Hutterite Colony - near Stony Plain

On Saturday we left for Stony Plain where the Exchange Teachers group had arranged to meet before heading to Warburg Hutterite Colony. The Hutterites are one of those groups who shunned mainstream society and are living out their own Utopian existence in colonies that have continued to spread throughout the plains in Canada. They originated in Germany, headed for Russia, landed in South Dakota and landed in Canada after World War 1.

If a community is successful and its numbers grow beyond 120, then the group splits and new land is found. The Warburg Community split 3 years ago with a new colony starting at Peace River several hours north of here.

If you are a Hutterite, the world is a sunnier place if you happen to be the oldest male sibling. The women seem to get the rough end of the deal.

The colony itself operates as a very successful and diverse farm: They kill 1200 muscular chickens a week; produce room-fulls of eggs; make soap; grow 40 acres of spuds; truckloads of milk; raise cattle and geese etc.

Life is very controlled and organised. There is a strong social pecking order. They work long hours and then go 'home' to clean shiny household surfaces - especially tiles - with unfettered enthusiasm.

No TV, computers or radio. They make their own clothes, have little contact with the outside world and own some very big pieces of farming machinery.

The school stops educating students at age 15, beyond which they have no need for further education.

Hutterite Dairy (for John & Judy)

Hutterite Spuds

Hutterite Calf (Number 232)

Free-spirited Hutterite Geese (wings chopped at birth)

Happy Hutterite Chooks

Spot the Hutterites.
(Two only)

We really enjoyed the visit. The community members that we met were extremely friendly and obliging. Poking our heads into such a different space was interesting for all of us. We shuddered at the level of orderliness and the societal structure and rules. Nevertheless, the absence of an obsession with owning stuff was refreshing. And also, it would be nice to know what each day held well in advance, wouldn't it? A bit like owning a crystal ball...