Tag Archives: calf

Winter Vegetables, Meats and Soups make for great Farm Fresh Meals

It was a cold and windy day, but that didn’t bother us at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday. Okay, that’s not quite true because it was really chilly, but it certainly didn’t keep our farmers from bringing you the best in winter vegetables, like carrots, squash and potatoes.

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Winter greens from Paradise Produce

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Carrots, collards, cabbage and potatoes from Kirkview Farm

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Fresh organic cabbage from Delvin Farm

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Tennessee farm grown lettuces from Norton Family Farm

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Tennessee families picking up farm fresh produce

And even though it was a cold day, there was plenty at the market to warm you up. Lots of folks were munching warm treats from Ellie’s Old Fashion Donuts or enjoying one of Jones Mill Farms’ hot homemade rolls with Triple L Sausage.

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Gotta have my Ellie’s Old Fashioned Doughnut!

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Fresh baked, hot and ready Sourdough roll with Triple L Sausage from Jones Mill Farm

And there were lots of veggies that people were taking home to create their own warm comfort food. For example, fresh carrots from Paradise Produce, along with cabbage from Delvin Farms were being bought to make homemade soup.  You can view pictures from Saturday’s market here.

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Just picked Carrots, Kale, lettuces and spinach from Paradise Produce

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Fresh beets from Paradise Produce

Those who didn’t want to make their own took a delicious shortcut and took home some of Flying S Farms yummy soups. There’s nothing quite like a bowl of hot grits to warm you up and bags of Beaverdam Creek Farm’s stone-ground grits were being snatched up in a hurry. So yes, it was cold and windy, but the trip to the market was worth it to load up ongood food for chilly winter weather.

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After market lunch of Triple L Ranch Ribeye, Delvin Farm organic Brussels Sprouts and Potato Soup from Jones Mill Farm…Nothing better on a cold day!

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Farm Preserves, Jams and Jellies from Jones Mill Farm

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Farm baked Breads from Jones Mill Farm

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Fresh Baked Pies from Geraldine

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Kenny’s Cheeses from Moonshadow Farm

It’s a new year and with it comes a few reminders from the market – First, winter market hours have changed. The winter market is now open from 9am – noon and will remain that way until spring. Second, the “no dogs at the market” rule is now in effect, so please leave your pets at home. And third, don’t forget to vote for the best name for the little calf at Triple L Ranch. You can get the complete story on the calf and vote for his name by clicking here.

Finally, it is with great sadness that we say goodbye to one of our own at the market. Ed Johnson, the patriarch of Johnson’s Honey Farm passed away this weekend.  Having the best honey in Tennessee was a passion of Mr. Johnson’s and it showed in the honey his bees produced. Bees have been a part of Mr. Johnson’s farm since 1918, making Paula Morton, his daughter and familiar figure at the market a 3rd generation beekeeper.  Our hearts, prayers and sympathies go out to the Johnson family.

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Ed Johnson of Johnson’s Honey Farm will be missed by the entire state of Tennessee and beyond, including farmers from all over the world. His family will continue his legacy.

New Baby Calf Needs a Name, Vote Now!

We need your help to name a newly orphaned baby calf from the Triple L Ranch.  It was a rough start in life for this little guy, born at Triple L Ranch 2 months ago. His mother abandoned him, making it a little touch and go at the beginning.

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He was only 2 hours old, so Steven Lee watched over him closely

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Momma cow kept walking off and rejecting him

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Momma Cow with new twin babies, cleaning the first born but not the 2nd baby twin

Calves need to nurse very soon after they are born to get necessary antibodies and nutrients for their immune system. So this little one was bottle-fed the right formula for newborn calves and now he’s doing just fine.

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At 2 weeks old, the baby was fed 3 times a day in the calf nursery

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Now he’s 40 pounds heavier and still growing

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Can’t get that milk fast enough!

