Friday, April 24, 2015

4MRMarket Report: Gardener's Delight

Lots of bloomin' goodness at 4MRMarket!
(Photo credit: diydelray.com)
The Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market (4MRMarket) is open every Sunday from 9am until 1pm through November in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. (click here for directions)

Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market made its triumphant return last Sunday.  It was bigger and badder than ever!  See a write-up from our neighbors just to the south at DIYDelRay.com. With music booked every single weekend from about 10am - noon through the market season, it will be a festival atmosphere week in and week out!

Right now is the season for flowers, herbs, and vegetable plants!  We have two vendors selling plants right now, and we recommend you check them all out. C&T Produce has an array of hanging baskets, herbs, veggie starts, and, of course, produce--lots of root vegetables, greens, and cut herbs. She Peppers carries an array of hot pepper plants to amp up your garden in both color and flame-inducing goodness (some milder options, too).


New Crafter This Week: Funkt! Art


Funkt! Art creates art you can use!
Arlandria resident Steph makes more than pieces of art; they are pieces of functional art! At Funkt! Art, every painting is magnetic for use as a message board. Customers can add cork, chalk board, or clock components to the piece and Steph makes the modifications on the spot (takes less than 10 minutes). Steph also sells handmade magnets. Pieces include city skylines like DC and Old Town Alexandria, Del Ray, and more!

Wine Tasting Volunteer?

I'm sure that got your attention. Unfortunately, we're not looking for someone to volunteer to taste wine, but to help us set up one or more wine tasting events with Virginia vineyards at the market this season! And yes, you, too can taste the wine. We are approved for just this sort of thing, and we really want to make use of that permission. Unfortunately, we were all too busy last season to set something up, so we're seeking one or more volunteers to help us do just that.  Please inquire with us (contact info at end of email) if you are curious and we can provide details!

The Vendors!


Here is who you will find at 4MRMarket this weekend!

Food Vendors
  • C & T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce from a locally, family-run farm in Stafford, Virginia.
  • Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese and yogurt, farm-fresh eggs, and Pennsylvania honey.  And now carrying all his great cave-aged cheeses at 4MRMarket!
  • 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.
  • Great Harvest (Alexandria) - this bakery serves up a huge variety of breads, muffins, and other treats. With generous samples, you'll be excited before you even get your loaves back to your kitchen!
  • She Peppers (Alexandria) - Backyard gardeners who have turned the peppers, vegetables, and herbs that we grow into delicious and unique bbq sauces, pepper sauces, hot sauces, dips, and rubs. She Peppers also sells seeds and seedlings of the various types of peppers, tomatoes, and herbs for patrons.
  • Whole Health (Alexandria) - Organic teas and body scrubs from one of the largest Message and Acupuncture Therapy businesses in Northern Virginia
And the Crafters!
  • Felicity's Handcrafted Soaps - (Alexandria) - All Season - This specialty crafter of hand-made soaps and knitted items will be at the market every other Sunday!
  • Sun & Moon Accessories (Manassas) - All Season - handmade jewelry from mostly natural products (seeds, gems etc). hand sewn articles of clothing made from crotchet. Scarves and baby boots and hats.
  • Funct! Art (Arlandria) - Arlandria resident Steph makes more than pieces of art; they are pieces of functional art! Every painting is magnetic for use as a message board. Customers can add cork, chalk board, or clock components to the piece and Steph makes the modifications on the spot (takes less than 10 minutes). Steph also sells handmade magnets. Pieces include city skylines like DC and Old Town Alexandria, Del Ray, and more!
This Week on 4MR Stage...

4MRMarket veteran Jong Lee this Sunday from 10am-Noon!

Jong runs Jive Sound, a bass guitar shop on the Avenue in Arlandria, and his performances earlier this year were so much fun!

Remember, the performance is free, but Jong and all our musicians welcome tips and friendly applause for sharing their craft with you on a lovely Sunday morning.

Please see the 4MRMarket Facebook event page for more information about the show!

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!

Composting at 4MRMarket

Composting resumes May 3rd! Unfortunately the City of Alexandria isn't able to collect your compost this Sunday. But the following Sunday.....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.

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.

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.

VOLUNTEER. We love help with set-up and tear-down and/or processing SNAP/EBT and Credit / Debit Card sales.  Just find a Market Manager to ask to help, or email us at 4MRMarket@arlandria.org for more info.

FOLLOW. 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. 
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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.

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