Saturday, August 2, 2014

4MRMarket Report: The Sweets of Summer

Summer Sweets at C&T Produce!
You can find a full array of fruits and veg at C&T Produce this Sunday 9am-1pm!

The warm summer weather makes for the sweetest corn, tomatoes, watermelons, berries, and so much more! Come find your favorites this weekend at the market. And don't forget delicious artisanal cheese from Tom's Amish Cheese or your new favorite baked goods from Sweet 'n Savory! A delicious array of goodies will once again be on display.

Newest 4MRMarket vendor Caffeine will have whole bean and pour over coffees from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua this Sunday. If you missed it last weekend, check out this article from DIY Del Ray on Justine's artisanal coffee.

The Stiflers (What's For Dinner, Now) are away again this weekend but do plan to be back next weekend. Catch them while you can through the end of August.

You might recall a lemonade stand for a cause last weekend at the 4MRMarket. The lemonade girls raised over $100 towards planting trees in Four Mile Run Park! Thanks to everyone that donated, purchased lemonade, and generally supported the cause.  Learn more about the 4MR Park Community Fall Tree Planting at: www.arlandria.org

This Week on 4MR Stage...

Matt Tarka will once again be on stage from 10am-Noon this Sunday! He's been one of our busiest musicians this season with his 3rd appearance on the 4MR Stage!
Matt Tarka on the 4MR Stage on Sunday!

Matt Tarka is a singer/songwriter whose introspective lyrics and sharp rhythms are designed for your back porch or a ride into town. Tarka’s songs can jolt you like a conversation with an old friend, picking up right where you left off on the trail.

Matt recorded his debut EP in July 2011 titled Motorcycle Breakfast. This collection of songs delivers a poignant message in a somewhat playful and endearing way. DC Rock Live’s David Hintz writes: “The best of his style are the vocal lines he writes that are simple enough on the face of things, but have a few hooky moments that bring his songs to life.”

Remember, these musicians volunteer their time on Sunday mornings to make yours even brighter! They graciously accept tips and friendly applause, so please help support music at the market! Matt's very excited to record some new music for you!!! Here's how you can contribute to helping him create his art: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/matt-tarka-contribute-to-my-new-record

Our musicians volunteer their time on Sunday mornings to make yours even brighter! They graciously accept tips and friendly applause, so please help support music at the market!

Composting at 4MRMarket

Bring your (non-animal) food scraps to 4MRMarket in any type of container you choose, or purchase one on-site for a very low fee.
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4MRMarket Vendors this week:
  • C &T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce from a locally, family-run farm in Stafford, Virginia.
  • The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" - ** OFF THIS WEEK** (Be sure to visit them through August!) Farm-raised Black Angus beef, humanely raised on lush pasture fields of the Shenandoah Valley, naturally farmed pork...and now... Uncle Frank's Grilling Sauce!!
  • Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese and yogurt, farm-fresh eggs, and Pennsylvania honey.
  • St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and always a few extra goodies!
  • Sweet 'N Savory (Alexandria) - Your local Bulgarian baker! Maker of Savory and Sweet Breads, Breakfast Pastries, Fruit Pies, Breadsticks, and Granola.
  • Caffeine. - Serving freshly roasted coffee from various sources (Kenyan, Ethiopian, and Nicaraguan this week) at their pour over brew bar!


4MRMarket News:

Did you catch the article about 4MRMarket on page 8 of a recent Alexandria Times? Also check out the front page of this week's edition!!

Well, the cat's out of the bag: our business is other people's businesses...promoting them!

And as promised, there is  now a way that you can help 4MRMarket raise funds for Four Mile Run Park!! We have partnered with the City of Alexandria and CitizenInvestor to provide a way to directly contribute to 4MR Park. Please help us build on the $2,000 that we've already raised to plant more trees in Four Mile Run park by contributing whatever you can, big or small.

All donated funds go toward the purchase of new trees (or the water to make them grow)! Each tree requires approximately $380 (an estimated $100 for the 1.5" caliper tree itself, $30 per watering bag & $12.50 for watering 20 times per year for two years (if no other access is possible watering services will be utilized).

Contribute at: http://www.citizinvestor.com/project/4mr-park-fall-tree-planting

See the brief video about the project:




Also click on over to the Wells Fargo Works Project and see the 4MRMarket submission to win a grant to help us help more start-up businesses get a leg-hold in the the competitive market place!

And stay tuned for more news!!

See below all the ways to help and participate in the market!
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The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt
BUY. Proceeds of our 4MRMarket T-shirts go to support the expansion and revitalization of 4MR Park. They cost $12 and come in 4 colors. See us model a few at the market.  You can pre-pay online via Pay-Pal (send money to 4MRM@arlandria.org).

DONATE. Help 4MRMarket help 4MRPark. Tax-deductible donations can be made to support us in our efforts to revitalize Four Mile Run Park. Donate to the City's Living Landscape Fund to fund tree and other amenities at 4MRExpand More information here.

HELP. If you'd like to volunteer with the 4MRMarket, come talk to us any Sunday. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT and Credit / Debit Card sales, help us keep our books, help set up or tear down for the market, or help us find musicians to play the market. You can also find a Market Manager to ask to help, or email us at 4MRMarket@arlandria.org for more info.

READ. Keep up to date on all the goings on by following 4MRMarket on FacebookTwitterGoogle+ or via our website and blog.


SPREAD THE WORD.  Please tell folks about us. And tell folks about some of the great things we're doing. For instance, all SNAP/EBT participants can take advantage of the Inova-sponsored "Double Dollar" program again this year that doubles the first $10 SNAP participants spend at the market. 4MRMarket is the first farmers’ market in Northern Virginia (and still the only) to accept SNAP. And C&T Produce now accepts SFMNP vouchers!
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Buy Fresh Buy Local 4MRMarket products.
The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (Alexandria, Virginia 22305) brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors. It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood.

4MRMarket is open every Sunday from 9am until 1pm from April 27th until November in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/
On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket
On Twitter: @4MRMarket
Contact us at: 4MRMarket@arlandria.org
Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1
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