I like exploring German
farmers’ markets. They’re always more
than I think they will be, but in a good way, unlike the difficulties of
marriage.
Sure, you’re got the fruits
and vegetables, but also a full range of goods from artisans and craftsmen,
with some of the craftsmen being women.
What kinds of goods? you may well ask.
Sausages, but not just from the domestic side. Reindeer, wild boar, deer, and others who
ventured into a huntsman’s path.
And while we’re on the subject
of hunting, I’ll tell you a bit about the way the Germans do it. You may not
realize it, but German animal welfare laws of today are based on laws introduced by Herman
Göring, who himself was a great hunter.
The laws he ushered through the legislature included a ban on
vivisection, boiling of crabs and lobsters, commercial trapping, and other
protections for animals. Don’t know if
you still can’t boil crabs and lobsters.
However the restrictions on
hunting are still more than American hunters could bear. First, you take a course that lasts a couple
of months and costs several hundred dollars.
Then, you need a permit and those are limited in number. And when you go out to hunt, you’re
supervised.
Most hunting is done on
private land and often a hunter will lease land for thousands of dollars. With
the leasing comes a responsibility for wildlife management. The leasee, for example, will receive
instructions on how many deer must be killed that year. On a large tract, that may mean upwards of
fifty deer. He may get friends or paying
customers to help him, but that exact number of deer must be dispatched. Failure to kill the assigned number of deer
or wild boar or whichever will make you liable for any damages done to nearby
crops by animal overages. Sometimes this
can amount to several thousands dollars.
Oh, yes, the process is complicated and probably more bureaucratic than
filling out your tax returns.
But, back to the rest of the
bounty of the farmers’ market. Candles,
hand made brushes, wines, jellies, flowers, cheeses,
But, enough of my
blather. Let me show you some photos. You'll see why I never pass up a German farmers' market.
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| goat cheeses |
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| lavender saches |
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