Monthly Archives: November 2014

Handmade Artisan Gifts for this Holiday Season

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Come on in and browse from our pure local Tennessee Artisan Handcrafted Gifts!

Where can you find unique handmade artisan gifts for the Holiday Season? Yep, you guessed right; the Franklin Farmers Market has the best assembly of locally handmade artisan holiday gifts in Middle Tennessee. There’s no question that the Franklin Farmers Market is the place to go for the best in fresh food. From meats, dairy, baked goods and seasonal vegetables from local farms, the FFM has what you need to create a holiday meal that no one will forget. But the Franklin Farmers Market is also the place to find gifts that are anything, but ordinary. Unique gifts crafted with care and attention to detail by local artisans. Special creative gifts to appreciate like those listed below from our local Tennessee Artisans:

Beautiful artisan wood work of sculptures, bowls, trays and much more.
Bright, colorful handmade pottery.

artisan wood work

Hand carved artisan wood work by Mark Alan Artisan Woods

handmade pottery

Colorful handmade pottery from V Pottery

Bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings, guitar string jewelry crafted with creative designs.
Unique barn wood signs, large and small.

artisan jewelry

artisan jewelry from Rockin Robbin Ranch

guitar string jewelry

guitar string jewelry from Lovely Beads by Brenda

artisan wood trays

Rustic barnwood serving trays from Mark Alan Artisan Woods

barn wood signs

Hand painted barn wood signs from Tom the Furniture Guy

Miniature houses and historic reproductions, with detailed craftsmanship.
Creative wine bottle art.
Warm, silky soft Alpaca clothing and accessories.

historic reproductions

Historic reproductions from Miniatures by Philip

miniature historic buildings

Handcrafted miniature historic buildings by Philip

Artisan handcrafted Wine Bottle Art

alpaca clothing

Handmade Alpaca Clothing right off the Tennessee farm from Legacy Acres Alpacas

Fun and funky artisan craftwork.
Handcrafted cutting boards and rolling pins made with a variety of beautiful woods.

artisan craftwork

Funky Folk Art from Bebo Folkart

cutting boards

Handmade artisan wood cutting boards and rolling pins from Cody’s Woodworks

Luxurious natural soaps and lotions.
Eco-friendly upcycled accessories.
Creative pet products.

goat milk soaps

Goat milk soaps from Tottys Bend Soap Farm

natural soaps

Natural soaps from Firefly Essentials

upcycled accessories

Handcrafted holiday gifts from local wood

pet products

Pet Products from the Barkers Market

This year, consider giving some gifts you won’t find at the local shopping malls. Our local artisans handcraft everything they bring to market. Shop outside the big box and give gifts that mean more. Artisan handmade gifts you’ll find each Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market.

You can view many of our special holiday gifts by visiting our Handmade Artisan Gifts Photo Gallery. Learn more about our local Tennessee Artisans by visiting our Artisans webpage.  We hope to see you soon at the Franklin Farmers Market!

artisan gifts

Selecting that perfect gift for the Holiday Season becomes more special when it’s a unique “one of a kind” made by hand from one our our local Tennessee Artisans

Local Fresh Food all Winter Long at Franklin Farmers Market

It was a little chilly this past Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market, but so what, there was plenty of local fresh food like vegetables, potatoes, carrots and onions.

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Fresh picked peppers from Colvin Family Farm

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Organically grown winter greens from Delvin Farms

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I love sweet potatoes!

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Fresh carrots from Paradise Produce

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Farm onions from Evans Produce

Add some delicious beef or chicken from our local meat farmers and voila – you’ve got a delicious pot of hot soup to warm you up. Local fresh food like broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and apples were at the market too, along with radishes, turnips, and winter greens. We could go on and on, but the list of fresh winter veggies is pretty long. The point is, even though the weather can turn nasty and cold, you’ll always find local fresh food to create a warm tasty meal all winter long at the FFM.

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Local fresh meats

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Homemade soup from Jones Mill Farm

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Organic broccoli from Delvin Farms

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Organic cauliflower from Delvin Farms

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Lettuce mix from Beaverdam Creek Farm

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Apples from Kirkview Farm

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Turnips from Bloomsbury Farm

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Radishes and wheatgrass

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Volunteers collecting coats

Speaking of cold weather, our thanks to everyone who shared the warmth and donated coats, blankets and winter clothing this past Saturday at the FFM. It was our 2nd year for the Love Will Keep Us Warm charity drive. All donations collected will be distributed to the Oasis Center and the Nashville Rescue Mission. Your donations go a long way in keeping those in need warm throughout our cold winter.

Thanksgiving is just a week and a half away. Just a reminder that local fresh food ingredients for practically any recipe you might prepare for your big Thanksgiving Day can be found at the Franklin Farmers Market. Farm raised never frozen turkeys, fresh baked breads, farm ground cornmeal, sweet potato pies, and many other farm fresh ingredients from the Franklin Farmers Market, and you’ve got the best Thanksgiving meal ever!

