Richard R.
Yelp
My UPDATE of Jaemor Farms is long overdue.
Since writing my first review here back in 2013, I've visited more than 2 dozen times. I host a hiking group and many of our adventures bring us past Jaemor. So, I will typically bring the group here as part of our hiking adventure, especially if we have a newbie. It's a good spot to stop, stretch our legs, use the restroom & explore the fun local offerings inside.
I honestly can't think of a single person that I've brought here that didn't think it was absolutely worth the stop.
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THE SCENE
Our most recent visit brought my wife's mom. She is not her biological mother, but more of a spiritual mom. We met her in church many years ago when we first came to faith and their kindred spirits have been two peas in a pod ever since. She's been the stand-in grandmother to our children, has accompanied us on countless vacations and has been at nearly every birthday party & holiday gathering for the past 17+ years. So when her husband recently passed away, she was in need of some fresh air and family.
2020 for many will certainly be a year with an asterisk attached. So much loss, change, adaptation, loneliness, depression, and anxiety have been caused by the headline events of this year that many of us seek a small piece of normalcy despite the risks of COVID19. We have decided to do what we can do to keep our family connections strong and places like Jaemor Farms give us open-aired opportunity to feel joy again in this ominous new reality.
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THE EXPERIENCE
We knew just how much this place would connect with her soul. She's a small town country girl who still talks with a faint Carolina twang. A true Southern Belle who still to this day hosts tea parties with her group "The Sippy Sisters", sits on her rear porch each morning to read, pray and drink her coffee, and adores holiday decorations & gatherings. Isolation for someone like her is dang near torture, especially now that she is alone.
So, after masking -up and clipping her portable sanitizer dispenser to her purse, she found herself lost in the quaint atmosphere almost immediately. She was the 69-year-old equivalent of a kid in a toy store, full of awe & wonder. If she wasn't pointing at something or placing her hand over her mask in amazement, she was picking something up. So I took the opportunity to reverse parent roles and tell her to "stop touching everything!" LOL
What was she in awe of? Everything, from the bounty of fresh produce, to the fresh made sweet breads, local honey & ciders, to the huge variety of preservatives and mason jar items like salsas and pepper jellies. Being that it is Fall, she was amazed by the selection of pumpkins and gourds as well as the eclectic selection of southern yard art. But what she really enjoyed were the fried pies and store-made ice creams in the rear.
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PIES, ICE CREAM & PEANUTS... Oh my!!!
Tucked away in the rear left corner of the building is a display counter loaded with instant delight. Fried pies of all kinds from German Chocolate to Coconut to Strawberry and a scrumptious array of ice cream flavors. MY FAVORITE is the peach!
If that were not enough, they also have some of the best boiled peanuts around! I know many who are not from the South might find boiled peanuts to be weird, I certainly did when I first arrived in Georgia. But be open minded and give them a try, because for a few bucks you might discover a favorite new food! Fair warning though, they are super hot!
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FESTIVITIES
THEE ABSOLUTE BEST TIME to visit Jaemor Farms is when they are utilizing the entire property for seasonal events. Currently the entire farm is open to Fall Festivities. For a small fee you can spend the day entertaining your family with hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin train rides, tricycle races, a petting zoo and my personal favorite - The Apple Cannon!!! They even have a U-PICK flower field and pumpkin patch.
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FINAL THOUGHTS
For over 7 years Jaemor Farms has given my family & friends great pleasure as a MUST STOP location to our hiking adventures. We've purchased everything from fruits & jams to ice cream, sweet breads & boiled peanuts.
I've seen the reviews of people angry over the lack of social distancing here, but I personally thought it was reasonably good all things considered. The separate festivity areas had very low levels of people the day we visited.
I know (as with everything lately) opinions vary greatly on matters concerning COVID-19. I've heard it best related to a traffic light. Some people are RED (stop/shelter), some are GREEN (go) and some are YELLOW (proceed, but with caution), each with their own argument for their position. As for our family, we are doing our best to live responsibly & respectfully yellow, but without being caged by fear. Thank you Jaemor for providing a venue of escape for those of us who think masks, sanitizer, fresh air AND human interaction are ALL needed.
2020 / 67