The Arlandrian: 4MRMarket Report: "Scholarship Sunday!" Edition

Find a new end-of-summer read at the
Scholarship Fund of Alexandria Book Sale

Looking for a good book? We've got plenty. We asked Alexandria for book donations and the response came in droves!! 4MRMarket plays host to the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria Book Sale this Sunday in the 4MR Community Building. You'll find that good read you've been seeking just in time for the beach this Sunday August 18th at 4MRMarket!

All proceeds benefit the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria!

Be sure to bring plenty of reusable bags. Between gently used books for your bookshelf and tasty treats for your fridge and pantry, you'll need lots of carrying capacity this weekend! We still have a bunch of sturdy reusable bags from INOVA's Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign, so just ask at the 4MRMarket Tent and get a free bag to help you take home your haul.

Drop by from 8am to 1pm do a some shopping, enjoy a coffee or tea, and enjoy a free concert on the 4MRMarket Stage between 11 and noon.

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On Stage!

Janna Audey performs Sunday
from 11am to noon

On Sunday from 11am-noon, the 4MRMarket Stage will host a new talent in Janna Audey (see Janna's facebook page here)! Janna is a singer and songwriter from a musical family with over 2,000 live shows under her belt. We're very lucky to have her play for our cozy market this Sunday!

Janna performs a mix of her own material and adaptations of songs by her favorite artists and songwriters. You'll see Janna this Sunday by her lonesome for an intimate, storytelling show and you'll understand what the Janna-buzz is all about. Many of her shows are either as a duo alongside husband and electric guitarist, Rob Santos or with a band performing high energy rock (including Santos on guitar, bassist, Howard Haughery, and Terry Burcham on drums). Be sure to check out her facebook page for more about upcoming shows. For Janna, it's about the music, providing a sense of community, connection, feeling, laughter, positive energy, and FUN.

Read more about Janna and learn more about this weekend's show on the 4MRMarket event page!

Remember, the concert is free, but Janna and all our performers welcome tips and friendly applause for sharing their craft with you on a lovely Sunday morning.
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Don't forget the Free Swag!

We still have a bunch of INOVA sponsored Buy Fresh, Buy Local bags left over from National Farmers Market Week just a couple weeks ago! Come by the market and pick yours up this weekend!
Pledge to celebrate at 4MRMarket this summer and the folks at American Farmland Trust will send you a free "No Farms No Food" bumper sticker. Your pledge will help show prospective vendors that there's community support. (Donations to support AFT are optional.)
The Buy Fresh, Buy Local and Win campaign continues this weekend at 4MRMarket!

Bring your “Farm. Fresh. Pledge.” punch card if you already have one. If you didn't get started yet, just ask for one at 4MRMarket and earn one punch for each $10 you spend on Virginia Grown products.Collect all 14 punches for a chance to win a Virginia Grown® / Virginia’s Finest® gift basket valued at $250. 4MRMarket will also award prizes to monthly drawings from all punch cards received. (See the official rules for more details).

You can fill up your bags with a great selection of produce, meat, cheese, teas, health and beauty products, and more.

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4MRMarket 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!!
Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese and yogurt, farm-fresh eggs, and Pennsylvania honey.
Whole Health (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).
St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and always a few extra goodies!
Old Town Suds - (Alexandria) This maker of eco-friendly soaps, cleaning supplies, bath bombs, and more! Old Town Suds started because Steffanie was allergic to most commercial soaps on the market; then she became really sick and wondered if her health was being made worse by everyday chemicals. Their decadent soaps & nose-pleasing cleaning products are tough on dirt but easy on humans, pets, and the Earth. Look for Port City Beer soap & Legend (Richmond, VA) Beer soap plus the Cup of Joe soap that looks like a latte!
Charlette Marie Beauty (Centreville, VA) - A naturally effective, eco-friendly, line of handmade bath and body skin care goodies. Her products are made with bio-dynamic, natural botanical active ingredients.
Raining Cats & Dogs - Gourmet Organic and Gluten Free Pet Treats
Love Lucy Candles (Alexandria) - Founded on the idea that candles should not only smell good, they should be able to compliment any space with lovely fragrance. They hand-make quality, eco-friendly soy candles that captivate the senses.
Ekaa, Hands That Create, (Columbia, Maryland) Hand-crafted Home and Fashion accessories.
Others pending!

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. 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, come talk to us any Sunday. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT and Credit / Debit Card 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, Twitter, Google+ 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!

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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 April 14th until November in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria.

(click here for directions)