Spend a Sunday at the Brown County Farmers Market
Now, I love a live-laugh-love kind of day. One of my favorite activities that fits within the constraints of a live-laugh-love kind of day most definitely includes a trip to the Farmers Market to enjoy the outdoors and support local! Let me take you through what a day at the Nashville Farmers Market in Brown County, IN looks like!
Stopping at the Nashville Farmers Market is quite simple, really. Bring a few reusable bags, grab parking at the Brown County Inn or adjacent businesses in the area, walk around and check out the vendors, grab some local goods, check out the gardens behind the Brown County Inn, explore local farmstands, call it a day! Really though, let’s get into the details so you know what to expect when you plan your stop at the Nashville Farmers Market.
Found in the parking lot of the Brown County Inn, (a Brown County staple), the Nashville Indiana Farmers Market takes place every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May through October. It’s a weekly tradition for some, a treat of a day, or a grocery run for others! Ultimately it brings together farmers, artists, bakers, makers, musicians, and people looking to enjoy a beautiful afternoon in Brown County. Anytime I’m in Brown County I am so inspired by the talent that comes from local vendors and the beauty of the County itself.
For my little family, checking out the farmers market after a Sunday church service is the perfect way, in my professional market-goer opinion, to spend the afternoon. I absolutely love hopping from tent to tent to see what each vendor has to offer. It does take a while to check them all out, but totally worth it, so take your time. I would highly recommend coming earlier to get a parking spot at the Brown County Inn, and mosey around!
One of the things I love most about this market is that every visit feels a little different. Depending on the week, you might discover fresh herbs and vegetable plants and the next week ripe fruits and vegetables from the same vendors as their gardens begin to produce a harvest! Colorful flower bouquets, locally raised meats and eggs, handcrafted soaps (check out Hart Ranch Goat Soap), artwork, jewelry, candles, or homemade treats like cookies & sourdough breads. The variety is part of the fun, and it makes each trip feel like a small treasure hunt.
Some of my favorite finds from my last visit to the Nashville Farmers Market have got to be the figgy bar from Bean Blossom Bakery Company (a must try), snake plants, goat milk soap from Hart Ranch, unique coffee beans from Wild Spirit Coffee Company, honey & maple syrup from Dragonwood, and vegetable plant starters for my garden! The live music was also a vibe! And space to dance, if you fancy.
After you’ve finished exploring the vendors, take some time to wander the Brown County Inn! The Brown County Inn offers beautiful grounds that feel tucked away from the market. Almost like you’ve been transported to a different place entirely! One of those places that makes you feel like you’re not in Indiana but also makes you love Indiana even more. Depending on the season, you’ll find flowers blooming, quiet walking areas, and peaceful spots to sit and enjoy the afternoon and the gardens. It’s an easy way to continue the exploration and enjoyment before you head home! You may also be able to check out a tour of Nashville on the Nashville Express! They ride right through the Nashville Farmers Market as a part of the tour.
Aside from the market itself, another thing that genuinely feels like a treasure hunt is discovering Brown County and keeping an eye out for roadside farm stands. While they may not always have websites or business pages (we’ll get to how you can find them), they are a part of what makes the area so special. During the growing season, you can find small stands selling fresh vegetables, flowers, eggs, baked goods like cookies and sourdough, jams, and other seasonal products and homemade goods like crafts, candles, soaps and more. I’m going to say it again, there’s something very live-laugh-love, whimsy if you will, about driving through Brown County and pulling over at a roadside stand and picking up a bouquet of flowers or a bag of baked goods.
These farm stands offer a glimpse into the homestead side of Brown County. They connect you directly to the people growing and creating the products you purchase. While you can just drive around and spot them out on the side of the road, which I am always down for, it feels slightly more spontaneous, you can also be a bit more efficient and visit HomesteadIndiana.com as a great resource for finding local goods from home-based bakers & makers. I’m so grateful to live so close to several grocery stores, but there’s something so special about being able to get homemade goods from locally trusted homesteaders and farmstands.
I’ll list a few worth checking out below!
Baked by Brandee: 5969 Petro Rd Nashville, IN
WannaBees Bakery & Farmstand LLC: 3880 S 550 W Columbus, IN
Kristin Buckers: 4712 Yellowwood Road Nashville, IN
The Little Brown County Bakery: 1891 Treetop Ln, Nashville, IN
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, spending the day in Nashville, looking for a chill Sunday activity, or as I would say, looking to have a live-laugh-love kind of day, the Nashville Farmers Market is so worth adding to your Brown County itinerary. Next time you’re in Brown County on a Sunday, make sure you check it out!
