Monthly Archives: October 2013

Farm Fresh Root Vegetables Carrots, Cabbage, Turnips, Sweet Potatoes now at Market!

October 28, 2013

It was a Cold October Morning

Too cold for market? Ha! We laugh in the face of winter weather. Yes, it was cold this past Saturday. But munching a warm doughnut from Ellie’s Doughnuts while sipping hot coffee always makes a cold morning at the market much better. Lots of us also enjoyed a hot roll with sausage from Jones Mill Farms or noshed on a huge yummy muffin from Lucy’s Kitchen at the market, making that chilly weather not so bad after all.

Roast was busy selling Hot Coffee

Lucy’s Kitchen helped keep everyone fed

You can certainly tell the weather is changing just by looking at the fresh veggies at the market. Winter root vegetables, like turnips and sweet potatoes are plentiful. Collard greens are back at the market and so is cabbage.

Beautiful Sweet Carrots from Norton Family Farm

A beautiful Crop of Sweet Potatoes from Colbert Farm

Sweet White Turnips from Colvin Family Farm

Wonderful fresh lettuces from Zadok the Natural Farmer

Fresh Picked Ginger from Earth Advocates

White and Black Carrots and Red Radishes from Colvin Family Farm

But summer veggies are not quite gone yet. The last of the tomatoes are hanging on, with cherry and plum tomatoes still available from farmers with hoop houses to protect them from the frost.

Fresh Green Beans from Norton Family Farm

Large Radishes from Kirkview Farm

Red and Green Tomatoes still in good supply

The Eating in Season Cookbook has great recipes for Fall

There are a couple of things that do change with the cooler weather at the market. You can always get meats from local farms, fresh baked goods and vegetables at the market no matter if it’s summer or winter. But the selection of vegetables grown locally does change with the drop in the temperatures. If you are not sure what qualifies as a winter vegetable, stop by the market’s info table and pick up a free copy of Local Table magazine so you can see the big seasonality chart.

Number two, the hours at the market change. Starting November 2nd, the opening hour will still be 8am, but the market will close at noon. Cold weather is no big deal. Just get the fuzzy socks and mittens ready.

Soft hand knitted Alpaca ski caps from from Legacy Acres Alpaca

Custom barnwood signs from Tom the Furniture Guy

Deb missing Cecil

My ears are warm!

Fresh Picked Ginger from Earth Advocates

Delvin Farms CSA Pick Up

Winter market has begun!

Cecil Bronnenberg, Tomato Farmer passes at age 90

October 24, 2013

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Cecil Bronnenberg was well known for the tomatoes he brought to market every Saturday. Lots of people said they were the prettiest tomatoes they had ever seen. But Cecil was also known for his wonderful sweet personality and that is why we will miss him so very much. On Tuesday of this week, at the age of 90, Cecil passed away. Cecil has been a part of the Franklin Farmers Market for a long time and well-thought of not just by customers, but by the other farmers and vendors at the market. Over the course of his life, Cecil was a school principle, a farmer and a WWII Navy Veteran. Last year he went to Washington D.C. on one of the special WWII Veterans Flights to visit the WWII Memorial. It was a very moving experience for Cecil and a proud moment for those of us who loved him to see him honored for service to his country. It is with a very sad heart that we say a final goodbye to Cecil. We will miss him dearly.

Visitation for Cecil will be held from 10am – 1pm Saturday at the Coffee County Funeral Home in Manchester. Services take place at 1pm. Obituary In Cecil’s words

Cecil Bronnenberg, Tomato Farmer

Family Farm Fun visits the FFM Invasion of the Scarecrows!

October 21, 2013

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Posing with the King Farm’s giant cat

From a giant cat holding a crow, to the minions from Despicable Me, it all made for a weird, but wonderful day at the market last Saturday. The Invasion of the Scarecrows took place and even though it was a cloudy, chilly day, everyone had a great time.

Kids picked up over 300 free pumpkins in the special pumpkin patch and then painted wild colors on their pumpkins and faces too.

Got to decorate those pumpkins!

There were free pumkins for kids

It’s perfectly painted!

And our friends from Williamson Medical Center set up a great free photo booth so everyone could take home photos from the Scarecrow Invasion.

Market manager Deb Grant and the WMC team

Just got the free family photo from Williamson Medical Center!

