The Arlandrian: June 2012

Friday, June 29, 2012

4MRMarket Report: "Independence Day" Edition -- UPDATE

UPDATE: We hope everyone is recovering quickly from the Friday night storms. We are open today, though down a vendor. The Stifler Farm was hit hard by the storms and they are working to clean up and repair damage. Due to the extreme heat, we may close at noon today, depending upon customer traffic at that time.

The 4th of July is the unofficial opening of Summer. Enjoy
the official vegetable of summer with sweet, delicious corn

Happy 4th of July, market fans!

Come out early this Sunday to beat the heat. 4MRMarket opens bright and early at 8am. The temperature is supposed to be in the mid-80s range at the market opening. Don't forget to stock up for a fresh, locally sourced 4th of July barbecue!

At the market, cool off with an iced tea or coffee from St. Elmo's and a pastry from Bread and Chocolate and relax in the shaded Market Lounge.

No one wants to crank up the stove or oven during a hot summer day, so think grilling foods for Sunday and for the 4th! How about some sweet corn or other grillable veg from C&T Produce (plus a watermelon and ingredients for a fresh, tasty salad!) and a fantastic steak from grass-fed, pasture raised beef from the Stifler Farm? Fill out your shopping list with some delicious artisan cheese from Tom's Amish Cheese and a cool pickled side dish from No. 1 Sons.

Remember, beat the heat and show up early Sunday morning.

Here is who you'll find at 4MRMarket this week to satisfy your summer cravings:

Bread & Chocolate (Arlandria) - A range of baked goods.
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" - 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.
St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies.
No. 1 Sons (Arlandria) - Produces wild cultured foods by hand in Alexandria. This brother and sister team live in Arlandria and do not heat treat or use preservatives. They make pickles, sauerkraut, dilly beans, kim chi, beets, hot sauce and more that is "Proudly Cloudy".
Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese, yogurt and Pennsylvania honey.
Ephesian Beauty (Manassas, VA) - Pure, natural homemade skin care and beauty supplies.
Swee Lo Sterling silver jewelry handcrafted by Balinese artisans designed by Swee Lo.

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

See below all the ways to help and participate in the market!

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, go to: volunteer.4MRMarket.org to sign up or look for the "volunteer" tab on our website. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT 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 Facebook or Twitter 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.

_______________

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 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria.

(click here for directions)

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

Friday, June 22, 2012

4MRMarket Report: "Kid-Friendly Beats...and Beets" Edition

By Four Mile Run Market

Catch "The Uncle Devin Show"
from 11am to noon this Sunday!

This Sunday, bring your little ones to the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market
in Four Mile Run Park for a fun, musical way to learn!

The Uncle Devin Show is a live, participatory musical experience for children by world renowned drummer and author, Devin Walker. He uses the drum, both traditional and electronic, to convey universal principles of love to children and to inspire young people into pursuing the artist within themselves. This interactive show seeks to connect with children through the drum and the art of storytelling that will lead toward their personal, cultural and social development.

4MRMarket runs from 8am until 1pm. Uncle Devin takes the stage at 11am.

See our previous release about this weekends show for a few more details, or check out this YouTube video to get a preview of how the group interacts with children. Don't miss out, as you kids will love the show!

While you're here, peruse the local produce offerings, including some beets from C&T Produce to go with the kid friendly beats. (See what we did there?!) Also, don't forget our other great products like artisanal cheese, naturally fermented pickles, kim chi and other great products. And from our newest vendor out of Springfield, Sweet Central Cupcakes: baked goods such as cupcakes and other items and many other fresh goodies. We also welcome back Bread & Chocolate and What's for Dinner Now after a weekend off for Father's Day.

Sunday will be like a perfect spring day in June, with temperatures in the 80s and sunny. Enjoy a coffee or iced tea from St. Elmo's Coffee Pub. Hang out in our market lounge and pick up a nice pastry or sweet to get your day started!

Here is who you'll find at 4MRMarket this week to satisfy your summer cravings:

Bread & Chocolate (Arlandria) - A range of baked goods.
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" - 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.
St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies.
No. 1 Sons (Arlandria) - Produces wild cultured foods by hand in Alexandria. This brother and sister team live in Arlandria and do not heat treat or use preservatives. They make pickles, sauerkraut, dilly beans, kim chi, beets, hot sauce and more that is "Proudly Cloudy".
Sweetcentral Babycakes (Springfield, VA) - Artfully crafted cupcakes in babycake and teenycake sizes from Elda. This is her first market, so please welcome her and give her delicious babycakes a try.
Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese, yogurt and Pennsylvania honey.
Ephesian Beauty (Manassas, VA) - Pure, natural homemade skin care and beauty supplies.

Maybe's for this week (haven't been able to confirm yet):

Swee Lo Sterling silver jewelry handcrafted by Balinese artisans designed by Swee Lo.
Olio Fresh olive oils and aged balsamics.

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

See below all the ways to help and participate in the market!

