This week we’ll be highlighting a few of our local farmers markets. We at Nashville Moms Blog count ourselves blessed to live in a city that has such a wealth of local markets, and we encourage you to do some exploring of your own—check out your local farmers market. You won’t regret it!
If you’re heading to the west side of the city on Saturday (maybe to scour the most recent selection of books at McKay’s or to get a mid-day frozen treat from Bobbie’s Dairy Dip—we wouldn’t blame you for either!), you need to check out the Farmers Market at Richland Park. Located between the 46th and 51st blocks of Charlotte Avenue, this market unites Sylvan Park with West Nashville. The market is open 9-12 on Saturdays, May through October.
Formerly the West Nashville Farmers’ Market (The Nashville Farmers’ Market took over management of this market about six months ago as one of their Neighborhood Market Programs), the NFM at Richland Park boasts local veggie, meat, honey, baked goods, and peach farmers (a full list of merchants here). They have one vendor unique to the market: Humble Flowers (a three-woman organic flower farm in Bells Bend). While being serenaded by local musicians, you can wake up your taste buds with salsa or strawberry jalapeno jam samples from The Nashville Jams Co. and grab your breakfast biscuit from Dozen—a local bakery that chooses to use organic ingredients.
In addition to sampling and supporting local producers, you can make a lunch of your purchases under the shade of a pavilion and grab a book and a break from the heat in the Richland Park Branch library. You can get in a free yoga workout, play a game or two of tennis, run loose on the fields, throw a frisbee, or climb around on the playground after you shop (making this an ideal place to bring the whole family). Richland Park is really quite lovely; it was originally planned as a greenspace in 1887 and joined the metro park system in 1907. Also, the greenspace is lined with parking lots, this is notably one of the few small markets in town where close parking is ample (260 spaces total).
While I was there last weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Tiffani Rozier, who was manning the market’s info table. She explained that she volunteers with Nashville Farmers’ Market and provides chef demonstrations. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out how she prepares jumbo shrimp with lemon and fresh herbs!
The Nashville Farmer’s Market at Richland, 4711 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209
http://nashvillefarmersmarket.org/event/nfmrichland_park_farmers_market
Check out the web site for a list of vendors!
Thank you so much Mandy for the great write about Richland Park, I’m glad you had a good time during your visit! It was a pleasure to meet you!
Chef Rozier -so great to meet you and hear about your passion for the NFMs and the local culinary scene! Please let us know when your next kitchen Quick & Dirty Basics class starts again this fall – I usually cook to survive with toddlers underfoot, but I think my husband would really enjoy your boot camp (and I would totally benefit from him learning a few new tricks)!