Tag Archives: Muffins

Blue Skies and Warm Weather bring out New Customers to Farmers Market

Never mind that one week ago, we had snow and ice on the ground. Saturday, it was sunshine and pleasant temperatures at the market. We even spotted a few folks dressed in t-shirts and shorts happily strolling around the market. It was a good day to grab great fresh food. Colorful carrots, apples and squash were plentiful, along with tender fresh lettuce.

FFM

Fresh Carrots from Norton Family Farm

FFM

Just picked kale from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Squash and carrots from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Fresh eggs from Moonshadow Farm

FFM

Homemade soups from Lucy’s Kitchen

Lots of dairy goods and sweet treats too, such as cookies, pies and muffins were being snatched up and not all of it was making it out of the market. We spied some of you happily munching away while you walked around.

FFM

Home baked cookies from Dozen

FFM

Fresh made hummus from Hummus Chick

FFM

A young shopper with her basket

FFM

Handcrafted Jewelry from Rockin’ Robbin Ranch Design

FFM

Antler dinnerware from Antlers

FFM

Maple Pecan Bars from Flying S Farm

FFM

Farm made goat soap from Totty’s Bend Farm and Dairy

FFM

Barwood Signs from Tom the Furniture Guy

FFM

Nursery Plants from Earth Advocates Research Farm

And what is it about sunshine and warmer temperatures that make us want to fire up the grill? There seemed to be quite a few of you walking out of the market with steaks or hamburger to grill out. The official first day of spring is just 10 days away and we’re ready for the greening of trees and lawns, along with the beauty of spring flowers. Everybody got a little tease of spring at the market, with early blooming plants with bright flowers. All in all, we have to say it really was the perfect sunny day at the market!

With warmer temperatures and sunshine comes the urge to start digging in the dirt. You know what we’re talking about. It’s time to get gardens in shape and start growing. And while gardens can take a lot of work, it’s a great place for kids to learn a lot. Things like where food really comes from or why ladybugs are super heroes in a garden. With classes like the Poop Pot Project and Doing the Worm Wiggle, kids can learn a lot in the market’s Growing Kids Educational Garden this spring. It’s a fun, hands-on way to learn about the environment, nutrition and how things grow. The free classes at the garden begin on April 22nd and are designed for kids pre-k through 3rd grade. Registration for April and May classes begins today. Get more info about the Growing Kids garden and download registration forms by clicking here. Learn to Grow – Grow to Learn!

Want to see more pictures from this past Saturday’s market?  Just click here.

FFM

Farm ground cornmeal from Beaverdam Creek Farm

DSC_0566

Fresh made granola

Finally! March is Here and Spring is in Sight!

So the sun wasn’t shining at the market this past Saturday, but nobody seemed to care. Why? Because it was the first day of March which means spring is just around the corner and we can kiss that polar vortex weather goodbye. And while it won’t be long before you start seeing spring veggies, there are still plenty of tasty winter vegetables to be found. There were lots of winter greens at the market on Saturday to enjoy, along with the ingredients for a fresh salad of tender just picked lettuce, carrots and radishes.

FFM

Norton Family Farm just picked lettuce mix

FFM

Farm Fresh Carrots from Norton Family Farm

FFM

Beautiful fresh lettuces, kale, radishes and herbs from Rocky Glade Farm

And while a lot of you were picking up fresh vegetables from the market farms, we saw plenty of you munching on sweets too, such as muffins, donuts and cookies as you walked around the market.

FFM

Fresh Baked Cookies by Dozen

FFM

Flying S Farm Apple pies

FFM

Oh so good!  An Ellie’s Old Fashioned Doughnut fan

FFM

Kirkview Farm Kale, Carrots and Butternut Squash

The official first day of spring is March 20th, but you don’t need a calendar to tell you that spring is fast approaching. All you have to do is look around the market and see all of the farms with CSA signs. Now’s the time to sign up for a CSA share from your favorite farm so that you’ll get a weekly box of the best, in-season fruits and vegetables throughout the spring and summer. Many of the farms a CSA program, so look for their CSA signs or ask if they offer CSA’s.

FFM

Greg Brown, owner of Ford Lincoln of Franklin , our new Corporate Sponsor for 2014 with market management and farmers

And it’s now official – Ford Lincoln of Franklin is the first corporate sponsor of the Franklin Farmers Market. The Franklin Farmers Market is a non-profit 501(c)5 agricultural organization and with all of the support from the great sponsors of the market, we are able to help local farms to keep growing. And it also helps us bring great events to the market, such as the FFM Strawberry Festival and supports projects such as the Growing Kids Educational Garden. Our sincere thanks to Greg Brown, owner of Ford-Lincoln of Franklin – Welcome to the market family!

