Tag Archives: West Wind Farms

Grass Fed Meats Enjoyed by Local Market Customers

June 16, 2014

The delicious smell of grass fed meats grilling on a Big Green Egg just can’t be beat. It makes your mouth water and the taste buds crave a bite of whatever cut of meat is on the grill. Just ask anyone who was at the market. The Hearth and Grill Shop and Chef Michael Martin of Whole Foods got together and grilled tender cuts of beef, pork, chicken, lamb and sausage.

Hayes & Stephen from Hearth & Grill Shop answered questions about the Big Green Egg and other grills best for grilling

Chef Michael Martin of Whole Foods grilled over 50 pounds of local farm beef, chicken, pork and sausages

Many customers had never sampled the great flavor of local Tennessee farm meats

Market customers kept Chef Michael busy all market day

All of the local farm meats were provided by our meat farmers and free samples were handed out to enjoy. It was irresistible. You could not walk past the Grill Day tent without grabbing one of the grass fed meat samples to munch. Just goes to show that grass fed meats straight from the farm is the best. Our thanks to West Wind Farms, Peaceful Pastures, Triple L Ranch, Bear Creek Farm, River Cottage Farm, Hatcher Family Dairy and Beaverdam Creek Farm for contributing the local farm meats for the market’s Grill Day. Jones Mill Farm provided the fresh baked kaiser buns and sourdough rolls with Moonshadow Farm supplying the Kenny’s Cheddar Cheese.

Great tasting local meats

Grilled beef slider with chopped Jalapeño and Kenny’s Cheddar cheese

A tasty pork loin cooked to perfection!

Certified Organically grown produce from Delvin Farms

What is it about the perfect summer day that makes everyone smile? There was a whole lot of smiling going on at the FFM. After a week of steady rain, the sun finally decided to shine bright and fresh summer veggies were all over the market. Tomatoes and squash, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, onions and a whole lot more could be found, as well as the first of the blueberries and blackberries of the season. As we’ve said before, some farmers have crops just a little earlier than normal because of hoop house and row covers protecting their plants from cold weather and pests. But to know when your favorites will be ripe and ready at the market, you need to have a good idea of when peak season for their harvest takes place. We were glad to see so many of you stopping at the info booth to pick up a copy of Local Table, with its’ big seasonality chart to reference on harvest times for veggies and fruits.

Fresh Blueberries from Pilgrims Produce

Just picked Blackberries from Beaverdam Creek Farm

Fresh squash and other produce from Paradise Farm

Cucumbers from Napier Farm

All in all, with happy noses and smiling faces, it was a very good day at the market! Be sure to check out our market day photos to see what went on at the Franklin Tennessee farmers market this past Saturday.

Great tasting organic tomatoes from Delvin Farms have arrived!

Farm fresh local produce from Beaverdam Creek Farm

Warm Sunshine Delivers Smiles and Fresh Farm Food

February 24, 2014

Market Customers Pick Up Thanksgiving Turkeys, Produce, Baked Breads and Desserts

November 25, 2013

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Brighten the table tops with handmade holiday decorations from Bloomin’ Baskets

It’s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is this Thursday. Where did the year go? We have to say, that 2013 has been a good one for us at the Franklin Farmers Market. Lots of longtime customers and just as many new ones have visited the market this year helping to keep our local farms productive. When the market first began, there were only 8 farms participating. Now over 70 during the course of the year are part of the market and that’s because of you. This Thanksgiving, we give our thanks for your loyal support of local farms.

Even the very cold weather this past Saturday didn’t keep people away from the market. Everyone was picking up goodies for Thanksgiving dinner. You should have seen the crowds at the Peaceful Pastures and West Wind Farms booths, as people lined up to get their turkeys.

Market Customers in line to pick up local Farm Turkey’s

Two CSA’s from Delvin Farms full of Thanksgiving week fresh veggies

Sweet potatoes and pecans were being snatched up, along with butter and cream from Hatcher’s Dairy to use in turkey day desserts.

Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes and Apples from Kirkview Farm

Goat’s cheese and fudge from Noble Springs Dairy

Speaking of turkeys, that wasn’t the only meat being picked up for Thanksgiving. Chickens were flying , so to speak, out of the market. Fresh rolls and breads from Jones Mill Farms were also high on the Thanksgiving shopping list, along with desserts from Norton Family Farms.

Christmas Fruit Cake from Jones Mill Farm

Wonderful Thanksgiving week Pies from Geraldine’s Greatest Pies

Soups, Cranberry Relish and Pizza Dough from Jones Mill Farm

Fresh Baked Cakes from Flying S Farm

Frenched Rib Roast from Bear Creek Farm

Winter Farm Fresh Produce from Beaverdam Creek Farm

The greens that Rocky Glade Farm and Zadock the Natural Farm were very popular too. Overall the market was full of winter veggies to make Thanksgiving dinner top of the class.

Rocky Glade just picked winter produce

Great lettuces from Zadok the Natural Farmer

Greens, Eggs, Potatoes and more from Pilgrims Produce

Butternut Squash and Spaghetti Squash from Evans Produce

By the way, did you get a taste of the Roasted Butternut Squash Soup at the market? It’s a recipe in the market’s “Eating in Season” cookbook and samples were being handed out at the cookbook booth. The “Eating in Season” cookbook is great for your kitchen, but it also makes a great holiday gift. There were people buying cases of the cookbook for stocking stuffers and office gifts this past Saturday.

Something else we are thankful for at the market is the generosity of our customers. Even though the Love Will Keep Us Warm blanket & coat drive doesn’t start until November 30^th, several people brought blankets, coats and winter clothing to donate at the market this past Saturday. You can help out those in need stay warm this winter by donating gently-used or new blankets, coats and winter clothing at the market during the charity drive. Just look for the drop-off tent next to the market Info booth at the front of the market. We’ll be collecting the blankets, coats and winter clothing on this upcoming Saturday (November 30^th) and on Saturday, December 7^th.

