How can a wild, baby African elephant and a semi-urban, American housecat become friends? Find out in Ruby and Baby... an unlikely friendship.

Author Mary Jane O’Loughlin is a native Washingtonian who currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia. Mary Jane volunteers at a local animal shelter; she found and adopted Baby in 2005.
Mary Jane traveled to Kenya for 2 weeks with Micato Safaris.  While initially her interest was in meeting a very special rhinoceros named Morani, she was unaware that she would fall in love with elephants.  She had never seen them interact with each other in their world, where they belong.    

When she came home, she told her little cat, Baby, all about her trip and showed her all the pictures she took of the animals. (If you are an animal lover, you are smiling and nodding your head right now.)

The gorgeous pictures in the book were drawn and hand-painted from ideas and sketches by Lizzy Lahive, based on Mary Jane's photographs of Baby and a 3 month old baby elephant named Bidi.

Mary Jane will be selling her signed and inscribed copies of her book at the West End Farmers Market on Sunday, November 6.

The  2011 market season for the West End Farmers Market is coming to an end. Special orders will be taken on November 6 and November 13. Pick up your pre-ordered specialty items on November 20.
 
Tom's Amish Dairy Products*

• Pumpkins Cheesecakes ($25)
  
• Vanilla Goat Cheesecake ($18) Chocolate Goat Cheesecake ($20)
  
• Large $9 Amish Pies: Apple, Blueberry, Cherry, Chocolate Cream, Dutch Apple, Peach, Pumpkin
  
• Large $10 Amish Pies: Pecan, Shoo-Fly
  

On the GOurment

• Free Range Turkeys
  
• Lamb
  
• Duck 
  
• Organic butter, truly magnificent 
  
• Organic milk 
  
• Locally made, rich, creamy ice cream
  

Vera's Bakery

• Kentucky derby pie
  
• Apple & oats pie
  
• Pumpkin pie
  
• Apple cranberry pie
  
• Pecan pie
  

*Samples available on November 6 only.

The West End Farmers Market has grown substantially since it first opened. In 2007, there were about 200 visitors each week. In 2010, attendance increased to around 850 people each week! Special thanks to the following people:

Yellow Pepper Patrons
Joyce Wilbur and Ed John
Nick of Nick's Night Club: NoVa's Premier Live Country Venue

Peachy Peach Patrons
Kathy Nerger and John Nerger                                                                 
Mike of Mango Mike's Restaurant: Exotic Eats. Caribean Beats.

Blueberry Patrons
Rebecca A, Hillary Harms, Sarah Noble, Kelly Groth, Paula Jarvis and Natasha Fox

If you believe in the West End Farmers Market and would like to see it grow, please help us!

• Red Tomato Patron       $500
  
• Green Apple Patron      $250
• Yellow Pepper Patron   $100
• Peachy Peach Patron    $5-$99
• Blueberry Patron          FREE!

Contributions help run the market and build interconnections in our community. We promote the market and, provide entertaining events. When you support the West End Farmers Market, you support local small business, the preservation local farms and growers, and your local community. The West End Farmers Market is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our operation is possible with the support of groups and individuals who share our vision of the market as the nexus of community. All contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of IRS law, and we pledge to use your contributions wisely.

All supporters are eligible to receive news and information about the West End Farmers Market by email.