В Северной Мурхеде ферма «Farm in the Dell» расширяет команду из 35 оплачиваемых сотрудников с инвалидностью

MOORHEAD — Rosemary and thyme. Sweet corn and Swiss chard. And hearts as big as cabbage heads. That's 'Farm in the Dell' in north Moorhead. ADVERTISEMENT It's where the gardens are full of eager garden engineers, who just happen to have disabilities. The harvest is in full swing, and they are all preparing for "Table to Farm" dinner events, a fall festival and afternoons where people come and pick produce or visit the Thursday night Farmers Market. On this perfect summer morning in rural Clay County, the great harvest commenced. "Addie, do you know how to pick the best kale?" a job coach asks Addie, a garden engineer. Here at Farm in the Dell, a garden army of engineers were busy bringing in kale and cauliflower, "Broccoli," Ben Jacobson said, pointing to a vegetable he is harvesting. Digging spuds, or watching butterflies dart around their heads. This is where 25-acres of farmland is transformed into a place of friendships and meaningful mornings for these engineers who pick and weed for pay. Ben Jacobson, Codey Woods and Jenny Sibson are all dedicated workers at the farm. ADVERTISEMENT "Rain or shine we come out here," Sibson said. Harvesting veggies for the non-profit's Community Supported Agriculture model, U-pick farm and Farmers Market options at Farm in the Dell. "One thing we have been really intentional about is getting people out to the farm, which is why we host events here because we want them to meet garden engineers," said Anna Sather, development director with Farm in the Dell. "The ones who are getting their hands dirty here in the fields every single day making this possible." And so much has changed since they moved to north Moorhead in 2015. At that time, just a handful of unpaid engineers were volunteering in the fields. Now, 35 paid engineers are out here nearly every day. "Getting that interaction. Working together. Laughing, sweating, harvesting. The more and more community we get out here, the more our folks are having that experience of what community really is," said Matt Larson, Farm in the Dell executive director. Sure, it's been a challenging year. The rains have not been cooperative. Still, there are plenty of veggies and flowers to harvest. And the engineers who work the gardens every day, they just keep showing up. Because this place just feels like home. More information about Farm in the Dell can be found on their website and events page . ADVERTISEMENT