Tag Archives: CSA

Fresh Lettuce, Spring Flowers and Local Farm CSA Sign Ups

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Colorful spring flowers from Blooming Baskets

There’s nothing better than that first splash of bright color in the spring. The shades of purple and yellow on sweet pansies and Dutch iris and the beautiful pink of blooming hyacinth could all be found at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday. The spring season is not quite a week old and it’s not as warm as we would like for it to be yet, but it doesn’t matter. Everyone seems to be happy about the official change of the seasons on the calendar. Overall, it was just a colorful day at the market. Besides the early spring blooms, there were bright orange and yellow carrots along with the greens of lettuce. There were big splashes of color from local artwork too. You could even see hints around the market that a visit from the Easter bunny would be happening soon. So while the temperatures may be a bit cooler than usual, spring is definitely here and that makes our farmers and everyone else very happy.

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Kirkview Farm’s tasty greens

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Fresh carrots from Norton Farm

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Norton Farm’s lettuce

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Potatoes and squash from Kirkview Farm

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As you can see, carrots are not always orange!

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Eggs from Somethin’ To Do Farm

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Crepe A Diem’s dishes are  popular!

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Blooming Baskets’ beautiful flowers

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Young plants from Kirkview Farm

So think about this for a minute – March is almost over, April is knocking on the door and before you know it, May will be here. And along with that warmer weather come the vegetables and fruit you’ve been craving since last summer. Of course, you are not the only one that’s longing for the taste of strawberries or tender young asparagus. There’s always a mad dash for fresh food at the market. But you can be one step ahead of everyone else by getting a CSA from your favorite farmer. A CSA automatically gives you the best in fresh food that’s available. Many of the farmers are signing up people up for a CSA now. Look for CSA signs at the farm booths around the market or just ask your favorite farmer if he or she has a CSA program.

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Fresh breads from Flying S Farm

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Sweet jam from Jones Mill Farms

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Hatcher Dairy’s goodies

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Delicious soups from Lucy’s Kitchen

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Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese is always great!

kids2And with the arrival of spring, we’ve started playing in the dirt. The preparation of the Growing Kids garden has begun and soon, a lot of young gardeners will be planting and learning about food and the environment. Classes at the Growing Kids Educational Garden are free and designed for kids from Pre-K to 3rd grade. It’s a hands-on, creative fun way to find out where food really comes from. Get more info on the Growing Kids garden and to register for classes. The first class at the kids’ garden is scheduled for April 22nd!

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Organics in Motion makes garden soil great

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Seedlings to plant from Paradise Produce

Check out what was in market this past Saturday by visiting our FFM website Photo Gallery.

Warm Sunshine Delivers Smiles and Fresh Farm Food

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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.

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Fresh made muffins from Lucy’s kitchen

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Fresh winter squash from Kirkview Farm

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Tennessee Maple Syrup from Pilgrims produce

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Fresh made crepes from Crepe A Diem

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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

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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.

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

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Peaceful Pastures farm made soaps

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Farm Fresh Goat Cheese from Noble Springs Dairy

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Taking home some barn wood signs from Tom the Furniture Guy

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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.

Watermelon Festival Brings Fun and Games for Kids!

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Teddy Pennington shows off his spitting skills.

One, two, three….spit! Who knew that spitting seeds could be an athletic event? That’s what happened at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday at the 2nd annual Watermelon Festival.  Contestants lined up to show off their spitting ability with watermelon seeds and claim the coveted Seed-Spitting Championship title. The winner was Casey Walker, who put the kids to shame with her athletic spitting ability. However, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place contestants were winners too.

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The winners took home sweet  juicy watermelons

All of them went home with a delicious sweet watermelon. Watermelon was definitely the star of the market, with delicious watermelon slices to munch on while walking around the market.

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A big crowd at the Watermelon Festival!

As we’ve said before, it’s the high season at the market, with summer produce at its peak. Lots of people walking around with big bags filled with peppers and tomatoes; lettuce, potatoes, onions, corn, purple hull peas and much more.

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Tasty, ripe bell peppers at the market

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Sweet corn from the King Family Farm

And it was a record-setting hot August day for the Franklin Farmers Market too. Over 3,000 people came to the market’s Watermelon Festival! We are very grateful for your support of local farms and local food.

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Local artisan Tom The Furniture Guy shows his wares

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There is always music at the Franklin Farmers Market

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Munching on yummy treats from Ellie’s Doughnuts

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Watermelon seed bean bag toss at the festival

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How fast can you eat a watermelon slice without using your hands?

The highlight of the day though was the fastest watermelon eating contest. Contestants quickly munched and slurped down watermelon slices with their hands behind their back.

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Max wins the top prize

It was a very close call, but in the end, Max Atlas took home the championship along with his first place winnings – a big CSA box of produce from Delvin Farms, honey from Johnson’s Honey Farm, sweet preserves from the Norton Family Farm, chess pie from Geraldine’s Pies, fresh yummy doughnuts from Ellie’s Doughnuts, a bar of goat soap from Tottys Bend Goat Farm and of course, a delicious watermelon!

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First place winner Max and his brothers hold up the contest prizes

And if you were at the market for the watermelon festival, you may now be a star on the market website! Click here and check out the photos of market day fun in our photo gallery. Lots of photos snapped, lots of smiling faces. Proof that when all was said and done, it was a great day at the Franklin Farmers Market for everyone!

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Evie, a student at the Growing Kids Garden

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A juicy watermelon makes everyone smile!

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The Franklin Farmers Market Watermelon Festival is proudly sponsored by the Williamson Herald and Southern Exposure Magazine

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Picking out the perfect watermelon

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Slicing watermelon to munch at the market

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Juicy, slurping fun at the watermelon eating contest