4MRMarket Report: "The Music Returns!" Edition

Live on the 4MRMarket Stage this weekend!
Photo from Reverbnation.com

This weekend at 4MRMarket, you'll find a The Back Alley Blues Boys (like them on Facebook!) playing on the 4MRStage from 11am-Noon, as was the norm most of last season. The Back Alley Blues Boys are a local Alexandria blues trio. In their own words, they "play acoustic guitar-driven blues, folk, and roots music, from delta blues to rockabilly, as well as some softer acoustic numbers."

This weekend, we also welcome Blue Ridge Botanicals to the fold. They sell a great selection of veggie starts, potted herbs, perennials, and other plants to get your garden started this spring! These passionate purveyors of plants have all the items you need to supplement your fresh 4MRMarket purchases with a harvest that's as local as you can get... right in your backyard!

So come out and pick up a gardens worth of veggie starts, potted herbs, perennials from Blue Ridge Botanicals, ready-to-eat local produce from C&T Produce, top quality, pasture raised beef from the nearby Shenandoah from Stifler Farms, artisan made cheese from Tom's Amish Cheese, and or a variety of other goodies!

Here is our list of vendors this week:

• 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!!
• Blue Ridge Botanicals (Castleton, VA) - Many varieties of herbs, native plants, veggie starts, perennials, and more.  As you get ready to start the garden, the nursery comes to you!
• Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese and yogurt, farm-fresh eggs, and Pennsylvania honey.
• St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies.
• Whole Health Medical (Alexandria) -  Organic teas and body scrubs from one of the largest Message and Acupuncture Therapy businesses in Northern Virginia (approved by the Alexandria Health Department).
• Old Town Suds - (Alexandria) This maker of eco-friendly soaps, cleaning supplies, bath bombs, and more!

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. And C&T Produce now accepts SFMNP vouchers!

__________________________________

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 April 14th until November 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

Tales of an Arlandria Twitcher: The Earth Day Edition

More on the wildlife around Four Mile Run by The Arlandrian's resident amateur ornithologist:

Black-crowned Night-Heron at Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria, VA.
This was one of a pair that I found in the park today. At least one has been present all winter.
He's become my favorite friend in the park.

FOS Yellow Warbler at Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria, VA.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria, VA.

________________________________

In addition to his side-line as a naturalist, Jake Cuomo is an all around neighborhood good guy organizing stream clean-ups of the Four Mile Run, initiating community tree plantings on Earth Day, helping build the new Commonwealth Park on Reed Avenue and the Four Mile Run Park Expansion. 

Jake is the winner of the 2012 Alexandria Beautification Award, along with his wife, Erin. 

4MRMarket Report: "Grow Your Own" Edition

Blue Ridge Botanicals at Tacoma Park Market

Last weekend saw the opening of 4MRMarket. We saw a good turnout and lots of people happy to see the market back at 4109 Mt. Vernon Ave.

Thank you to everyone that turned up to get our 4th season off to a great start, and thank you VERY MUCH to the volunteers that planted the 2 dozen new trees in Four Mile Run Park adjacent to the market site.

The park continues to improve thanks to lots of volunteer effort, and we'd like to think in part due to the fact that so many people now consider Four Mile Run Park an important part of their weekend. As one of the biggest parks in the City, there's still lots of work to do, but the park keeps getting more welcoming, enjoyable, and useful to area residents.

This weekend, we welcome Blue Ridge Botanicals to the fold. They sell a great selection of veggie starts, potted herbs, perennials, and other plants to get your garden started this spring! These passionate purveyors of plants have all the items you need to supplement your fresh 4MRMarket purchases with a harvest that's as local as you can get... right in your backyard!

And of course, for your ready-to-eat produce, you have C&T Produce with fresh early season items.  Fluffed Up Desserts will be selling tempting macarons and a variety of gourmet s'mores bars. Stifler Farms will have their top quality, pasture raised beef from the nearby Shenandoah, and you can even get artisan made cheese from Tom's Amish Cheese!

Here is our list of vendors this week:

• 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!!
• Blue Ridge Botanicals (Castleton, VA) - Many varieties of herbs, native plants, veggie starts, perennials, and more.  As you get ready to start the garden, the nursery comes to you!
• Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese and yogurt, farm-fresh eggs, and Pennsylvania honey.
• St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies.
• Fluffed Up Desserts - (Alexandria) - Gourmet Marshmallow treats and macarons.
• Whole Health Medical (Alexandria) -  Organic teas and body scrubs from one of the largest Message and Acupuncture Therapy businesses in Northern Virginia (approved by the Alexandria Health Department).

