The sweet sound of a fiddle and the tickling of a mandolin’s strings; the passionate picking of a banjo and acoustic guitar – it’s all a part of the bluegrass music the Franklin Square Pickers have played for us since the market began.

But this past Saturday, we said goodbye to the band, as they played their last show. While Lauren’s musical career will continue to grow, Red, Gerald, Russell and Lily are hanging up their instruments and retiring.

It was literally a sweet goodbye, as Lucy’s Kitchen made an incredibly delicious cake to celebrate the band’s history. And the pickers got an extra special gift for their years of being part of the market which was a caricature of the band created by artist Lorie Cooper.

So it’s a fond farewell to the Franklin Square Pickers and thank you for being a part of our market family!

Mind your own Bees-ness. To Seed or Not to Seed. Doing the Worm Wiggle. These are all lessons from the market’s Growing Kids Educational Garden, where kids get an “edible education” about where their food comes from and what it takes to grow it. The movement to get kids to eat healthier and learn more about gardening and local farms is growing across the country. October is Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate the connections that are happening all over the country between schools and local food. The Franklin Farmers Market will continue its efforts in 2014 to educate kids through the Growing Kids Educational Garden. But we want it grow bigger and better and with your help, it can. In this Thursday’s edition of the market’s newsletter, find out how you can play a part in helping the garden grow for the kids.