Monthly Archives: December 2013

Local Farmers providing Fresh Lettuce, Spinach and other Vegetables this Winter!

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Fresh lettuce from the Norton Family Farm

Salads are a summer treat, right? So how can there be fresh picked lettuce and spinach at the Franklin Farmers Market on a cold winter’s day? Just ask the market’s reigning lettuce master, Jim Norton.  This past Saturday at the market, it was cold. Very cold. But the Norton Family Farm had beautiful tasty lettuce and spinach. How was that possible?

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Norton Farm’s tender fresh spinach

You can find lettuce and spinach from the Norton farm practically year-round at the market because of the loose-leaf varieties of lettuce and spinach that Jim plants in succession and the use of hoop houses and row covers to protect the lettuce crops from weather and insects.  So even though we’ve had plenty of cold days this December, the Norton lettuce and spinach crop continues to thrive.

There were also plenty of winter veggies at the market this past Saturday too, such as winter squash, sweet ‘taters and Brussels sprouts.

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Winter Squash

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Delvin Farm’s cabbage

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Winter veggies from Paradise Produce Farm

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Checking out the vegetables from Pilgrim’s Produce

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A wide variety of winter veggies to choose from

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Freshly baked!

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Soups from Lucy’s Kitchen

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Lots of yummy jellies from the Norton Family Farm

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Tasty Brussels sprouts at the Franklin Farmers Market

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Put some green in your diet!

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The market’s “Eating in Season” cookbook

Eating vegetables year round is a healthy way to stay in shape. But maybe you are not quite sure what to do with a bunch of beets or a head of cabbage. You can find an easy solution to fixing meals with winter vegetables at the market. Pick up a copy of the FFM’s cookbook, “Eating in Season”. It has recipes for each season of the year. Let’s say that you picked up a turnip at the market but were not quite sure what to do with it in the kitchen. The Eating in Season cookbook has a recipe for Baked Turnip Fries that will leave you begging for more. You can pick up a copy of the Eating in Season cookbook through the winter season at the Norton Family Farm booth. It’s just $15 (plus tax) and it can make every meal, year-round delicious.

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Lots of goodies from Lucy’s Kitchen

On this Wednesday, we say goodbye to 2013 and hello to the New Year. And with the new year, come a couple of changes at the Franklin Farmers Market.  Starting January 4th, dogs will no longer be allowed at the market, so please leave your pets at home when visiting the market. Secondly, the market’s winter hours will change. As of January 4th, the Franklin Farmers Market will begin opening at 9am and close at noon. Those hours will remain in place until the start of the spring/summer season at the market.

As we close out this year, the farmers and the vendors at the Franklin Farmers Market want to express their appreciation to everyone who came to the market and made 2013 a record-breaking successful year.  We are very grateful for your support of local farms. Thank you!

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Tom the Barn Wood Sign Guy’s unique creations

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Antlers natural treats for your four-legged friends

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Loading up on a great variety of freshly baked breads from Jones Mill Farms

Christmas Shoppers buy up Winter Greens, Baked Goods and Artisan Crafts

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Beautiful fresh produce from Paradise Produce

With the extremely windy weather, it’s a thousand wonders that spinach and other winter greens were not flying across the shed at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday. It was a challenge for the farmers and artisans to get their booths set up and ready to go without blowing across the parking lot, but it was worth it as many people came out to do the last minute shopping for Christmas.

Lots of bundles of carrots and radishes, along with spinach, green onions and garlic were picked up to prepare special holiday dishes.

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Sweet Tennessee Carrots from Paradise Produce

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Fresh picked Green Onions from Gardner Grove

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Organic Garlic, Radishes and Spinach from Delvin Farms

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New Stone Ground Cornmeal and Grits from Beaverdam Creek Farm

And Beaverdam Creek Farm’s new stone-ground cornmeal and grits were very popular items too. Then there were all of the absolutely delicious baked goods. Flying S Farm special decorated holiday cookies were a big hit. So was the incredible Polish bread and Stollen from Jones Mill Farm and the special sweet pastries from Lucy’s Kitchen.