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Stone ground grits and cornmeal

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Fresh baked bread from Flying S Farms

Lots of smiles at the market this past Saturday. Make sure to check out our big photo gallery and see who we caught on camera!

Winter Root Vegetables Populate Winter Market

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Enter here for Farm Fresh Food!!!

Everyone was prepared this past Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market shopping for winter root vegetables – toboggan hats, gloves and scarves were the normal attire, although we did see a couple of people brave enough to wear shorts in the chilly temps. But it really didn’t matter whether you bundled up or wore a tank top, it was a good day to pick up the best in seasonal fresh food at the FFM. Cabbages and cauliflower were abundant along with broccoli and carrots. Lots and lots of sweet potatoes could be found along with other winter root vegetables.

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Sweet carrots from Rocky Glade Farm

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Organic cabbage from Delvin Farms

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Broccoli from Kirkview Farm

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Sweet potatoes from Rocky Glade Farm

And even though the calendar says otherwise, summer has not quite disappeared at the FFM. We have farms at the market that are further south from Franklin and their summer crops such as tomatoes and fresh peppers tend to last a little longer. So whether you were in the mood for some butternut squash or a slice of a fresh tomato, it was a good day for the best in fresh food from local farms at the FFM.

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Tomatoes for salads from Norton Family Farm

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Sweet Baby Bell Peppers from Evans Produce

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Organically grown winter greens from Delvin Farms

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Butternut Squash from Colvin Family Farm

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Lucy’s Kitchen open for business!

There’s going to be a nosedive with the temperatures this week, as the local weather experts are predicting lows dipping into 20-something degrees. When you bundle up in your warm coats or throw an extra blanket on the bed, it might not seem like such a big deal. But there are many here in our communities who don’t have the coats, the blankets and sweaters needed to ward off the cold. That’s why the Franklin Farmers Market is once again joining the “Love Will Keep Us Warm” charity drive to help those in need stay warm this winter. Share the warmth. You can drop off your donation of gently used or new blankets, sweaters, coats, hats and more at the FFM this upcoming Saturday (November 15th) to be distributed to Middle Tennessee charities who help those who can benefit from your generosity. For more info, send an email to dottie.d.beasley@gmail.com. Share the warmth and help your neighbors this Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market.

You see them every weekend at the FFM. You buy their fresh produce, meats and dairy goods. But how much do you really know about the farmers at the market? It’s easy to find out more info. Just visit our Farmers Profile section and learn more about your favorite farmers at the FFM. Know your farmers. Know your food. And don’t forget to visit the market photo gallery to see your friends and what winter root vegetables are in season.

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Franklin Juice joins the FFM

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Organic Salsa from Delvin Farms, mild or hot

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Canned Veggies from Norton Family Farm

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Yummy cornbread and biscuits from Fly S Farms

Winter Farmers Market Starts with Winter Cold Blast

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Local Tennessee Farmers Stephanie, Hank and Daniel

It was the first day of the winter farmers market this past Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market and it sure felt like it. Cold and very windy weather had everyone bundled up. But what’s a little cold weather when there’s good food to be found? It’s not a problem. With all of the delicious fresh food to be had at the FFM, the chilly temps didn’t seem to stop anyone from visiting the winter farmers market. After all, there was hot coffee and hot chocolate to sip on; warm tasty crepes, biscuits and more to munch and the absolute best in fresh food from local farms. Cold weather? Bring it on. We’re ready. The FFM’s Winter Market is open every Saturday, now through April.

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Fresh Hot Coffee on a cold winter morning

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Oatmeal cookies from Dozen

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Sweet tomatoes from Norton Family Farm

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Organic Broccoli from Delvin Farms

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Turnip Greens from Kirkview Farm

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Banana Bread from BB’s Gourmet Pretzels

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Tailgating corn hole boards of your favorite football team hand made and painted by Mike’s Genuine Art

There’s no question that the Franklin Farmers Market is one of the biggest farmers markets in Tennessee. But we had some people asking us this past Saturday why the market looked even bigger. Winter market does have quite a few farmers and vendors, so it’s not a small market to begin with. But things looked different now because the area we call Tent City has been moved. It’s now front and center of the big market shed, so FFM stretches all the way down to Liberty Pike. That makes it a whole lot easier for you to see everything that’s at the Franklin Farmers Market, because it’s a lot easier to navigate your way around the FFM. That’s not the only thing that’s different at our Winter Market. This year, for the first time, you’ll be able to pick out the perfect Christmas tree at the FFM from Riverbend Nursery. Watch for the date that the trees will arrive at market in our weekly newsletter. And go ahead and circle the date – on December 6th, the big man will be back. Santa arrives at the Franklin Farmers Market on December 6th!

Finally, even with the cold weather this past weekend, it didn’t affect the supply of good food and happy faces at the market. For proof of both, just check out the FFM’s big photo gallery!

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Fresh Juice from Juice

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Fresh Made Pasta from City Pasta

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Organic Kale from Delvin Farms

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Artisan Goat Cheese from Noble Springs Dairy