FFM

Alpaca hand knitted ski caps by Legacy Acres Alpaca Farm

FFM

Hand made Soy Candles by Intoxicating Aromas

FFM

Custom creation of Miniatures by Phillip

FFM

Red Rooster painted on real barn wood by Tom the Furniture Guy

Warm Sunshine Delivers Smiles and Fresh Farm Food

FFM

Charlie Hatcher of Hatcher Family Dairy helping a young Mom with some milk to her vehicle

It all adds up – sunshine plus good fresh farm food equals happy people. For proof of that theory, all you needed to do was come to the farmers market this past Saturday.  Everyone was in a good mood. There were plenty of yummy fresh veggies, such as beets and squash. Maple syrup was another favorite and everyone was looking for those blue eggs.  And there were big smiles all over the place. Of course, eating sweet doughnuts or munching on muffins while roaming the market played a role in keeping those smiles coming, but we think the bright sunshine and warm temperatures were a big part of it too.

FFM

Fresh made muffins from Lucy’s kitchen

FFM

Fresh winter squash from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Tennessee Maple Syrup from Pilgrims produce

FFM

Fresh made crepes from Crepe A Diem

FFM

The Lee clan from Triple L Ranch was out in full force on Saturday

Bear Creek Beef

LeeAnn of Bear Creek helping some customers with their Tennessee Beef selection

FFM

Beaverdam Creek Farm CSA program is in full swing!

During the day, someone asked us about three little letters that are popping up now in the farm booths all over the market. Those three letters are C-S-A, which is the nickname for community supported agriculture. A CSA gives you a weekly share of whatever the farm has harvested all through the growing season and now is the time to sign up for a CSA. Many of the farmers at the market, such as Delvin Farms, Beaverdam Creek Farm and West Wind Farms have CSA programs. Next time you’re at the market, ask your favorite farmer if a CSA is available to get the best in fresh food straight from their farm every week.

FFM

A young market customer taking a picture of a custom home from Miniatures by Phillip

FFM

Peaceful Pastures farm made soaps

FFM

Farm Fresh Goat Cheese from Noble Springs Dairy

FFM

Taking home some barn wood signs from Tom the Furniture Guy

FFM

Our new Corporate Sponsor for 2014, owner Greg Brown of Ford Lincoln of Franklin with LIsa, Deb and Hank Sr of Delvin Farms

And finally, we welcomed a new member to the market family last Saturday. We’re happy to announce that Ford Lincoln of Franklin is a sponsor of the Franklin Farmers Market. The market is a 501 c 5 non-profit agricultural organization and with sponsors such as Ford Lincoln of Franklin, we are able to help local farms to keep growing. Our thanks to Ford Lincoln of Franklin for their support – Welcome to the FFM family!

You can visit pictures from Saturday’s market by clicking here.

New Winter Vegetables, Fresh Made Soups, Muffins and Breads!

A foodie’s dream – that pretty much sums up how things were at the Franklin Farmers Market last Saturday. Think about it – there were lots of winter vegetables, like butternut squash and potatoes, perfect for tasty, warm soups.

FFM

Butternut Squash from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Kirkview Farm Red Potatoes

FFM

Rocky Glade customer picking up fresh veggies

There were tender cuts of beef, chicken and other meats to take home. There were healthy greens too and great fresh breads, muffins and other delicious baked goods.

FFM

Fresh winter greens from Rocky Glade Farm

FFM

Fresh Spinach from Zadok the Natural Farmer

FFM

Home made cinnamon rolls from Lucy’s Kitchen

FFM

Lucy of Lucy’s Kitchen with fresh made soups

FFM

Fresh baked custom designed cookies from Flying S Farm

FFM

Enjoying one of Jay’s Chicago style hotdogs

Great dairy products, such as butter, cream and the best-tasting chocolate milk ever could be found at the market. Warm donuts, yummy Chicago-style hot dogs and delicious crepes could be munched on while strolling around the market too.

FF<

Yum!  Maple Granola samples from Twin Forks

FFM

The popular “Princess” from Biscuit Love

FFM

Chubby Bunny organic baby food

FFM

Diggs Farm shelled pecans

FFM

Jones Mill Farm beef stew, chicken and pimento cheese salad

FFM

Moonshadow free range eggs

And fresh eggs in different shades of color…. There was even a blue egg! Definitely a food lover’s paradise!

One of the best things about the Franklin Farmers Market is getting to know the farmers. Know your farmer, know your food and the market gives you the perfect opportunity to do so. For example, do you know where the lettuce you’ll find in a grocery comes from? Think about it – it’s a guessing game at the grocery.  At the market, you know where the food comes from. Talk to the farmers about what they grow or raise on their farms. Ask them about the varieties of vegetables and fruits they have or how they raise their cattle. And check out the farmers profile section of the market’s website for more info on the farms by clicking here.

FFM

A gathering in front of Bear Creek Farm

FFM

Fresh picked Kale and spaghetti squash from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Tie Dye shirts from Pieceful Worlds Clothing

No matter that Saturday was a little chilly. Lots of sunshine made it all worthwhile to visit the market.

We love to see the smiling faces at the market each week and we make a big effort to capture each smile for our photo gallery.

Did we catch you smiling at the market this past Saturday? Click here and take a look. (insert photo gallery link)

And finally, thanks to everyone who visits the market, whether it’s cold and wet weather or a sunny, perfect day. When you come to the Franklin Farmers Market, you are supporting Middle Tennessee family farms.

Thank you!

FFM

A Lucy’s Kitchen cinnamon roll bring a smile to a young market visitor