Tag Archives: Paradise Produce

Home Garden Vegetable Plants Sell Fast

FFM

Ford Lincoln of Franklin places a new vehicle every Saturday in front for new car buyers. Thanks for being our corporate sponsor!

The day started off a bit chilly this past Saturday, but it warmed up nicely at the market. We even saw a couple of people with shorts on! It must have been all of those tell-tale signs of spring throughout the market that made that happen, like the plant starts for gardens from Paradise Produce and the happy colors of little Dutch iris and buttercups from Blooming Meadows. And those massive ferns from Purple Tree Farm had everyone thinking about prettying up their porches for the warm weather. Lots of new Franklinites came to the market for the very first time and some out-of-town folks too, including a family from Hawaii. So all in all, it was a pretty good day at the market.

FFM

Purple Tree Farm has beautiful ferns and other new plants for spring

FFM

Garden starter plants grown right on the farm at Paradise Produce

FFM

Garden starter plants sold fast at market

FFM

Herbs and lettuces starters from Earth Advocate Research Farm

FFM

‘Local Farmers are sharing their vegetable plants for all market customers

FFM

Tomato plants from Kirkview Farms deliver sweet tomatoes for your home garden

And with warmer weather, things really start jumping at the Franklin Farmers Market with special days and events. In fact, we’ll kick off the summer season in May with a special day that will make your taste buds oh-so-happy. Details are coming soon!

FFM

This young couple are exited to find healthy tomato plants for their home garden

FFM

Young farm hand Dylem helps out at Hatcher Milk stand

FFM

Fresh Lettuce and green onions from Pilgrims Produce

FFM

Kale, collards, spinach and squash from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Just picked fresh lettuce mix from Norton Family Farm

FFM

Shiitake Mushrooms from Gardner’s Grove

FFM

Easter crosses from Time Traveler Treasures

Finally, there was a little confusion this past Saturday about when the market opens and when it closes. All through the month of April, the market will open at 8am and close at noon. That gives the early birds a chance to get in and out of the market quicker but for you socializers, it’s an extra hour to eat good food and have good conversations while shopping at the market.

FFM

Wonderful goodies home baked at Lucy’s Kitchen

FFM

Even on a cold windy day customer pack the market

FFM

Jams, Jellies and Breads from Jones Mill Farm

FFM

Home baked cinnamon rolls from Pappa C Pies

FFM

Beautiful Spring Flowers from Blooming Baskets

Garden Plants and Early Veggies Welcome Spring 2014!

FFM

Customers browse young garden plant seedlings from local farms

Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day. That old nursery rhyme could have been used to describe how we all felt about last Saturday morning. It felt like a wet, winter day but all it took was one step under the Franklin Farmers Market shed to know that spring is really here. All you had to do was to take a look around and see the signs of spring popping up all over the place. Of course, there were lots of good veggies, like greens and sweet carrots perfect for a good salad. And we saw several of you buying cuts of tender meat to throw on the grill soon.

FFM

Kale and Carrots from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Fresh spinach, lettuces and eggs from Somethin’ to do Farm

FFM

Karen so proud of her local grown sweet carrots

FFM

Newly harvested celery from Rocky Glade Farm

FFM

A sample CSA basket from Beaverdam Creek Farm

FFM

Farm grown leaks from Pilgrims Produce

FFM

Fresh heads of lettuce just picked from Rocky Glade Farm

But there also blooms of color and garden plant seedlings everywhere, perfect to plant for a little backyard garden. We always know warmer weather is just around the corner when Purple Tree Farm is back at market with veggie plant seedlings and beautiful hanging baskets. Or when we see the bedding plants and bright marigolds from Kirkview Farms and the healthy plant slips from Paradise Produce. Then there were the lavender and rosemary plants from Earth Advocates Research Farm and the blooms of their beautiful Lenten Roses.

