Dahlonega Farmer's Market

Riding for the Brand

Small, but growing community farmer's market

"What are we going to do today?" A question that is frequently asked on a Friday night or a Saturday morning at our house. I suggested Dahlonega, which is usually always a good idea. This particular trip ended up being a real treat. The town of Dahlonega was having their weekly farmer's market which is quite small with only about 10 vendors. My husband, Klaus and I were happy to learn that it has grown since last year. 

Klaus, our daughter Carter and I strolled along the sidewalk looking at homemade jellies, apple butter, seeds and herbs to plant and baked goods. I'm quite keen on supporting local businesses and rarely leave any type of farmer's market without purchasing something. I had decided to buy a jar of apple butter when Klaus found a vendor , Riding for the Brand. The proprietors were licensed candlers. My suburbanite self obviously had no idea what a candler was. Klaus being the grandson of farmers and the son of a chef of course knew the value of candlers. For all you omelet lovers out there, a licensed candler is a person who has the authority to assess the edibility of eggs. We were unprepared to buy eggs on this trip, so I bought beeswax hand salve instead. The hand salve is great with a honeysuckle scent which in my opinion is a bit of olfactory paradise.

HONEY - My First Love

Sterilizing my daughter's new Mam glow in the dark pacifier at my parent's house, my dad reminds me that he and my mother used to put honey on my paci. "Mama, Daddy I neeeed honey." That was my tune as a demanding toddler-epicure. I imagined the tons of honey my little body consumed. Oh the horror! I would never dream of doing that to my little girl. (FTM)

Honey was my second word after dada. The smell and the taste of it as a little slice of heaven, or perhaps proof of heaven. Think about it,  six-legged creatures with stingers create honey from raw flower nectar. I don't keep bees. The thought of grabbing a honeycomb with 50 to 100 bees swarming all around me is definitely the stuff of nightmares. (Perhaps I have seen Candyman one too many times.) I'll leave bee keeping to the pros or the unafraid bee enthusiasts, such as dear Aunt Seglinde.