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Fresh baked muffins from Lucy’s Kitchen…Hi Lucy!

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Flying S Farms’ home baked Christmas Cookies

Lots of stocking stuffers were snatched up too, like the Totty’s Bend Farm Goat Soap and Creekbend Herbs lavender sachets. The beautiful jewelry from Rockin’ Robin was also picked up by many.

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Totty’s Bend Goat Milk Soap

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Hand made artisan jewelry from Baya Designs

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Beautiful beaded necklaces from Rockin’ Robin

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Soy candles in recycled hand cut wine bottles

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Miniatures by Philip

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Custom made signs from Tom the Barn Wood Sign Guy

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Elevated Gardens for small and large places

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Handcrafted artisan jewelry from Antlers

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Wooden kitchen cutting boards from Cody’s Woodworks

Several people stopped by the info booth to ask what name has been given to the little calf at Triple L Ranch. He’s still without a name, but you can change that. Take a look at the top seven names chosen for the little fellow and vote for your favorite. We’ll announce the winning name for the calf on January 19th, so vote for his new name now by clicking here.

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Local customer picking up their final CSA for 2013

And for those of you asking if we are taking off the weekend after Christmas and before New Year’s Eve, the answer is no. The Franklin Farmers Market will be open this upcoming Saturday and every Saturday throughout the winter (and summer!) for you. The only change will be the winter market hours in 2014. Saturday December 28th, the market will be open 8am – noon. In January, the winter market hours will change to 9am –noon.

Despite the windy weather, this past Saturday was a good day at the market. But perhaps the best thing of all was the many holiday hugs and Christmas greetings, making it a very special day. From our family to yours, we wish a very Merry Christmas!

 

Santa visits Children and Shops for Farm Fresh Vegetables

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Fresh cabbage and garlic from Delvin Farms

From beets to carrots and sweet potatoes to spinach, there were plenty of winter veggies at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday and people were stocking up for the big Christmas dinner.

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Tasty winter greens from Zadock the Natural Farmer

You don’t have beets at Christmas? Why not? The winter veggies along with the meats and baked goods at the market can make your holiday meals a tasty present for your taste buds. For example, if you had picked up some beets, spinach, garlic, bacon and goat cheese while at the market, you could have created a roasted beet salad that is a true treat. We’re giving you a second chance.

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The market’s “Eating in Season” cookbook is a great stocking stuffer for your favorite chef!

Click here to get that recipe and then make your shopping list for the market.

There was also a lot of shopping for presents at the market too.

Gifts such as beautiful jewelry from Baya Designs and Lovely Beads by Brenda; great barn wood holiday signs from Tom the Barn Wood Sign Guy and cute little “animal” purses made from felted wool sweaters along with stuffed ‘creatures’ from Upcycled Accessories could be found at the market on Saturday.

Lovely Beads by Brenda

Find unique gifts at the FFM

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Tom the Barn Wood Sign Guy knows how to get Santa’s attention.

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Unique jewelry from Baya Designs.

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Expertly crafted gifts from Mark Alan Artisan Woods

There were also great stocking stuffers such as lavender sachets from Creekbend Herbs. You could have even bought a garden! Elevation Gardens’ whiskey barrel garden container with 10 different herbs would have made a terrific present for the green thumb or the chef in your family.

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The Whiskey Barrel Herb Garden is perfect for the chef in the family.

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Candles by Intoxicating Aromas

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Gift certificates available from Peaceful Pastures

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Beautifully detailed Miniatures by Philip

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Enjoy organic grits from Beaverdam Creek Farm

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Dogs love presents from Antlers!

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Smile! It was a jolly good time with Santa.

It’s not too late to get the perfect gift, but time is running out. Get the Santa list together and head to the market. December 21st is the last day at the market before Christmas! Click here to see photos of all the great artisan gift ideas available now each Saturday at the FFM.

