Meet Lauren Palmer | Farmer Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Palmer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, how does your business help the community?
We have literally built the farm around what chefs, members, parents, guests want. What best way to start a business with just an ask. But yes it all started with some seeds and my father and I talking about what veggies we thought would be fun to grow. From feeding shoppers at the market to the many chef requests we have built a trust to how we grow and why. I love the unique requests and the searching for flavors the super market doesn’t have so bring it on what can we not grow. And with that we have a stay opportunity here at the farm. An education department that caters to outdoor learning. A huge need appeared during the pandemic and the farm was a safe place for school in nature and was obvious a wider community was looking for more ways to think outside the box. Even if you only come for strawberry picking I hope that you are left with a sweet taste in your mouth and will come back for more of what the farm offers.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Bloomsbury was different from the beginning. My homemade poster board “grow with love” that my sister hand wrote for me because my handwriting is not great. But I lead with art in food and came in humble and learning for me that was always my preferred way to learn. Lots of wrong but so much right. Not easy and farming never is or will be. Not for the faint of heart because the almighty mother nature rules all. Then you forget to tell an employee that truck is diesel and we are down a vehicle. Now nothing phases me and so many procedures are put in place. Didn’t know we needed a policy for this but we sure do know how to make them now. From food safety to employee safety we have been there done that and held our fingers crossed and hoped the freeze wouldn’t last long on the precious berries. The farming community is very open as we all have gone through lots of trial and tribulations so we do tend to lean on each other in our woes. We help out each other with deliveries and equipment needs and passing advice about crops. I have been transparent in that and love sharing that it takes a team. The farm is also transparent and we invite others out to see touch and taste what we do. Being open and available has definitely put us on the map.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well we’d love for you to stay on the farm with us at our horse stable turned overnight loft. We are friendly with all the breweries in town so nothing better to kick off a trip with a bloomsbury inspired beer. Thanks to Jackelope and Tennessee Brew works and so many others. Rest up cause lots of good eats your way. We love bastion, we love frothy monkey for breakfast we love st. Vito and cafe rose I mean and of course you can still pick us up at Turnip Truck and get a mouthful of sprouts. My sis owns a shop in Franklin a clothing store so we need to stop in and say hello. Leipers if you wanna get on the motorcycle and head there for the day too. Definitely a fan of the natchez trace and just cruising. we will keep it chill and making sure lots of country side was seen.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Lesss go mom and dad! they said just grow Lauren worst case scenario we are all going to eat well.

Michael Martin who now own his catering company South Fork was able to secure my first farmers market booth in east Nashville. so thanks man!

the market shoppers and chefs who guided my growing phew we finally figured it out.

um the staff aka Bloomers here at the farm who bust tail and bleed BF for produce.

Website: https://Bloomsburyfarms.com

Instagram: bloomsburyfarm

Facebook: Bloomsbury Farm

Image Credits
JESSICA KERR