MTSU Small Farm

08/22/2026

🌞 We’re set up and ready for Saturday Market! 🌱💙

Come see the MTSU Small Farm this morning at the Murfreesboro Saturday Market on the Square!

We’ve got fresh, locally grown produce and other farm favorites ready to go, and we’d love to see you.

📍 Murfreesboro Saturday Market
⏰ 8 AM–Noon

Stop by, say hello, and see what’s fresh this week!

Murfreesboro Saturday MarketMTSU College of Basic & Applied SciencesRutherford County Breaking NewsMTSU Alumni AssociationMTSU School of AgricultureUT TSU Extension - Rutherford CountyThe Land InstituteMTSU Small FarmMain Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford, Inc.MTSU AgritourismRutherford County Farmers MarketMiddle Tennessee State University (MTSU)Johnny's Selected SeedsMTSU Dance Program

08/21/2026

🌿 We’ll see you at the market tomorrow! 💙

A big thank you to the Murfreesboro Saturday Market for featuring our fresh MTSU Small Farm figs among this week’s market finds! 🌱

Our fig season is just getting started, so quantities will be limited. If fresh, locally grown figs are on your shopping list, come see us early!

📍 Murfreesboro Saturday Market on the Square
⏰ Saturday | 8 AM–Noon

Come shop local, support your local growers and vendors, and see what’s fresh this week! 🌻🍅🌿

Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)MTSU College of Basic & Applied SciencesMTSU School of AgricultureMTSU Alumni AssociationMain Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford, Inc.UT TSU Extension - Rutherford CountyRutherford County Breaking NewsThe Land InstituteMTSU AgritourismRutherford County Farmers Market

08/20/2026

🌻 A little sunshine for a stormy day! 🌻

It may be gray and gloomy outside today, but we figured everyone could use a little extra sunshine.

These black oil sunflowers are growing in one of our research plots at the MTSU Small Farm, and we snapped these photos on a much brighter day. ☀️

So while the sun may be hiding today, our sunflowers are still here to brighten things up. 💛🌻

Hope these add a little color and happiness to your day!

The Land InstituteMTSU College of Basic & Applied SciencesMTSU Alumni AssociationUT TSU Extension - Rutherford CountyMTSU School of AgricultureMTSU Small FarmMiddle Tennessee State University (MTSU)Murfreesboro Saturday MarketRutherford County Breaking NewsMain Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford, Inc.MTSU AgritourismRutherford County Farmers MarketJohnny's Selected Seeds

08/18/2026

Fresh figs are back at the MTSU Small Farm!

This Saturday will be our first fig harvest of the season, and we’ll have fresh specialty figs available at the Murfreesboro Saturday Farmers Market!

Since the season is just getting started, quantities will be limited this weekend, so come see us early if fresh figs are on your list.

This year, we’re selling our figs by weight:

8 oz — $6
1 lb — $10
Soft/Blemished “Jam Figs” — $6/lb, when available

All of our figs are grown right here at the MTSU Small Farm, and as more fruit begins to ripen, we expect availability to increase throughout the season.

📍 Murfreesboro Saturday Farmers Market on the Square
🕗 Saturday, 8 AM–12 PM

Come see us and grab some of the first figs of the season!

Murfreesboro Saturday MarketMTSU College of Basic & Applied SciencesRutherford County Breaking NewsMTSU Alumni AssociationMTSU School of AgricultureUT TSU Extension - Rutherford CountyThe Land InstituteMTSU Small FarmMain Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford, Inc.MTSU AgritourismRutherford County Farmers MarketMiddle Tennessee State University (MTSU)Johnny's Selected

08/08/2026

Happy Saturday, Murfreesboro! ☀️🌻

It’s a beautiful morning to visit the Murfreesboro Saturday Market, and the MTSU Small Farm is here on the Square from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM!

Stop by and see us for a great selection of fresh, locally grown produce, including:
🍅 Several varieties of tomatoes
🥒 Cucumbers
🫑 A variety of peppers
🌱 Fresh microgreens
🌿 Okra
🥬 Bitter squash
💐 And our beautiful, farm-fresh cut flowers!

Whether you’re looking for fresh ingredients for tonight’s dinner or a bouquet to brighten your home, we’d love to see you. Come say hello, support your local farmers, and enjoy everything the market has to offer!

