Saturday, April 23, 2016

4MRMarket Report: Back and Bigger than ever!

The Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market (4MRMarket) will be open every Sunday from 9am until 1pm year-round in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. (click here for directions)

Scenes from the first outdoor market of 2016

4MRMarket is back and bigger than ever! Last Sunday was fantastic week in the sunshine. A great crowd and enormous fun. We have multiple produce vendors this year, lots of artisan crafts, bagels, cheese, and so much more.

Don't forget that while the produce is somewhat limited in April (greens, greenhouse tomatoes, root vegetables, lettuces, and a bit more), you can pick up a ton of potted and hanging plants, veggie and herb starts, and flowers to get your garden going for spring--edible or otherwise!

Special Garden Guest

The GW Community Garden is coming to 4MRMarket this Sunday to give market goers a chance to hear about this fabulous project. GWCG’s mission is to create a thriving communal fruit and vegetable garden.

There are spaces left for people who are interested in participating in this fabulous cooperative garden! Come learn more about the garden, how it works, and what you can expect during the growing season. 



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!
  • Captain Xans (Alexandria and Bristol Bay, AK) - Wild caught Alaskan salmon straight from the nets to your table from "the most sustainable fishery on earth!" Flash frozen and never thawed for firmness and taste.
  • Montoya's Farm (King George, VA) - Northern Neck farmers specializing in Latin ingredients and many varieties of popular produce.
  • Savory 'N Sweet (Alexandria) - Your local Bulgarian baker! Maker of Savory and Sweet Breads, Breakfast Pastries, Fruit Pies, Breadsticks, and Granola.
  • Second Rising Bakery (Alexandria) - Rebecca bakes delicious breads and cookies that are egg free and made with real butter, honey, and whole grains. Once this new business is up and running, it will help provide women that have been victimized by the sex trade a second chance.
  • 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.
  • Bagel Uprising (Del Ray) - Are you ready to rebel against dry, stale, flavorless bagels? Look no further! Bagel Uprising offers authentic handmade bagels—boiled and baked in small batches—that will satisfy your craving for the real thing.
And the talented Crafters:
  • Felicity's Handcrafted Soaps - (Alexandria) - All Season - Specialty crafter of all-natural hand-made soaps and knitted items
  • (OFF THIS WEEK) Uncommon Knits (Leesburg, VA) - Handwoven linens made with 100% cotton and hand-stitched hems for your kitchen, dining room and bath.
  • Cultured Concepts (Alexandria) -  Handmade jewelry from Marie-Noelle's shop in Old Town Alexandria, VA that designs and handcrafts a large variety of jewelry pieces. Will be at the market every-other week.
  • Red Fish Rue Fish (Alexandria) - Unique and sometimes geeky jewelry pieces, custom buttons, prints, and microart.
  • Kelly Glass Studio (Purcellville, VA) - Kristy Kelly's artisan glass jewelry, homegoods, and accessories from her studio.
  • Thorn & Thistle (Takoma Park. MD) is a traveling flower shop that visits your local farmer and flea markets. We offer modern, insatiably peculiar and affordable flower arrangements sized moderate to minuscule.​ (every other week starting April 24th)
This Week on 4MR Stage...

We welcome our first great musician of the 2016 outdoor season to the market this Sunday: Back Alley Blues Boys will be on stage from 10-Noon!

Back Alley Blues Boys is a Metro DC based trio comprised of Art Hildebrand, Shawn Askin and Joe Weber. They play acoustic and electric guitar-driven blues, folk, and roots music, as well as some softer acoustic numbers and rock and roll tunes. See more at:
http://www.reverbnation.com/backalleybluesboys

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 4MRMarket!

Composting at 4MRMarket!

Bring your non-animal-based food scraps in any type of container you choose, or purchase one on-site for a very low fee.

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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+, Email 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 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
Subscribe to Updates: via Email
Contact us at: 4MRMarket@arlandria.org
Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1