Speaking of Santa, the big man showed up at the market this past Saturday, bringing smiles and handing out jingle bells for all of the kids. Some were very excited to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas, while others were a bit shy. And then there were the big “kids” who sat on Santa’s lap and told him what they wanted for Christmas! Check out the Santa photos in the market photo gallery by clicking here.

Take a look at the calendar – Christmas is just around the corner, so make your list and check it twice, then head to the market this weekend for your last chance at great fresh food and unique presents for the holiday. You’ll find it all at the Franklin Farmers Market!

 

Roasted Beets and Bacon Spinach Salad

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Newly Harvested Beets from the Market

Farm fresh Beets, Spinach and Bacon are all available now at the Franklin Farmers Market along with many of the other local ingredients.  Using recently picked farm fresh vegetables and cheeses from the farmers market adds a wonderful fresh flavor!  Here is what you need for a farm fresh holiday salad.

Plan a little extra time to roast the beets in the oven. You could roast them a day in advance, then dice and refrigerate until you’re ready to make the salad. Pecans or walnuts are also great in this salad, and add extra texture.

Roasting Beets: 1 hour

Yield: Serves 4 to 6:

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Perfect for a Holiday Salad

  • 1 pound beets, trimmed, roasted, peeled, and diced.
  • 4 cups baby spinach leaves.
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion.
  • 2 to 3 thick slices bacon, cooked, diced.
  • goat cheese or feta cheese, crumbled, optional.
  • walnut or pecan halves, optional.

Dressing:

  • 1 clove garlic, crushed and minced.
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper.
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or a similar gourmet mustard.
  • 4 tablespoons honey.
  • 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar.
  • 2/3 cup olive oil.

Preparation: To roast beets: Wash whole beets; trim off leaves, stems, and roots. Sprinkle with a little vegetable oil, salt, and pepper; wrap in foil and bake at 375° for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until tender. The time varies depending on the size of the beets.

Salad:
Arrange spinach leaves on 4 salad plates. Top with diced beets, diced bacon, red onion, and cheese and/or nuts, if using. In a bowl or blender, combine the garlic, salt, pepper, mustard, honey, and balsamic vinegar. Whisk or blend in the olive oil in a steady stream. Drizzle the dressing over the salad or serve on the side.

We hope you enjoy this farm fresh recipe for the holidays!

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

Farmers Delivering Winter Produce, Baked Goods and Artisan Crafts for Holiday’s

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Over 50 coats and blankets were donated this past Saturday for the “Love Will Keep Us Warm campaign

It was more than what we hoped for and much more than what we expected. After all, this past weekend was the official start for the mad dash to the mall for holiday shopping, so it was great to see how many of you showed up at the market Saturday. But the real surprise was how many of you came bearing gifts such as warm blankets and coats; mittens, scarves and winter clothing. The number of donations made to the Love Will Keep Us Warm campaign was so large that another vehicle had to be called to come to the market and pick up the clothing and blankets for the charity.  Your generosity will help many people in our communities stay warm through the winter. But yet there are many more that need your help. Financial hardships such as losing a job can make something as simple as buying an extra blanket a tough thing to do. So if you missed coming to the market this past Saturday, you’ll get another chance to help your neighbors in need. The Love Will Keep Us Warm charity drive will continue at the Franklin Farmers Market this upcoming Saturday, December 7th. Please clean out your closets and gather your gently-used blankets, coats and winter clothing to donate. Share the warmth.

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Jones Mill Farm fresh breads, jellies, jams and preserves

Saturday was a bright, sunny day which made it a great time to be at the market. There were a few farmers missing because of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but overall there was a great selection of fresh food at the market. Lots of yummy winter veggies to snatch and absolutely delicious baked goods. Those huge muffins from Lucy’s Kitchen were going fast, along with BB’s Gourmet Pretzels which are perfect snacks for the weekend football games. The non-GMO popcorn from Gardner Grove Farms was also pretty popular. But there was none of the Norton Family Farm’s sweet treats or their famous tender lettuce and a lot of people were asking where they were. On the way to market early Saturday morning, Karen and Jim Norton had an unfortunate encounter with a deer. They’re both okay, but their vehicle was damaged, so they were unable to make it to the market. Don’t worry though lettuce lovers – they’ll be back this upcoming Saturday.

