Tag Archives: Gardner Grove

Farmers Market Customers Enjoy Warm Sunshine and Fresh Food

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We were blessed with warm Sunshine on Saturday!

After a month of bone-chilling winter weather, suddenly everything changed for the farmers market. Sunshine and a high in the mid-60’s on the first day of February! Weird but wonderful weather for the month that’s typically the coldest of the year and it made it a great day to be at the Franklin Farmers Market. Lots of folks came out to get the best in fresh food and to soak up the sunshine with the farmers and vendors at the market. We saw lots of crunchy carrots and yummy apples from Kirkview Farm being snatched up and delicious sweet treats from the Norton Family Farm too. Those dried shitake mushrooms from Gardner Grove Farm were a hit. So were the Heirloom Tomato soup from Jones Mill Farm and the Potato Gouda Dill soup from Lucy’s Kitchen. Even the little ones got a taste of extra-special yummy food to take home with the fresh organic baby food from Chubby Bunny.

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Kirkview Farm Apples

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Carrots, Butternut Squash and Kale from Kirkview Farm

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Dried Shitake Mushrooms from Gardner Grove

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Carrots and other produce from Zadok The Natural Farmer

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Valentine cookies from Flying S Farm

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Heirloom Tomato Soup from Jones Mill Farm

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Geraldine’s Greatest Chess Pies

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Hatcher Family Dairy

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Jams, Jellies, Preserves and Breads from Jones Mill Farm

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Biscuit Love uses locally sourced foods

And despite their recent status as TV stars, the Biscuit Love crew was at the market too. They were featured in a recent segment on NBC’s Today show called “Marketing Makeover” that helps worthy small companies to keep growing and thriving. The thing we like best about the Biscuit Love Truck is that they use local and seasonal ingredients from such farms as Beaverdam Creek, Bloomsbury Farm and Bear Creek.  We don’t think they were giving out autographs this past Saturday at the market, but they were serving up scratch made biscuit sandwiches like the East Nasty, with buttermilk fried chicken, cheddar cheese and sausage gravy.

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Hand made by Miniatures by Phillip

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Chubby Bunny Organic Baby Foods

And finally, there were a lot of parents on Saturday asking about gardens. When will tomatoes be back in season? When will strawberries be available? What about green beans? The farmers do have all the answers for you, but then so could your kids. How? By being a part of the FFM’s Growing Kids Educational Garden classes. It’s all about teaching kids about where their food really comes from and what it takes to get it from the garden patch to the table. There are lots of new features this year’s program, which gets underway in April. Details on classes and how to sign up will be released at the end of February in the market’s newsletter and website.

 

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!

What the Farmers Market has for your Thanksgiving Shopping List

Thanksgiving gives us the chance to eat ourselves silly, with a big spread of delicious food. So get ready to pig out! Make those yummy holiday recipes with healthy fresh produce, meats and dairy from the Franklin Farmers Market and you’ll feel a little less guilty about stuffing yourself this Thanksgiving.

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Triple L Ranch great tasting hen right out of the oven!

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Saturday will be a day of Families doing their Thanksgiving shopping

Here’s a handy shopping list of some of the goodies you’ll find from the farmers at the market this Saturday to create the best Thanksgiving dinner ever.

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  • Beets – delicious roasted with honey!
  • Broccoli – a broccoli casserole hits the spot.
  • Cabbage – try it grilled or sautéed
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower – pick up some fresh cheese and drizzle over the cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Chard
  • Chives
  • Greens – lots of winter greens available now
  • Leeks
  • Lettuce
  • Mushrooms
  • Onions
  • Potatoes – Got to have mashed potatoes with gravy
  • Radishes
  • Shallots
  • Squash/Pumpkins
  • Sweet Potatoes – sweet ‘tater casserole is a must!
  • Turnips
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Fresh Herbs and Lettuces from Rocky Glade Farm

Pick up fresh cheese at the market. Moonshadow Farm has delicious varieties of Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese and Noble Springs Dairy has fantastic goat cheese in different flavors. Hatcher Family Dairy Farm has the milk, cream and buttermilk you need for your recipes and the kids would love some Hatcher chocolate milk with Thanksgiving dinner.

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Farm Fresh Harvest from Pilgrims Produce

Don’t forget the eggs you need for special Thanksgiving desserts. Moonshadow Farm, River Cottage Farm, Gardners Grove and Triple L Ranch are just a few of the farms with fresh eggs at the market.

Who says you have to eat turkey on Thanksgiving? From chicken to beef or ham, you can find the meat you want at the market. Check out Triple L Ranch, Bear Creek Farm, West Wind Farm, Peaceful Pastures, River Cottage, Gardner Grove and Beaverdam Creek Farm for the cuts of meat you want. Johnson’s Honey Farm and Pilgrim’s Produce have the honey you need to spread on fresh rolls. And if you don’t feel like doing all the baking, you can pick up delicious breads, pastries, cakes and more at the market. Norton Family Farm, Lucy’s Kitchen and Jones Mill Farms have what you need. Jams, jellies and preserves can be found at the market too.

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Fresh Baked Breads from Flying S Farm

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Jams, Jellies and Preserves from Jones Mill Farm

So go ahead…. Eat it up! Happy Thanksgiving from the Franklin Farmers Market.

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Fresh Lettuces and root vegetables from Zadok the Natural Farmer

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Wonderful Thanksgiving fresh picked veggies from Paradise Produce

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Rocky Glade at your service!

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Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes and Honey from Pilgrims Produce

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Beaverdam Creek fresh Veggies

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Organic Fennel from Delvin Farms

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