Wildflower Ridge Honey

Dave and Pattie Barrickman are the owners of Wildflower Ridge Honey. Located in Anderson, Indiana, Wildflower Ridge extracts liquid honey that is naturally delicious. Other items include handmade whipped honey varieties, honeycomb when available as well as Apple Butter and BBQ sauce sweetened only with honey and Honey Peanut Butter.

David Barrickman has been a hobby beekeeper for 46 years learning beekeeping from his grandfather. Upon retirement from his factory job, the hobby he’s had since he was 10 became a full-time business. Dave expanded his hives from a few in his backyard to 150 in Hamilton, Madison and Boone counties to provide pure, natural honey.

“Some say that as much as every third bite of food we eat is directly or indirectly related to the honeybee. Our happy bees make a delicious product that happy customers tell us they truly enjoy” Dave said.

Dave applies the science of honey-making to his art. Extracting honey only takes place once or twice a year, but many tasks are performed every month to maintain the hives and the bees’ production. Natural disasters, weather and disease can ruin a hive, so each year new ones are started.

“Our honey is quite different from mass produced varieties,” Dave said. While many commercial honeys are heated over 145 degrees, which destroys the natural enzymes, Wildflower Ridge honey varieties are never heated over 118 degrees, which preserves the natural enzymes. This Artisan does not blend his honey with corn syrup or honey from other countries, a method that some commercial packers use. Dave provides floral sources that are free from pesticides and other toxins.

The Barrickmans and their work are also a part of the Indiana Artisan brand.

Products sold at the market include (if available): Extracted Honey, Whipped Honey, Honey Candy, Apple Butter, Honey BBQ, Honey Peanut Butter, Beeswax, Honey sticks, Beeswax Candles, Honey Soaps and Honey Lip Balms.