He’s still a bottle-baby even though he’s gained 40 pounds since birth.  He’s become a four-legged member of the Lee family at Triple L Ranch. But besides all of the attention he’s getting, this little calf needs something else. Stephen Lee of Triple L Ranch explains:

Over the last month, we held a contest to name the calf and we’ve gotten a lot of suggestions here at the Franklin Farmers Market.  So many, that we need your help to decide which name is the right one. Vote for what you think the calf should be named. Here’s a list of the top seven entries we liked for the calf’s name. Click on the one you like best to vote.

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I’m growing up strong!  But what’s my name?

Name the calf poll

  • Ace (5%, 30 Votes)
  • Bartholomew (27%, 149 Votes)
  • Buttermilk (38%, 210 Votes)
  • Jasper (10%, 56 Votes)
  • Leo (5%, 27 Votes)
  • Oliver (6%, 35 Votes)
  • Ollie (9%, 48 Votes)

Total Voters: 555

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The winning name for the Triple L Ranch calf will be announced on January 19th. Vote now so he has a name to answer to!  All voting closes on January 18th at 12 midnight.

Here’s a time line of videos with the first one taken just 2 hours after birth.




Local Farmers brave Bitter Cold and Icy Roads for Market Customers

A chilly day at the farmers market

A chilly day at the farmers market

It was cold, wet and a little icy on Saturday. Enough to make everyone want to stay home and sip a steaming mug of coffee or hot chocolate. Yet several of the farmers and vendors at the Franklin Farmers Market defied the cold weather and showed up for you. And many of you stepped out into the cold to make it to the market too. Our hats are off to everyone for braving the chilly temps and coming out to the market.  It might have surprised you to hear that the ice cold weather kept Santa from visiting the market. Of course, chilly weather doesn’t bother him, but it can cause problems for other folks. Santa wanted to make sure that all the children around Franklin could come visit him, so he decided to reschedule his visit to the market.  So tell the kids to be on their best behavior this week and get their wish lists ready. Santa will be at the market this Saturday, December 14th!

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Hot Cocoa was perfect for this cold day

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Fresh made hot doughnuts from Elle’s

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Families braved the cold

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Bundled up warm

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Now headed for home

Whether its summer or winter, picking up good fresh food from local farms is what everyone does at the market.

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Fresh veggies loved the cold air

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Rocky Glade Farm helping customers

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River Cottage Farm had meat and eggs

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Delvin Farms Certified Organice Produce

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Jones Mill Farm fresh breads and hot sausage rolls

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Flying S Farm Christmas cookies

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V’s Pottery

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Soy Candles

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A new young vendor braved the cold

But there were quite a few of you doing something else this past Saturday.

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Ann was prepared for the cold day

People were stopping at the Triple L Ranch booth to suggest names for a little calf born on the farm not too long ago. His mom abandoned him after birth and it was a little touch and go at first.

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Steven of the Triple L Ranch needs help with a name for this new bottle fed calf, do you have a name?

Calves need to nurse very soon after they are born to get necessary antibodies and nutrients for their immune system. So this little calf was bottle-fed the right formula for newborn calves and now he’s doing just fine. But he’s still a bottle-baby and he’s become a four-legged member of the Lee family at Triple L Ranch and he needs a name. What do you think it should be? Tell us and if your name is picked as the right one, you’ll win a day on Triple L Ranch with the calf and a market goody basket. Just email lisa@franklinfarmersmarket.com and tell us what you think his name should be!

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Thank you customers for donating so many winter coats and blankets!

And finally, the frosty weather on market day made the “Love Will Keep Us Warm” blanket and coat drives all the more relevant.  Financial hardships such as losing a job can make something as simple as buying an extra blanket or a new coat hard to do. Your donations of winter clothing, blankets and coats as you came to the market were beyond generous. Because of your compassion, many of those in need will stay warm through the winter.  We believe its proof that we have some of the kindest people in Tennessee visiting the market. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone for sharing the warmth this holiday season.  You can view more pictures of the day by clicking here.

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The Franklin Farmers Market is always open every Saturday of the year so local families can buy their fresh farm produce and meats for the week no matter what the weather brings