Judges Brandy Blanton, Stephanie Clark and Nancy Williams awarded Noble Springs Dairy 1st place.

The scarecrow contest between the farmers and artisans was really something to see. Judges Nancy Williams, director of the Downtown Franklin Association, Brandy Blanton, publisher of Southern Exposure Magazine and Stephanie Clark of Williamson Medical Center had a tough time picking the winner of the contest, but in the end Noble Springs Dairy Farm won the grand prize with two goat scarecrows defending their garden against the crows. Beaverdam Creek Farm’s Despicable Me display with Gru and the Minions as scarecrows won 2nd place. And Bloomsbury/Spring Meadow Farms won 3rd with their Duck Dynasty scarecrow, complete with live ducks!

Beaverdam Creek won the 2nd place prize

Bloombury Farm’s Duck Dynasty took 3rd place

The Barkers Market scarecrow

Triple Springs Farm’s ghost

Purple Tree Farm’s Witchy Woman

The best dressed group of scarecrow winners

There were live scarecrows roaming the market too. These three from Zadock the Natural Farmer, took home the first place prize for the best dressed scarecrows.

It was a fun day at the market!

All in all, it was a wacky fun day for everyone at the Franklin Farmers Market! Click here to view all the photos taken on Saturday, you just might see yourself!

Fresh Farm Produce, Pumpkins, Great Food and Coffee!

October 14, 2013

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A fall display from Time Travelers

We have to admit, it was a little chilly Saturday when the market first opened. But a cup of coffee paired with some sweet, warm Ellie’s Doughnuts made everything okay. And even with a lot of fall festivals going on, there were still plenty of people wandering around the market and we’ve now figured out why. The Franklin Farmers Market is not only the best place for fresh food from local farms; it’s a great spot to socialize on Saturday mornings.

Maybe you pick up a yummy sourdough roll with sausage from Jones Mill Farm or you head over to the Biscuit Love truck for a bite of breakfast to munch while roaming the market. Chances are that you’ll run into a neighbor or an old friend who’s doing the exact same thing.

Kirkview Farms fresh veggies

Customers of Rocky Glade Farm

Local tomatoes still available

Plus it seems like a lot of new people are moving to Franklin and Williamson County too. Every market day, there are people who stop at the info booth to find out more about the farmers and the market.

V’s Pottery is beautiful!

Lucy’s Kitchen’s yummy soups

River Cottage Farm’s meats

Legacy Acres soft & warm Alpaca yarn

Great barnwood signs from Tom the Furniture Guy!

Colorful mums and pumpkins from Purple Tree Farm

A lot of them have just moved here. We’ve been doing a little poll of those people and have found out that quite a few of them are here from California, like this mom and her son standing next to the scarecrow. They just moved here from Los Angeles. Welcome to Tennessee!

Just moved to Tennessee!

Smiling faces & sunflowers

Posing with the pumpkin & scarecrow at the market info booth

And you may have noticed at the market this past Saturday that lots pumpkins can now be found from several farms at the market.

The King Family Farm grows lots of pumpkins!

And with those pumpkins, little scarecrows are starting to pop up everywhere.

Little scarecrows popped up at Rainbow Hill’s booth

But just wait… The market will soon be took over by scarecrows and they’ll be bringing lots of fun for the whole family. It’s The Invasion of the Scarecrows, brought to you by our friends at Williamson Medical Center.

There will be a free pumpkin patch for the kids, complete with a tractor-riding scarecrow watching over the patch. After picking out their pumpkin, kids can paint and decorate it at the Perfect Pumpkin Painting booth. The kids can get “decorated” too with face-painting from Tom the Artist. And once the pumpkins and the kids have been decorated, stop by the Williamson Medical Center’s tent for a free family photo to take home and remember the day!

Beaverdam Creek Farm’s beef cuts

Of course, there will be plenty of delicious fresh food from your favorite farmers at the market too. From big and tall to short and small, lots of scarecrows will be everywhere. It’s all happening next Saturday, October 19^th from 8am – 1pm at the Franklin Farmers Market!

A good selection from Pilgrims Produce

Click here to view pictures from this past Saturday’s market.

Kids Pumpkin Patch, Face Painting, Scarecrow Invasion for Family Fun Oct 19th

October 9, 2013

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Scarecrows take over the Franklin Farmers Market!

