I am a honey lover. I include it in or on about anything I eat or drink. I have found that different honeys provide a new and interesting flavor component to what I consume. Thought I’d share some lessons I have learned along the way down my path of sweetness.

Several times a year a customer will stop in and tell us of their first job at Calef’s. There are many ways that a country store can give back to the community but providing good local jobs to our younger citizens is among the most important and rewarding.

Calling all cheese lovers~ if you want to preserve your block of favorite cheese full of flavor it’s time to look at specially made cheese bags or cheese paper, depending on your preference.

What makes Calef’s candy room truly unique is that we charge by the piece. There are prices on the jar and/or the candy that say how much it is. Customers often ask “why do you not sell it by the pound!, wouldn’t that be easier?” Yes, it would be easier, but easier is not always better.

In 1955 Richard E. Kimball and Ruth E. Kimball founded R.E. Kimball & Company. They were looking for a high-quality alternative to the mass-produced jams and jellies that were available at the time and thought their family recipes and commitment to fresh natural ingredients would fit the bill.

Did you know that according to the Department of Agriculture the average American eats 8 1/2 pounds of pickles a year? Why last year alone Calef’s Country Store sold almost 12,000 pickles. In fact pickles are so popular that November 14 has been named National Pickle Day.

Behind the Calef’s Country Store, you will find a large community garden that includes 16 – 4’x8’ plots. Seven years ago Calef’s dedicated an open, full sun, plot of land to the community. It was a way to give back to Barrington while promoting fresh, organic produce.

New Hampshire is all about the fresh maple syrup and maple season is in full swing. Starting late February you will find New Hampshirites out feverishly tapping their maple trees, some tapping into the hundreds. Sap from maples can only be collected late winter through early spring.

With spring around the corner my thoughts are turning to gardening. After a long hard winter I can’t wait to get outside and get my hands into the dirt. My garden is fairly new and my soil isn’t all that it could be but luckily for me I love to eat and grow beans.