What a cute, cute Labor-doodle Puppy!

And finally, this is the last week to tell us whether dogs should stay or go at the market. Many of you want dogs to continue to be allowed at the market, but it seems that just as many want the dogs to be banned from the market because of sanitary and safety issues. What do you think? Send an email to lisa@franklinfarmersmarket.com or stop by the market info booth this upcoming Saturday and let us know what you think.

Taste Local Farm Meats this Saturday at our Day of the Grill Tasting Event

October 2, 2013

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The tantalizing smell of local farm beef, chicken or pork chops sizzling on the grill of a Big Green Egg just can’t be beat. It’s all grilled to perfection, tender and juicy on the inside with a delicious farm meat flavor.

Two Ribeye’s Grilling on the Big Green Egg

Free Range Chickens are great for Smoking on a Big Green Egg

And when you use top-rated meats from local farms, it becomes the ultimate mouthwatering experience.

Local farm Beef Ribeye from the Franklin Farmers Market

Local Farm Grilled Steak from the Franklin Farmers Market

Find out for yourself this Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market. It’s the Day of the Grill and it’s your chance to sample local farm meats from West Wind Farms, Peaceful Pastures, Bear Creek Farm, Triple L Ranch, River Cottage Farm and Beaverdam Creek Farm.

Bear Creek Pigs

Local Farm Beef

Local Free Range Chicken

Triple L Ranch Cattle

Chef Jeff Lunsford of the Hearth and Grill Shop

Master griller Chef Jeff Lunsford from The Hearth and Grill Shop will use his talents to give you free samples of appetizing local farm meats. “The Franklin Farmers Market supplies top quality meats that are produced from livestock -raised locally under the watchful eye of farmers that care about their animals, their product and the people they sell it to,” said Chef Jeff. This Saturday, enjoy cuts of steak, chicken, pork and lamb. Or take a bite of a “slider” – local ground beef, mixed with chopped jalapeños and grated cheese from Kenny’s Farmhouse Aged Cheddar provided by Moonshadow Farm. It’s served on one of Jones Mill Farm’s famous sourdough rolls.

Jones Mill Farm Sourdough Rolls

Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheddar from Moonshadow Farm

Everything will be grilled to perfection on a Big Green Egg Smoker & Grill from The Hearth and Grill Shop. “As a chef, I insist on the highest quality equipment and the very best local products,” said Chef Jeff. “The Big Green Egg provides me with the best Ceramic – Charcoal grill and smoker rolled into one fabulous grill.”

Vacuum sealed Ribeye’s

Local Farm Beef Ribeye’s

Look for The Hearth and Grill tent at the front of the market this Saturday and treat yourself to free samples of delicious grilled meats from our local meat farmers. Meat lovers, rejoice! It’s the Day of the Grill at the Franklin Farmers Market!

Local Free Range Chicken ready for the Big Green Egg Smoker

My Farm Fresh Breakfast this Labor Day Weekend

September 2, 2013

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Free Range Chicken Eggs, Sourdough Rolls with Apple Jam and a slice of Heirloom Tomato and make for a mighty good farm fresh breakfast

Free Range Chicken Eggs, Sourdough Rolls with Apple Jam and a slice of Heirloom Tomato make for a mighty good farm fresh breakfast

We so enjoy our visits to the Franklin Farmers Market each Saturday morning eager to discover what our Tennessee Farmers have brought to market. My favorite time of each weekend is to cook and enjoy the farm fresh produce, free range eggs, jams and preserves, heirloom tomatoes, fresh dairy butter and the all natural meats that don’t contain hormones or antibiotics. I love the bolder flavors my taste buds get to experience when all my food is freshly picked and harvested.

This morning I was a little more excited about preparing breakfast because of what I found yesterday. Judy of Jones Mill Farm had her first Fig preserves, I love Fresh Fig Preserves! Now I have discovered one of those special finds-Judy had some Apple Jam. OMG!!!

Apple Jam and Fig Preserves made fresh by Judy in her kitchen

Apple Jam and Fig Preserves made fresh by Judy in her commercial kitchen at Jones Mill Farm

Judy’s Apple Jam is the best Jam I’ve ever had. The symphony of flavor created from her Apples, Brown Sugar, Lemons, Ginger, Cloves and Nutmeg sent my taste buds into a tasting celebration! Such a wonderful balance of flavor and not overly sweet. And of course the Fig preserves were outstanding as ever.

So here’s a few pictures of my simple quick breakfast using farm fresh free range eggs from West Wind Farm, I love the color and flavor from fresh free range chicken eggs. And of course Judy’s sourdough rolls with the Apple Jam and Fig Preserves was just perfect to start my day!

West Wind Farms Free Range Eggs bring unexpected fresh flavor to scrambled eggs

Sourdough Rolls made from 100 year old sourdough darter with butter, free range eggs, water, honey, sea salt and yeast

Sourdough Rolls made from 100 year old sourdough starter with butter, free range eggs, water, honey, sea salt and yeast

Our Apple Jam is made with slices of farm fresh apples, brown sugar, lemons, ginger, cloves and nutmeg

Judy’s Apple Jam is made with slices of farm fresh apples, brown sugar, lemons, ginger, cloves and nutmeg

Jones Mill Farm Fig Preserves on Sourdough Rolls are great for breakfast

Mission Complete…I’m ready for my day!

Please share a comment if you enjoy cooking with farm fresh produce, baked goods and locally raised natural meats from the Franklin Farmers Market. Check out the pictures from Market Saturday’s.