The Franklin Farmers Market is always a great place to bring the family, with music, lots of farmers and artisans and of course, great food. But on October 19^th, a there’s a curious change in the way things normally are. Lots and lots of scarecrows invade the market and with them comes a lot of free fun for your family!

Scarecrows, big & small are at the market.

It’s the Invasion of the Scarecrows, brought to you by our friends at Williamson Medical Center.

The free pumpkin patch for kids!

There’s a free pumpkin patch for the kids, complete with a tractor-riding scarecrow watching over the patch.

Can you paint the perfect pumpkin?

After picking out their pumpkin, kids can paint and decorate it at the Perfect Pumpkin Painting booth. Or maybe the kids would rather be the ones being decorated!

Funny free face-painting at the Invasion!

Tom the Artist can paint the perfect Halloween scene or cartoon on their faces. And after the pumpkins and the kids have been decorated, stop by Williamson Medical Center’s tent for a free family photo to take home and remember the day!

Scarecrows spotted at the Beaverdam Creek booth!

As always, there’s plenty of delicious fresh food from your favorite farmers at the market too. And from big and tall to short and small, lots of scarecrows are everywhere. It’s all happening Saturday, October 19^th from 8am – 1pm at the Franklin Farmers Market… Don’t miss it!

Franklin Square Pickers Retire, Play at Farmers Market for Last Time

October 7, 2013

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Franklin Square Pickers

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.

Red Marbut

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.

Russell Jackson

Gerald Pollack

Lizzy Jackson

Mandolin Plater

Mandolin Player

Lauren Cocklyn

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.

Retirement Cake by Lucy’s Kitchen

Lori Cooper’s Caricature of the Franklin Square Pickers

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

Friends of the Franklin Square Pickers pose together

Lori Cooper did a fabulous job capturing the likeness of the Franklin Square Pickers

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.

Taste Local Farm Meats this Saturday at our Day of the Grill Tasting Event

October 2, 2013

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The tantalizing smell of local farm beef, chicken or pork chops sizzling on the grill of a Big Green Egg just can’t be beat. It’s all grilled to perfection, tender and juicy on the inside with a delicious farm meat flavor.

Two Ribeye’s Grilling on the Big Green Egg

Free Range Chickens are great for Smoking on a Big Green Egg

And when you use top-rated meats from local farms, it becomes the ultimate mouthwatering experience.

Local farm Beef Ribeye from the Franklin Farmers Market

Local Farm Grilled Steak from the Franklin Farmers Market

Find out for yourself this Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market. It’s the Day of the Grill and it’s your chance to sample local farm meats from West Wind Farms, Peaceful Pastures, Bear Creek Farm, Triple L Ranch, River Cottage Farm and Beaverdam Creek Farm.

Bear Creek Pigs

Local Farm Beef

Local Free Range Chicken

Triple L Ranch Cattle

Chef Jeff Lunsford of the Hearth and Grill Shop

Master griller Chef Jeff Lunsford from The Hearth and Grill Shop will use his talents to give you free samples of appetizing local farm meats. “The Franklin Farmers Market supplies top quality meats that are produced from livestock -raised locally under the watchful eye of farmers that care about their animals, their product and the people they sell it to,” said Chef Jeff. This Saturday, enjoy cuts of steak, chicken, pork and lamb. Or take a bite of a “slider” – local ground beef, mixed with chopped jalapeños and grated cheese from Kenny’s Farmhouse Aged Cheddar provided by Moonshadow Farm. It’s served on one of Jones Mill Farm’s famous sourdough rolls.

Jones Mill Farm Sourdough Rolls

Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheddar from Moonshadow Farm

Everything will be grilled to perfection on a Big Green Egg Smoker & Grill from The Hearth and Grill Shop. “As a chef, I insist on the highest quality equipment and the very best local products,” said Chef Jeff. “The Big Green Egg provides me with the best Ceramic – Charcoal grill and smoker rolled into one fabulous grill.”

Vacuum sealed Ribeye’s

Local Farm Beef Ribeye’s

Look for The Hearth and Grill tent at the front of the market this Saturday and treat yourself to free samples of delicious grilled meats from our local meat farmers. Meat lovers, rejoice! It’s the Day of the Grill at the Franklin Farmers Market!

Local Free Range Chicken ready for the Big Green Egg Smoker