Sharing Kindness One Carrot at a Time
According to Mark Twain, “kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” It’s a universal language that can traverse boundaries.
To us, at Farm in the Dell of the Red River Valley, kindness means acceptance. It means unity. It means understanding that some of us may sound a little different, hear a little different, and walk a little different – but we are all treasured children of God who have deeply-rooted purpose on this Earth.
At Farm in the Dell, we believe that when an individual with a disability is included in a work environment – or any kind of setting – it provides an opportunity for individuals with and without disabilities to work together, make connections, and achieve goals. We believe that the qualities that make up each of us are more the same than different.
Farm in the Dell of the Red River Valley is a special place where kindness flourishes every day. The non-profit organization, which was founded in 2012, provides meaningful employment and life experiences in a community farm setting for individuals with developmental disabilities.
We don’t just grow produce. At our core, we serve people with developmental disabilities – adults, young and old, who live with Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down’s Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, etc., who were born with chronic conditions and were dealt a hand in life that no amount of money, hours in the field, or boxfuls of produce will ever erase.
However, what we can provide for the individuals that we serve is LOVE – and how we share that love is special. It’s through regular wages. It’s through a paycheck. It’s through prayer. It’s through conversations between rows of peas in the field on a sunny day. It’s through friendship. It’s through kindness. It’s through making sure that they feel seen, heard, valued, and respected.
With harvest season well underway, we wanted to highlight Farm in the Dell’s mission along with some upcoming events! We invite our community to join us and experience our farm-style kindness first-hand!
The whole community is invited to come and enjoy the Farm in the Dell pumpkin patch – with over a dozen different varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds, there tons of options to explore as you choose the perfect fall produce to take home and enjoy!
Monday, Sept. 25 – Friday, Sept. 29 and Monday, Oct. 2 – Friday, Oct. 6
9:00am – 12:00pm
Farm in the Dell (7426 40th St. N. Moorhead, MN)
Note: In addition to the U-Pick Pumpkin Patch, Farm in the Dell will have pre-picked pumpkins outside of their greenhouse at the farm for sale. From Monday, Sept. 25 – Friday, Oct. 6, anytime between dawn and dusk, people can stop by and pay cash/check in the nearby bucket and pick any pumpkins that they would like!
There’s no better way to celebrate the leaves changing color and the culmination of harvest season than with tons of fun at the farm! Participants will engage in a variety of fall activities, like pumpkin painting, barrel train rides, carnival games, and more.
Saturday, Sept. 23 – Sunday, Sept. 24
10:00am – 3:00pm
Farm in the Dell (7426 40th St. N. Moorhead, MN)
Join us for a day of fun, fellowship, and baking as we work together to create apple pies to be sold at our annual fundraiser. We'll need "all hands on deck" as we peel and cut apples, prepare dough, assemble pies, and package the final product!
Thursday, October 26 – Friday, October 27
Exact Time and Location TBD (check back at farminthedellrrv.org for details)
Anna Sather is the Executive Director at Farm in the Dell of the Red River Valley. She was excited to join the team in 2023, as she is deeply passionate about food, ag, and supporting people.
