servative rural community) writes
from hundreds of miles away,
across the country; “...some parts
of agriculture do not smell like
potpourri...some of it actually
stinks! It is the natural environ
ment they want until they live
down the road from it. Then they
are suiprised how natural agricul
ture can be. I think we forget that
tk So, you say you don t know O £
E what to get that person for Christmas.
Well, think no more! The Penn-Jersey Association Cookbook makes a great
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f* For the price of just $lO 95 each (includes & postage),
we can ship your qjder of cookbooks immediately!
Don’t deity Christmas is just a&und the comer.
when someone moves into our
neighborhood there are two cul
tures involved and we need to get
to know each other.”
And finally, from a new friend I
just met from Tioga County—a
“flatlander" dairy producer whose
family moved north and loves it—
comes this counsel; “Anyone con
templating a relocation should
stop and look at lifestyles and
future needs. A person in this area
must travel 25 or 30 miles to a
doctor or hospital. Major shop
ping areas are also a distance.
There is no regular public trans
portion. Rural utilities aren’t
always dependable, so anyone
with special needs—heat or
oxygen—should be aware. Folks
here depend on each other. We
couldn’t have found better neigh
bors or a nicer community.”
There, dear reader, is advice
from those who have been there.
Hope we’ve helped!