For those interested, here are some links to information about the Amana Society:
http://amanacolonies.com/pages...
http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/a...
There is some misinformation about the Amana Society out there as well. I think the most hilarious statement I've come across is "All land is owned by the government of Israel." (
http://www.uwec.edu/geography/...). Just like any other area in the U.S., we own our own homes and the lots they sit on. The farmland and timber in the area is owned by Amana Society, Inc. If you own shares of stock, you are free to roam the land, hunt, fish, gather wild berries, whatever. The entire 27,000 acres is a game preserve. As a consequence, we had an overpopulation of deer for many years. That problem was solved by, believe it or not, the appearance of mountain lions way out here in Iowa. We also have coyotes and the more usual complement of Midwestern wildlife. Perhaps the strangest animal to appear is the armadillo. As the climate continues to warm, armadillos are moving north out of Texas and Arkansas and have found a safe haven here in the Amanas.
