The Arlandrian: 4MRMarket Report: "That IS my bag, baby!" Edition

Grab a free reusable bag and usefull wellness
guide this Sunday from INOVA!

It's the start of National Farmers Market Week and who does't like free stuff to celebrate?!

Come by the market this Sunday where INOVA will be giving away free market bags (while supplies last), Buy Fresh Buy Local guides and other information related to healthy eating and living.

Now that you'll have a free bag, you might as well fill it up with market goodies! As per usual, we'll have produce, pasture raised beef, artisan cheese, and much more on hand to fill up that empty-bag-shaped space in your shiny new reusable! Reserve some space in there for scarves, flower hair clips, and jewelry from So Elanor, 4MRMarket's newest vendor!

Pledge to celebrate at 4MRMarkets 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.)

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The 4MRMarket Stage will play host to Emily Henry for the second time this season!

Emily Henry will play the
4MRMarket Stage from 10am to noon

Emily takes the stage from 10am-noon! If you missed her first 4MRMarket performance, Emily Henry is a local singer/songwriter with a lovely voice and lots of original music. Click here for a sample of Emily Henry's soulful voice and acoustic guitar skills, and come out this weekend to hear the real deal in person! See our Facebook event page for details about this and future happenings.

Remember, the concert is free, but Emily 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 that the Buy Fresh, Buy Local and Win campaign continues this weekend at 4MRMarket!

The June winners!

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. (See the official rules for more details). 4MRMarket will also award prizes to monthly drawings from all punch cards received.

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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Here is what's at 4MRMarket this week. Plus, there may be one or two more new items in store beyond even these!

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) - Whole Health is on vacation this weekend, but they'll be back in a couple weeks!
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
So Elanor - Local artisan made floral hair clips, jewelry, and scarves.
MemoryCard Photography - New to the Alexandria area, Emily previously showed her work in and around the Williamsburg area, but just recently began selling her photos in the Alexandria area. She currently has inventory up at Killer E.S.P. on King Street in Old Town Alexandria. She specializes in nature photography such as landscapes, flowers, and water scenes. Feel free to check out her Etsy page!
Ekaa, Hands That Create, (Columbia, Maryland) Hand-crafted Home and Fashion accessories.
Others pending!

New vendor Ritu with her company
"Ekaa, Hands That Create"

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)