Mike, the rescue pig, was the 1st on the journey toward "More Farm Than Fancy" (audio)

FM #1635 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1639 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Lauren & Ryan Maloney. We had our discussion in the Franklin TV & Radio Studio on Thursday, January 18, 2026

 

Our conversation covers 

• Their journey from a few pets to a farm with over 40 animal rescues 

• To let them live a good life

• The 'a ha' moment for “More Farm Than Fancy” 

• The product line to help with funding the animals care

The recording runs about 36 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1639-more-farm-than-fancy-01-18-26/

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Lauren & Ryan Maloney

Follow “More Farm Than Fancy” on 

Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/groups/1329150158885351 

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/more_farm_than_fancy/ 

Visit their web page -> https://morefarmthanfancy.com/ 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

Mike, the rescue pig

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

The FUSF Food Justice Team invites you to Join us for a screening of “Common Ground” and a Potluck - Feb 22

https://commongroundfilm.org/

On Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 12:30 PM, the First Universalist Food Justice Team will be screening the award-winning film “Common Ground”, starring among others, Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern, Jason Momoa and Danny Glover.  “By fusing journalistic expose’ with deeply personal stories from those on the front lines of the food movement, Common Ground unveils a dark web of money, power, and politics behind our broken food system. 

The film reveals how unjust practices forged our current farm system in which farmers of all colors are literally dying to feed us. The film profiles a hopeful and uplifting movement of white, black, and indigenous farmers who are using alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize America’s economy”. 

Enjoy a potluck while watching or feel free to bring your own lunch.  Admission is free. The screening and post-film discussion will take place at the First Universalist Society at 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin MA.    

Please also mark your calendars for March 8, 2026 when the discussion of regenerative agriculture farming practices continues with a discussion with Ali Coakley, proprietor, Night Owl Farm, Franklin MA.

The First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF) is a Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregation located at 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. For more information, please contact us at info@fusf.org or call 508-528-5348.  

"More Farm Than Fancy" doing good for farm animal rescues

"More Farm Than Fancy" doing good for farm animal rescues

"We are the Maloney Family from Franklin, MA and we rescue farm animals from local shelters or from other families/owners that can no longer provide the best living situation for their farm pet.

We started the More Farm Than Fancy line with all proceeds going to offset the cost of care for the animals we have at our home.

Would love to have some new customers and followers and we would also love the help to share it out!

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16y3D8kWv9/?mibextid=wwXIfr

morefarmthanfancy.com"

Shared from ->  https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CqYaY3Uy5/

Franklin Agriculture Commission starts series of profiles on the farms in Franklin

via the Franklin Agriculture Commission

"Check in each Wednesday to read a small profile about each of the 11 farms in Franklin! First up is the Franklin Honey Company, Inc.

Franklin Agriculture Commission starts
series of profiles on the farms in Franklin

The Franklin Honey Company, Inc. started in the Spring of 2006. Their honey and wax products are pure and unaltered, just the way honeybees make them! The honey farm is committed to raising its colonies without using harsh chemicals. They started with two initial colonies and have grown quickly to 35+ hives. The hives are located at Spring Street, White Barn Farm, and Fairmount Fruit Farm. Besides the delicious honey, they also produce hand cream, lip balm, soap, and pure candles.

#honeyfarmer #supportlocalfarmers #buylocal

Franklin Honey Company, Inc.

https://www.franklinhoney.com

Ph: 508-507-9684

Email: franklinhoney3@gmail.com"

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1ABg7jkNHj/

Summer Nights at White Barn Farm August 29th: Gather to meet and greet with the Metacomet Land Trust

Fresh produce, fresh flowers, and Friendly Faces at White Barn Farm

View this email in your browser Please Save the Date and Come Out to Meet Us at White Barn Farm!   Metacomet Land Trust at White Barn Farm in Wrentham Thursday August 29, 2024 Come and join the Metacomet Land Trust at "Summer Nights at White Barn Farm" on Thursday, August 29th. We will be at the farmstand from 4:30 to 8:00 and invite you to enjoy the scene at White Barn Farm, a beautiful local farm in on South Street (Route 1A) in Wrentham. This summer-long series of early evening gathering is a wonderful way to support a local farm! The farmstand will be open and there will be live music as well as pick-your-own flowers, pizza and local brews available to purchase. Please come out to say hello to MLT members and supporters as we enjoy a summer night in a beautiful setting. Feel free to bring a lawn chair and hang out in our "land trust lounge" area by the farmstand.   Summer Nights at White Barn Farm | Facebook   Membership Donations, Gifts of Land or Conservation Restrictions, or donations of items to be auctioned are now deductible on both Federal and Massachusetts tax returns! Our Federal Tax-Exempt ID is: 04-3020897.  We Love Where We Live -- And We Know You Do, Too! Copyright © 2024 Metacomet Land Trust, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Metacomet Land Trust P.O. Box 231 Franklin, MA 02038 Telephone: (508) 271-7131

Night Owl Farm: Farm Stand New Hours

Farm Stand Pop-up We will not be in attendance at the Franklin Market today (9/29), so instead, we are offering a self-serve farm stand option! The farm stand will be open 1:00-7:00 with produce, honey, maple syrup, and other fabulous finds! Octob...

