The Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market (4MRMarket) will be open every Sunday from 9am until 1pm in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. (click here for directions)
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Looking back:
4MRMarket has come a long way since Opening Day year ago!
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Farmers Markets Are Essential: Our open-air markets are important and necessary food outlets for community members from all economic backgrounds across the DC metro area to purchase healthy, fresh, nutritious food.
Farmers Markets Allow You to Shop Direct: Shopping at our markets means that you can purchase fresh, nutritious food from as close to the source as possible.
Farmers Markets Support Our Region: Farmers markets are essential to the livelihood of farmers and food producers. Shopping at farmers markets means you are supporting your local economy, which is especially critical in this time of uncertainty.
In response to the coronavirus, we've increased sanitizing by vendors and market staff and we're trying to limit indoor use of the building. We plan to wipe down every surface before and after the market. We have access to bathrooms with soap, water, and paper towels. And hand sanitizer for all!
They'll be there along with our wonderful assortment of vendors, like, PINKAVA, Sweet Twist of Ecuador, The Fermented Pig & Savory 'n Sweet.
Look for some of us inside the building.
We're proud of how 4MRMarket acts as a business incubator: creating opportunities for start-ups and entrepreneurs to experiment with new and exciting business models. We hear from new businesses all the time, looking to start at 4MRMarket and we're proud to provide a place for them to strive to reach their dreams. It's exciting to see. We hope folks continue to check them out and give them a chance. Feedback is invaluable.
This year we're incredibly excited to get to know Sweet Twist of Ecuador as they have continued to extend their offerings: ice cream, empanadas and now Central American coffee. Ana arrived this year from Ecuador where she has a much-acclaimed shop in Quito. For now, just a well-kept secret, don't wait to catch them as we're sure they'll soon become as popular as back home. Check out this video from Ecuadorian TV (one of many)!
And we're incredibly proud to announce that we've been awarded an Alexandria Beautification Award along with our non-profit partner, the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation, for our combined ongoing efforts to contribute to park improvements. We capped that off this week by extending our tree planting efforts with the planting of Food Forest with the help of TD Bank & Tree Stewards volunteers and the Arbor Day Foundation for #TDTreeDays.
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. We're happy to announce the new vendors approach us almost every day. We love hosting new businesses and watching them grow. And we've been there through their ups & downs.
Composting Sundays @4MRMarket
Community Composting Collection takes place each and every Sunday at Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market. In an effort initiated by the City of Alexandria and heartily support at 4MRMarket, residents can bring non-animal food scraps in any type of container or purchase one on-site for a very low fee. 4MRMarket even supplies a water hose to rinse out your containers (if you help us water our container garden by emptying it out there.
And ICYMI, along with the Four Mile Run Conservatory we've been supporting Compost Alex in their efforts to pilot community composting in Four Mile Run Park.
#KeepOn #eating. Keep on #composting.
#KeepOn #eating. Keep on #composting.
4MR Walks & Cleanups
The Four Mile Run Conservatory has added events to the calendar for 2019. Land-based clean-ups will focus on some areas that are more accessible when the vegetation is dormant, and on locations where we can get to larger items, such as shopping carts, at low tide.
Two new volunteer kayak clean-up opportunities are scheduled through October, with more to be added in the Fall. Please consider joining us. It's fun and rewarding.
Join us for our November outing in Four Mile Run Park, as we look for migrating hawks and other wild residents of the natural areas of the park. Binoculars/field guides optional, but a sense of wonder & curiosity, as well as warm outerwear, are essential!
Meet at the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market.
RSVP here or at: 4MRHawkWalk.eventbrite.com
Please consider donating to help fund park improvements:
www.fourmilerun.org/p/donate.html
Upcoming dates:
Register for these events to offer your help.
Specific details are available to those who register at the link above. For more upcoming events, walks and cleanups with the Four Mile Run Conservatory, check out their website and at: www.fourmilerun.org.
For the current list of revolving vendors this season at 4MRMarket, see our vendor page on our website: Meet our Vendors
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More ways to support 4MRMarket:
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 our partner the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation to fund tree plantings, clean-ups, water stations and other amenities at 4MRExpand or throughout the park.
VOLUNTEER. We love help with set-up and tear-down and/or helping folks shop using SNAP or Credit/Debit cards. 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, Instagram, 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 participants can take advantage of the Inova-sponsored "Double Dollar" program again this year that doubles the first $20 SNAP participants spend. An extra $20!! 4MRMarket is proud to have been 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 info line: (804) 4mi-Run1
