4MRMarket Report: Reasons to be Thankful

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)

4MRMarket is the host to many aspiring entrepreneurs like Switch Doctor.
Their switchel is crafted from the traditional hay maker's recipe of ginger, apple cider vinegar and pure Vermont maple syrup.
Just the thing to combat the Turkey dinner overload!

After a year of so many losses and illnesses, some days we forget to acknowledge all the great things that are taking place around us. But even if we don't say, we are always immensely thankful for the support and love in our community that helps bring about all the great progress we see!! Thanks for for being a part of it all and we look forward to great things in the future!

And while in the Thankful mood, we're incredibly grateful for all the help with promoting litter abatement in our neighborhood and parks. With generous support, our park partners are 70% on their $10,000 fundraising goal to help eliminate litter by promoting re-usable water bottles. We these funds, the plan is to pilot the installation of bottle and jug filling stations.

On #GivingTuesday, please consider your donation to the cause: 
http://www.fourmilerun.org/p/donate.html

Can you help on Giving Tuesday?

Founded to support the revitalization and expansion of Four Mile Run Park, 4MRMarket has worked with various community partners to create a venue that is inviting, clean and a resource for the diverse neighborhood of Arlandria. This year, we funded the formation of the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation and this new non-profit is already holding grant-supported park improvement events like the recent planting of 2 dozen new trees. This week we met our neighbors and hope to have folks help us learn more about our wild friends living in the park!

Have you met the neighbors?

We've all helped bring about a lot of improvement to Four Mile Run Park through fund-raising and plain, old hard work. We've helped raise funds for a variety of other non-profits and helped folks of all walks of life Buy Fresh, Buy Local.

As a 100% neighborhood volunteer run market, we are proud that 4MRMarket serves as an incubator for small start-up businesses, a space for non-profits to promote their causes, and a community gathering place for live music, fellowship, and quality food and craft options.


Read on to see what's happening this Sunday.

The Vendors!

Here is who you will find at 4MRMarket!

Food Vendors

• 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.
• OFF THIS WEEK 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, potpourris, and body scrubs from one of the largest Message and Acupuncture Therapy businesses in Northern Virginia.
• 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. Bagel sales begin at 10am!! 
• 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
• Switch Doctor (Alexandria) - Their switchel is crafted from the traditional hay maker's recipe of ginger, apple cider vinegar and pure Vermont maple syrup. They add other natural ingredients like green tea, turmeric and fresh squeezed lemon juice!

And the talented Crafters:

• Felicity's Handcrafted Soaps - (Alexandria) - All Season - Specialty crafter of all-natural hand-made soaps and knitted items.
• Nurture Designs (Alexandria) - Local jewelry artisan
• Athena Styles (Alexandria) - Athena loves things that are fun, busy and different: "When I design my jewelry its on of a kind and you won't find nothing like it." 
• Every Other Week-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.​
• Girl Scout Troop 3972 - Gift Sale Fundraiser!

Come get some great gifts from the Girl Scouts up until 10:30!

On The 4MR Stage ~ 10am - Noon

The Back Alley Blues Boys are back!

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. 

Check out more info about them here: http://www.reverbnation.com/backalleybluesboys

Remember, the concert is free, but the Blues Boys and all our performers welcome tips and friendly applause for sharing their craft with you on a lovely Sunday morning.

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.

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 Facebook, Twitter, Google+, 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