The Arlandrian: 4MRMarket Report: "Trees, Glorious Trees!" Edition

City crews installed 20 trees in the 4MR Park Expansion

It's a little late to provide shade for the first massive heat-wave of 2012, but at long last, the 4 Mile Run Park expansion includes trees. The change is very noticeable, and makes the space much more pleasant. The City planted sizable trees so they will begin to provide a modicum of shade immediately. With the heat of the summer of 2012, every bit of shade is needed.

Of course, there's plenty of shade in the 4MRMarket lounge, where you can relax and enjoy breakfast from Bread and Chocolate and a tasty iced tea or coffee from St. Elmo's to start your day off.

Stay tuned for an opportunity for you (and hopefully your neighborhood Citizens Association) to donate trees, shrubs, and other landscaping to accelerate the renovation of the ever improving park expansion.

Stifler Farm is off this week for a family commitment, but they should be here for the rest of the season after that.

On a positive note, the fantastically talented Uncommon Knits are back with their extremely popular handwoven linens. The quality is second to none, and we highly recommend you check them out as they are only periodic visitors to the market.

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.
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.

Crafts and Natural Health Supplies:

Uncommon Knits (WV) - Handwoven linens made with 100% cotton and hand-stitched hems for your kitchen, dining room and bath.
Ephesian Beauty (Manassas, VA) - Pure, natural homemade skin care and beauty supplies.
Swee Lo (found at the No. 1 Son's Tent) - 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.

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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.

4MRMarket is open every Sunday from 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria.