The Wedge Rocks

When you find a community which truly lives out their values year after year, that's worth celebrating and staying connected with.  Here's my tribute to The Wedge Co-op.

To all our friends at the Wedge,
It is with a mixture of trepidation and excitement that we announce that we are moving to Lindstrom this month to start a permaculture forest garden.  Attached is an invitation to the Welcome to R Farm Party to which you all and your friends are invited.  We are fledgling farmers on a very beginning farm so there won't be much to see yet.  There's so much work left to do and so much we've already done.  It's time to celebrate.

As with so many good things in our lives, you at the Wedge have played a part in this move.  You were my very first call to find out who to ask about learning to be a farmer and, like always, you steered us right, putting us in touch with the Land Stewardship Project who helped us begin.  Even before we considered moving, you've made farming seem more real and important.  Your constant focus on stories of local farmers and family farms showed us the people.  You educated us about the health issues, food justice, innovation in farming, best practices, and then provided splendid food and cooking instruction, too.  We got involved with Youth Farm which you helped start and grow through Wedge Share.  Over my 13 years of being a member, you have consistently raised the bar of excellence and challenged our family along the way.  Now all of that is about to bear fruit in a whole new way and eggs and veggies, too. 

In addition to inspiration about good eating and ethical, healthy farming, you've become our friends.  Mark, age 5, asks to go to the Wedge for fun, then jumps out of the van saying, "I don't want to help shop; I want to get samples and talk to my friends."  He hits the door and takes off to get milk chocolate malted milk balls (used to be licorice 'Happy Hearts') and "Twist sample, please."  I find my little introvert merrily chatting up the cashiers and baggers, loathe to leave.  Anjali, age 10, writes her own lunch menu and shopping list, shops her own cart, grabs her own samples especially enjoying the unexpected demos, and meets me at checkout.  She drank her first juice at the juice bar slurping from my straw before she could walk.  The first career she ever aspired to was to be a Wedge bagger so she could talk with everyone and see what they're buying.  Remember when she walked around telling her one funny food joke to every employee and then adding your jokes into her repertoire?  Of course you do because you are her community friends. 

I have emailed everyone else already and have been saving you all for last.  I knew I'd start crying and sure enough, I have.  I have absolutely determined not to say goodbye since we intend to keep our membership and come at least once a month to shop and visit.  We will also join a co-op closer to our new place but you people of the Wedge are too good to leave behind.

Day to day I know your jobs, like mine as a mother, look so simple- prepare healthy food, help people, answer questions, set up, do your best, learn new things, clean up the mess afterwards.  But you do it all with flair and smiles.  Makes a huge difference. 

You have brought us happiness and pleasure.
Do come to the party if you can. 
And look for us. 
We'll be back.

:)Amy for Tim, Anjali, and Mark
New Family Farmers

P.S.  We'll come in person to take photos to add to our Minneapolis Memories Book.  So look for the kids with the camera in the next couple weeks- that'll be us asking you to say cheese.