The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt

_______________

Buy Fresh Buy Local 4MRMarket products.

(click here for directions)

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

Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Uncle Devin Show in Four Mile Run Park this Sunday

By Four Mile Run Market

Sunday, June 24th from 11am – 12noon

Bring your little ones to the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market in Four Mile Run Park this Sunday for a fun, musical way to learn!

The Uncle Devin Show is a live, participatory musical experience for children by world renowned drummer and author, Devin Walker. He uses the drum, both traditional and electronic, to convey universal principles of love to children and to inspire young people into pursuing the artist within themselves. This interactive show seeks to connect with children through the drum and the art of storytelling that will lead toward their personal, cultural and social development.

During The Uncle Devin Show, children learn history, health, cultural awareness, internet safety and the importance of telling the truth, while having fun with music and percussion.

They will also be able to appreciate how music, technology and the arts can enhance their learning experience. This interactive show allows children to participate either through the use of volunteers or from the audience, with specially designed activities that includes clapping, dancing, singing and the old African tradition of call and response.

The show opens up with Uncle Devin performing his theme song, “The Uncle Devin Show,” which features him playing several different drums and percussion instruments, followed by an “Up-Down” musical exercise that stresses the importance of cultural and social diversity in society. This all will be followed by songs off of Uncle Devin’s upcoming CD, “Drum Tales,” that features the songs, “Tell the Truth,” “Don’t Put Your Business on the Internet,” “Good Health Is Happiness” and “Africa.”

Devin, who is a former church youth director and youth Counselor for an at-risk youth program, has been performing as a drummer and percussionist for over 25 years, playing with local and international groups such as Fertile Ground, Soul-In-Motion Players, Bottomland, the UMBC Jazz Ensemble, the Lafayette Gilchrist Project, the Contee AME Zion Church Connection, and others. One of Devin’s greatest musical moments was when he accompanied on drums the Great Dizzy Gillespie during a 1985 Jazz Workshop in Baltimore, MD. Devin’s vast experience as a social justice activist is expressed in his music.

The Uncle Devin Show
Sunday June 24th, 11am-12noon
The Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market (4MRMarket)
on the 4MRStage in Four Mile Run Park
4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305

Saturday, June 16, 2012

4MRMarket Report: "Father's Day" Edition

By Nick Partee

No. 1 Sons Brings Real, Naturally
Fermented Kim Chi to the Market!

Tomorrow is Father's Day! A great way to spend some time with a foodie or local food conscious Dad is to bring them to 4MRMarket. Peruse the local produce offerings, artisan cheese, naturally fermented pickled products (such as the kim chi shown on the left), and many other fresh goodies.

C&T Produce will have some of the first fresh sweet corn of the summer and blueberries are in season!

Tomorrow will be like a perfect spring day in June, with temperatures in the 70s and sunny. Enjoy a coffee or iced tea from St. Elmo's Coffee Pub. Hang out with Dad in our market lounge and pick up a nice pastry or empanada from Bread and Chocolate to get your day started!

Here is who you'll find at 4MRMarket this week to satisfy your summer cravings:

Bread and Chocolate (Arlandria) - A range of baked goods.
C and T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce from a locally, family-run farm in Stafford, Virginia .
St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies.
No. 1 Sons (Arlandria) - Produces wild cultured foods by hand in Alexandria. This brother and sister team live in Arlandria and do not heat treat or use preservatives. They make pickles, sauerkraut, dilly beans, kim chi, beets, hot sauce and more that is "Proudly Cloudy".
Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese, yogurt and Pennsylvania honey.
Ephesian Beauty (Manassas, VA) - Pure, natural homemade skin care and beauty supplies.
Swee Lo Sterling silver jewelry handcrafted by Balinese artisans designed by Swee Lo.
Olio Fresh olive oils and aged balsamics.

The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" will be off this week, but will be back next week.

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

See below all the ways to help and participate in the market!

The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt

_______________

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 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria.

(click here for directions)

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

Saturday, June 09, 2012

4MRMarket Report: "Summer in Full Swing" Edition

By Four Mile Run Market

Look what we made after last Sunday's 4MRMarket:
Beef Brats from What's For Dinner Now,
Kraut from No. 1 Sons,
Mixed Greens & Tomatoes from C&T Produce,
Spinach and Turnips from Herban Avenue.
What'll we find this Sunday?

As June weather ripens ever more produce on the vine, this weeks 4MRMarket should bring an even greater mix of produce to the market. Come check out the latest offerings from C&T Produce to see what's available this week. Also, as of last week, we welcomed back Tom's Amish Cheese to the market, allowing you to pick up yet another staple at the 4MRMarket.

Here's what you'll find at the market this week to satisfy your summer cravings. Come early to beat the heat, or show up later and cool down with an iced tea or coffee from St. Elmo's Coffee Pub. Stay awhile in our market lounge and pick up a nice pastry to get your day started!