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Kirkwood Farm Turnip Greens

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Delvin Farms fresh picked Arugula

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Beautiful fresh radishes from Zadok the Natural Farmer

By the way, the forecast for next Saturday is calling for some possible snow flurry action. Maybe it’s because the big man with the white beard is going to be at the market. Santa Claus will be coming to see you and find out just what’s on your Christmas list. Bring the kids out to see Santa! Saturday is also our holiday market, with lots of unique, cool gifts available from local artisans.

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Miniatures by Philip carefully hand crafted

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Hand Made Jewelry by Baya Designs

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Hand Knitted Alpaca by Legacy Acres Alpaca Farms

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Beautiful hand made pottery from V’s Pottery

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Sensible holiday gifts hand made by Cody’s Woodwork

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Upcycled Accessories provides hand made winter garments

So get the kids ready for Santa and get your holiday shopping list together – We’ll see you at the market!

Click here to view pictures from this past Saturday’s Market!

Franklin Farmers Market arrives at Decision on Dogs in the Market

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Market Customers frequently cast their votes and comments the past few weeks

To a lot of people, dogs are just like their kids. So we knew when we asked the question of whether dogs should be banned or allowed at the Franklin Farmers Market that a huge number of you would voice your opinions.  The question really struck a nerve on both sides of the issue. A lot of people told us how disappointing it would be if dogs were not allowed at the market anymore while many others told us about their concerns over the safety and sanitary issues that the dogs bring about.

We’ve heard from people who used to bring their dogs to market, but no longer do so because they worry about dog fights and other safety concerns. We’ve heard from people who said they would no longer come to the market if dogs were banned. Many people have told us they saw dogs relieving themselves in the market shed, while others said they had never seen any dog misbehaving.  And we’ve also heard from people who worry about their kids being bitten by an otherwise gentle dog because of the tight spaces under the shed on a busy market day.

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Rapid growth in 2013 has crowded the shopping isles during peak spring and summer months pushing young children and dogs close together

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The FFM assembles the largest group of Tennessee Farmers available to Middle Tennesseans each Saturday morning of the year

The Franklin Farmers Market has grown into one of the largest and most popular farmers markets in the state and the number of people visiting the market each Saturday has skyrocketed. But the number of dogs at the market has also increased rapidly and a packed market with people and dogs can cause big problems.

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During peak season a long line of cars wait for entrance into the market

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The FFM is no longer just under the big shed having doubled in size to include the parking lot next to the shed

We love dogs. Whether they’re little or big; pedigreed or mutts, we love them all. There are dogs that have been coming to the market for years now that we know by name and look forward to seeing every Saturday. So making a decision on whether dogs should stay or go has been very tough. For over a year, we’ve looked for solutions. We’ve researched markets across the country on their dog policies. We’ve considered alternatives, such having dog-friendly hours at the market. We’ve talked to health safety officials about the dogs coming in contact with food at the market and we’ve gone through all of the responses to our questions about having dogs at the market.

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Most of the larger farmer markets across the United States have found the need to keep dogs out of the food and produce area of markets as this photo shows at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in downtown San Francisco, California

As a result of all of the above, the board of the Franklin Farmers Market has decided that dogs will no longer be allowed at the market. It wasn’t an easy decision. Board president Ralph Cole summed it up by saying that experiences in the last two years have shown that the market will be safer for everyone if dogs are no longer allowed at the market and that the board’s decision will ultimately be best for everyone.

The ban on dogs at the Franklin Farmers Market will go into effect on January 1st, 2014. The ban does not apply to service dogs.

As covered by the Tennessean.

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The Franklin Farmers Market supplies fresh farm produce, baked goods and ready to eat food to thousands of Franklin area families each Saturday all year long