FFM

Many choices of garden

FFM

Red Beet plants for your home garden from Paradise Farm

FFM

Beautiful flowering plants from Earth Advocate Research Farm

FFM

Marigold plants from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Lush green ferns from Purple Tree Farm

FFM

Tomato plants from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Lettuces and swill chard starts

planting-in-a-row-corn-kids-gardenWith all of the signs of spring at the market, we got a few questions about the market’s Growing Kids Educational Garden this past Saturday too. Veggies, fruits and flowers will soon be growing in the kids’ garden which is just across Franklin Road in the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. This is the 4th year for the garden classes, which are perfect for teaching kids about the environment and where food really comes from. Classes begin on April 22nd and are designed for kids Pre-K to 3rd grade.  And it’s all free! Get more info on the classes for April & May on the Kids’ page.

And finally with the warmer days of spring, comes a change in the market hours. Starting this upcoming weekend on April 5th, the Franklin Farmers Market will open one hour earlier. Market hours in April will be 8am to noon each Saturday, giving you longer hours to visit the market. Yes, spring has definitely arrived!  Visit Saturday Photos to see what was in market.

FFM

Someone is happy Spring has Sprung!

FFM

Local Tennessean’s come together at the Franklin Farmers Market every Saturday morning see good friends and buy farm fresh food

Winter Vegetables, Meats and Soups make for great Farm Fresh Meals

It was a cold and windy day, but that didn’t bother us at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday. Okay, that’s not quite true because it was really chilly, but it certainly didn’t keep our farmers from bringing you the best in winter vegetables, like carrots, squash and potatoes.

FFM

Winter greens from Paradise Produce

FFM

Carrots, collards, cabbage and potatoes from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Fresh organic cabbage from Delvin Farm

FFM

Tennessee farm grown lettuces from Norton Family Farm

FFM

Tennessee families picking up farm fresh produce

And even though it was a cold day, there was plenty at the market to warm you up. Lots of folks were munching warm treats from Ellie’s Old Fashion Donuts or enjoying one of Jones Mill Farms’ hot homemade rolls with Triple L Sausage.

FFM

Gotta have my Ellie’s Old Fashioned Doughnut!

FFM

Fresh baked, hot and ready Sourdough roll with Triple L Sausage from Jones Mill Farm

And there were lots of veggies that people were taking home to create their own warm comfort food. For example, fresh carrots from Paradise Produce, along with cabbage from Delvin Farms were being bought to make homemade soup.  You can view pictures from Saturday’s market here.

FFM

Just picked Carrots, Kale, lettuces and spinach from Paradise Produce

FFM

Fresh beets from Paradise Produce

Those who didn’t want to make their own took a delicious shortcut and took home some of Flying S Farms yummy soups. There’s nothing quite like a bowl of hot grits to warm you up and bags of Beaverdam Creek Farm’s stone-ground grits were being snatched up in a hurry. So yes, it was cold and windy, but the trip to the market was worth it to load up ongood food for chilly winter weather.

FFM

After market lunch of Triple L Ranch Ribeye, Delvin Farm organic Brussels Sprouts and Potato Soup from Jones Mill Farm…Nothing better on a cold day!

FFM

Farm Preserves, Jams and Jellies from Jones Mill Farm

FFM

Farm baked Breads from Jones Mill Farm

FFM

Fresh Baked Pies from Geraldine

FFM

Kenny’s Cheeses from Moonshadow Farm

It’s a new year and with it comes a few reminders from the market – First, winter market hours have changed. The winter market is now open from 9am – noon and will remain that way until spring. Second, the “no dogs at the market” rule is now in effect, so please leave your pets at home. And third, don’t forget to vote for the best name for the little calf at Triple L Ranch. You can get the complete story on the calf and vote for his name by clicking here.

Finally, it is with great sadness that we say goodbye to one of our own at the market. Ed Johnson, the patriarch of Johnson’s Honey Farm passed away this weekend.  Having the best honey in Tennessee was a passion of Mr. Johnson’s and it showed in the honey his bees produced. Bees have been a part of Mr. Johnson’s farm since 1918, making Paula Morton, his daughter and familiar figure at the market a 3rd generation beekeeper.  Our hearts, prayers and sympathies go out to the Johnson family.