Here is who you'll find at 4MRMarket this week:

Bread and Chocolate (Arlandria) - A range of baked goods.
C and T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce from a locally, family-run farm in Stafford, Virginia .
St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies.
No. 1 Sons (Arlandria) - Produces wild cultured foods by hand in Alexandria. This brother and sister team live in Arlandria and do not heat treat or use preservatives. They make pickles, sauerkraut, dilly beans, kim chi, beets, hot sauce and more that is "Proudly Cloudy".
Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese, yogurt and Pennsylvania honey.
Love and Glitter (Ellicott City, MD) - HANDMADE goods from LOCAL artisans.
The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" - 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.
Ephesian Beauty (Manassas, VA) - Pure, natural homemade skin care and beauty supplies.
Swee Lo Sterling silver jewelry handcrafted by Balinese artisans designed by Swee Lo.
Olio Fresh olive oils and aged balsamics.

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

See below all the ways to help and participate in the market!

The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt

_______________

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 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria.

(click here for directions)

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

Thursday, June 07, 2012

How does our garden grow?

By Four Mile Run Market

The 2012 version of the Reed & Commonwealth Park improvements.

The former electrical substation before Stormaggedon.

The story of the little park that could at the corner of Reed & Commonwealth Avenues continues to unfold. Students from the Cora Kelly School for Math Science & Technology spent Wednesday morning fixing up the gardens planted over the past several years. Three new trees were added as well. The results are spectacular.

When the City of Alexandria purchased "3550 Commonwealth Avenue" from Dominion Power, they had Open Space funding and a goal of expanding park space, but they didn't really have a plan for it. What happened next though was something really magical.

Neighborhood volunteers teamed with City staff to forge ahead even in the face of economic troubles and budget crises. For just $200 it started to resemble a park, using only cast-off garden plants donated by neighbors and mulch ground up from cut-down, unhealthy, storm-battered trees formerly used to screen the old substation. For regular readers of The Arlandrian this is not news. We documented the progress along the way with our stories: "Where Did THAT Garden Come From?" and "New Park Uncovered At Spring for Alexandria". The tale of a community coming together is something that we are really amazed by and, frankly, more than a little proud.

And that gamble by citizens, that investment out of pocket and in blood, sweat and tears, didn't go unrewarded. Last year, Dominion Power, already supporters of the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market through their Dominion Green outreach program, stepped up to assist at the Reed Avenue Park as well.

The City also matched the Dominion dollar contribution with additional plantings. All in all, 4 new maples, 3 crepe myrtles, and 12 arborvitae have now made the community gardening project into a bona fide pocket park. The work this week by the Cora Kelly students and City staff continues this in the spirit of community pride that has built this park. Still a work in progress, a story that is still unfolding, the Reed Avenue Park at 3550 Commonwealth Avenue is an incredible neighborhood accomplishment that continues to grow.

Last year's work by Dominion Power crews.

The park today with new plantings and work by Cora Kelly students.

Saturday, June 02, 2012

4MRMarket Report: "Lovely June Day" Edition

By Four Mile Run Market

After yesterday's torrential storms, happily, the brand new 4MR Park expansion is still intact and nothing floated away (that we know of). Come enjoy a beautiful morning tomorrow with sun and temperatures in the low 70s... before the real heat of summer sets in.

What's For Dinner Now beef sage sausage,
Herban Avenue spring mix and
C&T Produce hot house tomatoes.

We'll keep it short and sweet this week. Thanks to everyone that keeps coming out and making the market what it is.

If you're reading this but haven't given us a try, or haven't been back in awhile, this would be a great week to come out.

Peruse the selection of fruit and veg from C&T Produce, kick back in the 4MRMarket Lounge with a coffee from St. Elmo's and a pastry or empanada from Bread and Chocolate.

Then grab some fresh, Shenandoah Valley grass fed beef from What's For Dinner Now. And, check out the selection of crafts, natural beauty supplies, or delicious, artisan naturally fermented pickles from No. 1 Sons.

Remember, Buy Fresh, Buy Local.

Here is who you'll find at 4MRMarket this week:

Bread and Chocolate (Arlandria) - A range of baked goods.
C and T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce from a locally, family-run farm in Stafford, Virginia .
St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies.
No. 1 Sons (Arlandria) - Produces wild cultured foods by hand in Alexandria. This brother and sister team live in Arlandria and do not heat treat or use preservatives. They make pickles, sauerkraut, dilly beans, kim chi, beets, hot sauce and more that is "Proudly Cloudy".
Love and Glitter (Ellicott City, MD) - HANDMADE goods from LOCAL artisans.
The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" - 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.
Ephesian Beauty (Manassas, VA) - NEW VENDOR! - Pure, natural homemade skin care and beauty supplies.
Swee Lo Sterling silver jewelry handcrafted by Balinese artisans designed by Swee Lo.
Olio Fresh olive oils and aged balsamics.

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

See below all the ways to help and participate in the market!

The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt

_______________

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 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria.