This tree has been growing from years from the fertile soil near Annandale, MN (Mnisota Makoce). Guided by the whisper of sunlight peeking into the only silo on the property, this tree now peaks out itself to greet the visitors to this land. It dares them to dream about what is possible with the gift of time and disciplined perseverance. This land, which is stewarded by a BIPOC cooperative I had the opportunity to help found, encouraged this tree just like it encouraged us to take the human ‘reins’. As an immigrant settler, I both love idioms and sayings and often get them wrong. Since I am practiced at getting them sometimes slightly wrong, I have attained a certain level of comfort with the hiccups in conversations. All to say, I mean that we gleefully took responsibility for the direction of the journey with this land.
We were able to take 36 acres off of the racialized, speculative market. I am calmed by this legacy. As I shift out of of my role as Founding Coop Member, I have gorgeous conversations with my nibblings about whether this is a land they can keep coming back to. ‘Yes beloveds, the seeds we planted are rich with love and strategy. And our mistakes, our heartaches? They are deep nourishment for the soil.
It’s a phrase that permeates the Warmer Season in response to ‘what are you doing this weekend?’. ‘Oh, I am going to friend’s cabin up North.’ For individuals of color who rarely got invited or experienced being the token ones, we have inherited and helped to give agency and access to a healing land with a diverse and powerful ecosystem ‘up North’ and close enough.
Immigrant Alejandra 