FFM

Ed Johnson of Johnson’s Honey Farm will be missed by the entire state of Tennessee and beyond, including farmers from all over the world. His family will continue his legacy.

Fall Vegetables Now in Full Supply for Winter Farmers Market

What a beautiful fall day at the market! Last Saturday was perfect for strolling around and picking up tasty fresh cool weather veggies at the market.  A lot of delicious sweet potatoes, greens and root vegetables, like beets, turnips and carrots could be found.

FFM

Sweet Potatoes from Rocky Glade Farm

FFM

Radishes, Turnips and Greens from Pilgrims Produce

FFM

Organic Celery, Tatsoi and Collards from Delvin Farms

FFM

Fresh Farm Green Onions from Pilgrims Produce

FFM

Fresh Lettuces from Zadok the Natural Farmer

FFM

Red and Yellow Baby Carrots from  Zadok the Natural Farmer

FFM

Farm Fresh Beets from Paradise Produce

And the fresh baked goods were lip-smacking good. Holiday sweets are sneaking into the market too.  Rumor has it that Noble Springs Dairy has created goat cheese fudge that is a fantastic experience for your taste buds.

FFM

Fresh baked Sweets and Bread from Flying J Farm

DSC_0227

Farm Preserves from Jones Mill Farm

It was a good day  for socializing too, with friends and farmers. A lot of folks made a point to welcome Paradise Produce back to the market.  Stacy Gentry got married and took a year off to settle into married life. He and his lovely wife Sonia were at the Paradise Produce booth with beautiful vegetables. It was her first time working at the market with her new husband and it paid off…. They sold out of everything!   You can visit all photos from Saturday here.

FFM

Deb, LeeAnn and Ben enjoying some market community time

FFM

Sonia and Stacy Gentry of Paradise Produce happy to be back at the Franklin Farmers Market

FFM

A beautiful fall day was enjoyed by many

We asked a question before Saturday about whether dogs should be allowed at the Franklin Farmers Market or if they should be banned. And a lot of you had something to say about it while at the market. In fact, we ran out of the survey forms about dog issue at the FFM info booth. Some of you were quick to say that dogs were a big reason why you like to come to the market, while others told us the dogs shouldn’t be allowed because the large number of canines and big market crowds just didn’t mix too well. This past Saturday, quite a few dogs came with their owners to the market. And while most were well-behaved, there were still a few that relieved themselves inside the market shed or growled at other dogs that were there. We really love dogs. But concerns over safety and sanitary issues keep growing, so we’re asking for your help in deciding whether dogs should stay or go. Tell us what you think. You can take part in our survey about the dogs by either stopping at the market info booth on Saturdays or emailing your thoughts to lisa@franklinfarmersmarket.com . We’ll be conducting the survey through November 23rd.

There were two other big questions at the market this past Saturday that people kept asking. The first one was “when does the market close down for the year?” It doesn’t. The market goes year-round, so the farmers will be here with fresh winter produce all through the winter season.

FFM

Beautiful Organic Tomatoes from Delvin Farms

FFM

Fresh Apples from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Freshly picked cabbage and radishes from Kirkview Farm

FFM

Fresh Spinach, Garlic and Lettuces from Rocky Glad Farm

The other question was “what time does the winter farmers market open and close?” Normally, the winter market begins at 9am. But we want to give you more time to shop the market, especially for holiday food and gifts. So November through December, the market is open every Saturday from 8am – noon. In January, the winter market hours will change to 9am-noon.

FFM

Beautiful hand carved woods from Mark Alan Artisan Woods

FFM

Custom made signs made from old barn wood from Tom the Furniture Guy

FFM

Hank Delvin, Sr of Delvin Farms helping customers on a beautiful fall day at the Franklin Farmers Market