Night Owl Farm October Hours Mondays ………………………….…... CLOSED Tuesdays ……………………… 1:00pm-7:00pm Wednesdays …………………………. CLOSED Thursdays …………………………….. CLOSED Fridays ………. Franklin Market (not this week) Saturdays ……………………. 10:00am-4:00pm Sundays ……………………………….. CLOSED Our LAST DAY of the season will be on October 28th. We will be doing our annual Thanksgiving pop up on 11/21, including pies! Pie pre-orders coming soon. What We're Harvesting Beets Celeriac (Celery Root) Eggplant Eggplant, Fairytale Garlic Husk/Ground Cherries Kale Lettuce, Head Onions, Red Onions, Yellow Parsley Peppers, Green Peppers, Hot Peppers, Shishito Rutabaga Scallions Tomatoes. Heirloom Tomatoes, Slicers We will also have some fresh flowers available! Coming Soon… Arugula Broccoli Lettuce Mix Spinach Night Owl Farm 49 Prospect Street, Franklin, MA, 02038 Farm Stand Pop-up! (& New Hours) was sent to you on 2023-09-29 12:45:28 UTC by Night Owl Farm

                                                           

Conservation B(l)og 3 - Landowner Webinar Series and Stormwater Utility Fee Program

Happy New Year Franklinites,

The Franklin Conservation Department hopes everyone had a warm end to the year 2022 and a happy beginning to 2023.

Landowner Webinar Series

MassWoods from UMass – Amherst is hosting a FREE six-part webinar series for landowners interested in planning the future of their land. The MassWoods webinar series is designed to help you, the landowner, determine the future of your land and take steps to formalize a plan to achieve your personal and financial goals. Topics for this series include, “Deciding Your Land’s Future”, “Reducing Your Property Taxes and Stewarding Your Land”, and “Choosing a Conservation Tool”.

To express interest in an estate planning workshop in Town or how this relates to the 2023 Open Space and Recreation Plan update process, contact Breeka Li Goodlander via email at bgoodlander@franklinma.gov or via phone at 508-520-4847.

To register for this webinar series, click here -> 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQF1PwUgE0QxCIxEUl0Eg7u-R4Nm7A4nZYCKbx7jCBxv0mOA/viewform

Stormwater Utility Fee Program

In case you missed it, the Town of Franklin DPW is implementing a new Stormwater Utility Fee Program. More information regarding this Program can be found here -> (https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/utility_flyer_extended_version_reduced_size_0.pdf). Any questions about the Program can be directed to Derek Adams via email at dadams@franklinma.gov or via phone at 508-553-5545.

That's all for now!

Conservation B(l)og 3 - Landowner Webinar Series and Stormwater Utility Fee Program

Community Preservation Coalition: CPA funds can be used to buy a Christmas tree farm

Community Preservation Coalition (@CPA_Coalition) tweeted on Fri, Dec 24, 2021:

Who knew the #CommunityPreservationAct could be used to buy a Christmas tree farm? The Town @DuxburyGov did exactly that, forever preserving the Jaycox Christmas Tree Farm. 

Shared from Twitter => https://t.co/yMbcWjpBrc

More about the required membership of the Community Preservation Committee

https://www.communitypreservation.org/CPCs

Community Preservation Coalition: CPA funds can be used to buy a Christmas tree farm

Via CommonWealth Magazine: Franklin farm ready to benefit on one change, MetroWest commuters on another

"Rule change paves way for smokeable hemp" and Franklin farm ready to benefit

"FOR THE LAST four years, Linda Noel has planted and cultivated hemp, but the Franklin farmer has never been able to sell it because of strict regulations governing how her crop can be used. 

Now that’s about to change, as the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources published a new rule Monday night allowing the state’s hemp farmers to sell the flower of the plant to legal marijuana dispensaries, which can package it into smoking products. It opens a vast new market for hemp farmers by legalizing the sale of the most profitable product to come out of the hemp plant – smokeable flower. 

Hemp is a kind of cannabis plant, but unlike marijuana, it cannot get a person high. Hemp tends to be rich in CBD, which is thought to have therapeutic qualities, but does not have a significant amount of THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana."

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/rule-change-paves-way-for-smokeable-hemp/

Visit Terrapin Farm on the web at -> https://terrapin.farm/

David Kashuba and KP Owens work harvesting hemp at Terrapin Farm in Franklin. (Courtesy Linda Noel)

"Spilka scores victory on I-90 Allston project" and MetroWest commuters can benefit

"SENATE PRESIDENT Karen Spilka took a tour several weeks ago of the aging transportation infrastructure the state is looking to replace in the Allston area.

She walked underneath the badly deteriorated elevated section of the Massachusetts Turnpike. She inspected the commuter rail tracks and Soldiers Field Road and got a sense of how much stuff the state was trying to cram into a narrow section of land between Boston University and the Charles River that has come to be known as the throat.

“You see firsthand how tight it is,” Spilka said.

At the time of the tour, hosted by Transportation Secretary Jamey Tesler, the Baker administration had not made any decision about how to replace all those roads and tracks. At the conclusion of the tour, Spilka remembers being a bit agnostic on what repair approach should be adopted. “I’m not an engineer,” she said."

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/transportation/spilka-scores-victory-on-i-90-allston-project/

Direct link to the MassDOT Alston project -> https://www.mass.gov/allston-multimodal-project

Picture shows elevated Massachusetts Turnpike between BU and Charles River with Soldiers Field Road at grade. (via Commonwealth Magazine)