The Hutterites: To Care and Not to Care depicts the life of an extraordinary people who have persisted and grown despite centuries of persecution, migration and voluntary isolation. In the 1870s 1,265 Hutterites emigrated from Russia to the Dakota bank of the Missouri River. Spiritual cousins of the more numerous Mennonites and Amish, the Hutterites came to America along with thousands of Mennonites.Probably no group in North America is further from mainstream western values than the Hutterites. They dress in 16th century styles and maintain a medieval village pattern living in collective agricultural communities. Each colony is arranged around a central dining hall where all meals are eaten communally. Individual families live in sparsely furnished apartments without kitchens. The emphasis is on function rather than décor.The Hutterites live simply. They do not hesitate to employ innovations that will benefit the community, whereas items that promote individual comfort or entertainment are considered subversive to communal life. Thus they use technologically advanced equipment (even computers) but do not allow radio, television or individual use of the telephone.