08/16/2026
Today is National Homesteader's Day! 👨🌾🪵🌽🥕🪡🧶 While Ephrata Cloister was a religious community, many members were homesteaders since they were farmers, tradespeople, and craftspeople!
Brothers, Sisters, and Householders all cultivated the land and were very knowledgeable in agriculture. 🪴🌱Between the farms, fields, orchards, and kitchen gardens, the community worked hard to harvest grains, produce, and herbs to have food available all year round. While the celibate members were beekeepers, the householders had livestock for animal products, transportation, and labor. At the top left of the image there is an original bee skep (beehive) and at the top right is an original wooden spike-tooth harrow to help with planting and fertilizing fields.
Many Ephrata members were involved in textile production, whether it be spinning, weaving, or sewing. 🪡🧶👕The second row of images show original items such as a tape loom, a spinning wheel, and a loom to make various linen and wool textiles.
The community would have had to complete all their own chores, such as laundry, cooking, baking, and cleaning, without the luxuries of modern appliances. 🫧🧹🧼At the bottom left of the image is a wicker wash basket, an iron kettle, and a wooden dough trough.
The community also had five different mills making products and goods for themselves and others. Many Brothers and householders were carpenters and clockmakers. 🕰 At the bottom right is an original clock whose case was possibly made by the Brothers. In addition to carpentry and clock making, the Brothers had a very large printing operation. Knowing various trades and crafts were essential in order to survive in the 18th century.
Historic Ephrata Cloister has a fascinating religious history as well as history of agriculture, trades, skills, and ways of life that were key to surviving in colonial America. Find out more about this colonial community by visiting our site and taking a guided tour! For more information, visit www.ephratacloister.org today.