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. And C&T Produce now accepts SFMNP vouchers!

__________________________________

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 April 14th until November 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

Help keep the trees alive with water!

2013-04-14 Four Mile Run Park, a set by Casey Trees on Flickr.

Casey Trees created this photo journal of the tree planting organized by Tree Steward of Arlington and Alexandria.

Stay tuned to learn how you can help keep these trees alive over the summer with regular watering!

Two Dozen New Trees Grow in Arlandria

The Del Ray Patch caught some of the action at this weekend's massive tree planting in Four Mile Run Park (click here for video or watch below; Video by Drew Hansen).

Following a couple recent successful stream clean-ups and park renovations, a cadre of volunteers were back at it again this upcoming weekend planting about 2 dozen trees in Four Mile Run Park. Spearheaded by resident Kurt Moser, the project is being funded entirely by a grant from Casey Trees, who provide the plant material and tools. The planting marks the first year that Casey Trees has expanded its program outside of the District of Columbia. Casey Trees is a D.C.-based urban forestry non-profit dedicated to restoring, enhancing and protecting the tree canopy of the nation's capital.

The work was performed Sunday morning during the opening day of the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market. Local businesses supported the effort by providing meals to the workers. MOM's Organic Market provided breakfast.

Sketch of the tree planting plan

Conceptual view of 4MR Expand from Four Mile Run Restoration Plan

The Casey Trees support of the Tree Stewards efforts is a continuation of a series of private initiatives to revive, restore and expand this public space. The trees were planted as part of the Four Mile Run Park Expansion (4MR Expand), a project that has been a decade in the works. Originally conceived as part of the 2003 Arlandria Plan, 4MR Expand was incorporated into the Four Mile Run Restoration Plan adopted in 2005. Four parcels were acquired in 2007 with Alexandria City Open Space funds but sat idle for a number of years due to lack of money for planning and implementation. A group of architects, known as Architects Anonymous, banded together to create a workable plan for the site that could rolled out over time making the best use of contributions from grants and the community. The non-profit Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market adopted the site as the site for a farmers' market and provide maintenance and financial contributions to further the project. Architects Anonymous contributed additional plans to re-purpose the former paint store at 4MR Expand and to prevent its demolition. 

The Arlandria Plan Implementation Group supported the project by requesting that the City direct some funds that would have otherwise be lost to help complete the community's vision. Since then, 4MRMarket has solicited private contributions to enhance the site and the City's Parks department has coupled those funds with grants that they've solicited to create a venue to showcase the arts and environmental best practice. To date these include: a performance stage, permeable pavers and rain gardens to collect stormwater run-off. Planters to collect additional stormwater run-off and arts grants are still pending.

Realization of 4MR Expand in progress

BEFORE the new trees.

The current City Manager proposed budget does not anticipate any tax money being directed to the plan.


Previous related posts from The Arlandrian:

• Volunteers plan massive tree planting in 4MR Park this weekend
• Four Mile Run DOWNSTREAM Clean-up April 6th
• Tales of an Arlandria Twitcher
• Four Mile Run Park is for the birds!
• Tales of an Arlandria Twitcher: The Ides of March Edition
• Community Comments on 4MR Park
• New Views on 4MR Expand
• Architects Anonymous win for Four Mile Run Park Designs
• Why plan a park?
• Discuss Path Forward for 4 Mile Run Park Expansion Sites
• "Architects Anonymous" Donates Time, Vision To Four Mile Run Park
• How Alexandria City Bureaucracy Didn’t Steal Christmas

Tales of an Arlandria Twitcher: The Cherry Blossom Edition

More on the wildlife around Four Mile Run by The Arlandrian's resident amateur ornithologist:

Wood Duck pair
at Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria, VA.

Greater Yellowlegs
at Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria, VA.

Green Heron
at Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria, VA.

________________________________

In addition to his side-line as a naturalist, Jake Cuomo is an all around neighborhood good guy organizing stream clean-ups of the Four Mile Run, initiating community tree plantings on Earth Day, helping build the new Commonwealth Park on Reed Avenue and the Four Mile Run Park Expansion. 

Jake is the winner of the 2012 Alexandria Beautification Award, along with his wife, Erin. 

The Resilient Cherry Tree in Bloom (A Photo-Essay)

A Prunus Serrulata, or Mt. Fuji flowering cherry tree, blooms in Hume Springs Park, Alexandria, VA, April 11, 2013. The tree was planted for earth day by the Hume Springs Citizens Association in 2012.

The original tree was vandalized shortly after planting, however the citizens association remained undaunted and planted the replacement seen here. This is the first year the tree has flowered.
(Photos by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo)