Spokane's Hutterite commune

In August 2006, former Spokesman-Review photographer spent time at the Spokane Hutterian Brethern commune on Spokane County's West Plains. His photos depict agricultural work – the colony's financial lifeblood – and daily life at the community of about 80 members from 17 families. Members have have all their needs provided and don't possess individual wealth.

Section:Gallery

Fri., April 16, 2010

Paul Gross, farm manager, is reflected in his combine's mirror as he unloads wheat into a grain truck on Aug. 9, 2006. The Hutterites own two combines, six semis, a certified scale for weighing grain and a grain bin for storage. The Spokane colony farms about 7,500 acres in and around their community near Deep Creek.

Jed Conklin The Spokesman Review
Steve Benning of the Spokane Hutterian Brethren uses a goose wing to brush the dust from the windshield of his combine on Aug. 11, 2006. The Hutterites say the natural oil produced in the goose wing keeps the dust from collecting as quickly.

Jed Conklin The Spokesman-Review
A group of Hutterite boys, from left, Robert Benning, 10, Zackary Gross, 13, and Gary Gross, 9, wait to be picked up along the road June 22, 2006, near a wheat field where they were roguing rye. The Hutterites rogue, or remove, unwanted plants by hand in their fields.

Jed Conklin The Spokesman-Review
Sarah Gross of the Spokane Hutterian Brethern husks sweet corn for the freezer Aug. 9, 2006.

Jed Conklin The Spokesman-Review
Rosanna Gross walks ahead as from left, Linda Gross, Jessica Gross and Abby Gross haul a load of corn to the canning room Aug. 7, 2006, at the Spokane Hutterian Brethern commune. The women in the Hutterite community are responsible for almost all food preparation.

Jed Conklin The Spokesman-Review
Kathryn Gross and her daughter, Leneah Gross, 2, take a walk Aug. 17, 2006, near their apartment in the Spokane Hutterian Brethren community. The Hutterites live in a colony environment where they're provided what they need and do not own personal wealth.

Jed Conklin The Spokesman-Review
Lois Gross husks corn that will be frozen and eaten over the next year by the Spokane Hutterite Brethren colony. The community of 87 Hutterites is located near Deep Creek.

Jed Conklin The Spokesman-Review
Hutterite women work as a team on Aug. 9, 2006, in the canning room to prepare and freeze enough sweet corn, about 60 gallons, for the coming year. All of the husking, blanching, cutting and freezing are done in one day.

Jed Conklin The Spokesman-Review
From left, Abby Gross, Erik Gross, Zackary Gross and Lois Gross huddle while packaging sweet corn for shipment to Spokane Produce on Aug. 17, 2006. The colony's finances rely completely on agriculture. The Hutterites grow 60 acres of sweet corn, and most is sold.

Jed Conklin The Spokesman-Review
Donna Benning, 7, swings as George Hofer and his son Adam, 3, walk to breakfast Aug. 17, 2006. The Spokane Hutterian Brethren colony has 87 members from 17 families that share four last names: Gross, Hofer, Benning and Walter. The families live in 17 individual apartments in five buildings.

Jed Conklin The Spokesman-Review
Hutterite men and women traditionally eat on separate sides of the communal dining hall. The children eat in a separate hall where they are taught etiquette and how to clean after themselves.

Jed Conklin The Spokesman-Review
Dance instructor Wade Ramm helps Peter Bunin learn how to hold his arms with his wife, Zoe. The Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation Department is offering a new series of dance classes at CenterPlace as a part of its new spring/summer program.bart@spokesman.com

J. Bart Rayniak
Paul Gross and two of his eight children, Dora and Cliff, relax for a moment after breakfast in August 2006. Each morning between eating and starting the harvest the family meets at their home for coffee and conversation.

Jed Conklin The Spokesman-Review