See you on the Square! 🌞🚜

MTSU College of Basic & Applied SciencesRutherford County Breaking NewsMTSU Alumni AssociationMTSU School of AgricultureUT TSU Extension - Rutherford CountyThe Land InstituteMTSU Small FarmMain Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford, Inc.MTSU AgritourismMiddle Tennessee State University (MTSU)Rutherford County Farmers Market

08/07/2026

Saturday is almost here! 🌱🍅💐

Come see us tomorrow at the Murfreesboro Saturday Market

The MTSU Small Farm will be there rain or shine with fresh produce, colorful flowers, microgreens, and more.

Grab your coffee, bring a friend, and come spend part of your Saturday morning with us!

Rain or shine, we’ll see you on the Square!

MTSU College of Basic & Applied SciencesRutherford County Breaking NewsMTSU Alumni AssociationMTSU School of AgricultureUT TSU Extension - Rutherford CountyThe Land InstituteMain Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford, Inc.Rutherford County Farmers MarketMTSU AgritourismMiddle Tennessee State University (MTSU)

08/01/2026

🌤️ Happy Saturday! The rain has moved out, and we’re ready to see you!

Come visit the MTSU Small Farm at the Murfreesboro Saturday Farmers Market. We’re here rain or shine! 💙🌱

MTSU College of Basic & Applied SciencesMurfreesboro Saturday MarketRutherford County Breaking NewsMTSU Alumni AssociationMTSU School of AgricultureUT TSU Extension - Rutherford CountyMTSU Small FarmThe Land InstituteMain Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford, Inc.Rutherford County Farmers Market

07/31/2026

🍅 A Look Inside the Tomatoes of the MTSU Small Farm 🍅

Tomatoes can look dramatically different on the inside, and those differences go far beyond color.

This season, we’re growing eight unique tomato varieties at the MTSU Small Farm, each with its own appearance, flavor profile, best uses, and growth habit:

Cherokee Green
Green Zebra
Seattle’s Best of All
Black Krim
Momotaro
Mountain Fresh
Striped German
Blue Tonic

From green-when-ripe tomatoes and classic red slicers to dark heirlooms and yellow bicolors, each variety brings something different to the table.

Most of these varieties are indeterminate, meaning the plants continue growing and producing over a longer period. Mountain Fresh is our determinate variety, with a more concentrated harvest period.

We also enjoy helping people think about tomatoes in practical ways, not just how they look, but how they can be used. Some are especially well suited for thick slices and sandwiches, some shine in salads, and others stand out in Caprese or fresh tomato platters.

This snapshot is a fun reminder that a tomato is definitely not just a tomato.

Come visit the MTSU Small Farm at the Murfreesboro Saturday Market tomorrow from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and see what we’re growing.

Which one would you pick?

MTSU College of Basic & Applied SciencesMTSU Alumni AssociationMTSU School of AgricultureUT TSU Extension - Rutherford CountyRutherford County Breaking NewsThe Land InstituteMTSU AgritourismMain Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford, Inc.Rutherford County Farmers MarketJohnny's Selected Seeds

07/31/2026

🌦️ Growing Knowledge: 165 Years of Weather Forecasting

Did you know that 165 years ago today, the modern public weather forecast was born?

On July 31, 1861, Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy, founder of Britain’s Meteorological Office, wrote what the Met Office recognizes as the first public weather forecast. It predicted conditions for August 1 and 2 and was published in The Times newspaper on August 1, 1861.

And those early forecasts looked nothing like the hourly forecasts we carry around on our phones today.

FitzRoy was working with weather observations sent to London by electric telegraph. His early forecasts divided the country into broad regions and used simple descriptions such as fine, along with expected wind direction. They generally looked only 24–48 hours ahead.

The effort grew out of something much more serious. After the devastating Royal Charter Gale of 1859, FitzRoy worked to develop a system capable of warning people before dangerous weather arrived. Britain issued its first storm warning in February 1861, using visual signals such as cones and drums displayed along the coast.

Fast-forward 165 years…

🌱 Farmers check forecasts before planting and harvesting.
💧 We plan irrigation around rainfall.
🌡️ We adjust work schedules around extreme heat.
🌧️ We protect crops ahead of storms.
🌸 We time harvests for Farmers Market.

Something we can pull up in seconds on our phones today began with observations, telegraphs, barometers, and one meteorologist willing to say:

We can use science to predict what the atmosphere is going to do next.

Pretty incredible how far we’ve come.

MTSU College of Basic & Applied SciencesMurfreesboro Saturday MarketRutherford County Breaking NewsMTSU Alumni AssociationMTSU School of AgricultureMTSU Small FarmUT TSU Extension - Rutherford CountyMTSU AgritourismMain Street Murfreesboro/Rutherford, Inc.Rutherford County Farmers MarketThe Land Institute

07/28/2026