Ground School Summer Internship

The appplication for our 2025 summer internship program is now up. Apply by Feb 3!

We're Hiring!

We are hiring for an exciting new position: Ground School Associate Director. Join us to help lead our 10-week summer internship program!

1% for the Planet

We are excited to announce we’ve joined f 1% for the Planet as an environmental partner! Learn more about what this partnership means and how your business or employer can help support Gathering Ground

Thank you!

We are grateful to the friends who helped us meet our end-of-year fundraising goal! Want to help us continue to grow? Consider becoming a monthly donor. Monthly donors help us plant for the future with their sustaining gifts.

Farmers Market 2025

Our farmers market run from memorial day through October every Saturday 9-12 on Main Road. Do you want to join the market as vendor? Contact us to learn more.

About Us

Gathering Ground blends agriculture and conservation on its 38 acre working and teaching farm. With a vision for thriving communities connected to the environment and their food through work and play, we focus on sustainable farming practices with our diverse fruit and nut orchards and vineyards. We promote biodiversity, offer community composting, and support local farms through our Farmers’ Market. We host educational programs like Ground School and workshops and events for learners of all ages. The Grounds are open for walking tours and picnics. Join us in Planting for the Future!

Donate

Volunteer

How on Earth should we live?

Here at Gathering Ground, we’re deeply engaged in the work of answering this question.

It is clear now more than ever that the world is facing an ecological crisis, and that the only way to turn back the tide is to radically reimagine our relationship with the land that sustains us.

Our 38 acre farm on Washington Island, in Wisconsin’s Door County, serves as our living laboratory. The island is a self contained ecosystem, which makes it the perfect home for our experiments in community-based sustainable farming, education and conservation.

Join us in planting for the future.

How on Earth should we live?

Here at Gathering Ground, we’re deeply engaged in the work of answering this question.

It is clear now more than ever that the world is facing an ecological crisis, and that the only way to turn back the tide is to radically reimagine our relationship with the land that sustains us.

Our 38 acre farm on Washington Island, in Wisconsin’s Door County, serves as our living laboratory. The island is a self contained ecosystem, which makes it the perfect home for our experiments in community-based sustainable farming, education and conservation.

Join us in planting for the future.

How on Earth should we live?

Here at Gathering Ground, we’re deeply engaged in the work of answering this question.

It is clear now more than ever that the world is facing an ecological crisis, and that the only way to turn back the tide is to radically reimagine our relationship with the land that sustains us.

Our 38 acre farm on Washington Island, in Wisconsin’s Door County, serves as our living laboratory. The island is a self contained ecosystem, which makes it the perfect home for our experiments in community-based sustainable farming, education and conservation.

Join us in planting for the future.

How on Earth should we live?

Here at Gathering Ground, we’re deeply engaged in the work of answering this question.

It is clear now more than ever that the world is facing an ecological crisis, and that the only way to turn back the tide is to radically reimagine our relationship with the land that sustains us.

Our 38 acre farm on Washington Island, in Wisconsin’s Door County, serves as our living laboratory. The island is a self contained ecosystem, which makes it the perfect home for our experiments in community-based sustainable farming, education and conservation.

Join us in planting for the future.

How on Earth should we live?

Here at Gathering Ground, we’re deeply engaged in the work of answering this question.

It is clear now more than ever that the world is facing an ecological crisis, and that the only way to turn back the tide is to radically reimagine our relationship with the land that sustains us.

Our 40 acre farm on remote Washington Island, in Wisconsin’s Door County, serves as our living laboratory. The island is a self contained ecosystem, which makes it the perfect home for our experiments in community-based sustainable farming, education and conservation.

Join us in planting for the future.

How on Earth should we live?

Here at Gathering Ground, we’re deeply engaged in the work of answering this question.

It is clear now more than ever that the world is facing an ecological crisis, and that the only way to turn back the tide is to radically reimagine our relationship with the land that sustains us.

Our 38 acre farm on Washington Island, in Wisconsin’s Door County, serves as our living laboratory. The island is a self contained ecosystem, which makes it the perfect home for our experiments in community-based sustainable farming, education and conservation.

Join us in planting for the future.

How on Earth should we live?

Here at Gathering Ground, we’re deeply engaged in the work of answering this question.

It is clear now more than ever that the world is facing an ecological crisis, and that the only way to turn back the tide is to radically reimagine our relationship with the land that sustains us.

Our 38 acre farm on Washington Island, in Wisconsin’s Door County, serves as our living laboratory. The island is a self contained ecosystem, which makes it the perfect home for our experiments in community-based sustainable farming, education and conservation.

Join us in planting for the future.

How on Earth should we live?

Here at Gathering Ground, we’re deeply engaged in the work of answering this question.

It is clear now more than ever that the world is facing an ecological crisis, and that the only way to turn back the tide is to radically reimagine our relationship with the land that sustains us.

Our 38 acre farm on Washington Island, in Wisconsin’s Door County, serves as our living laboratory. The island is a self contained ecosystem, which makes it the perfect home for our experiments in community-based sustainable farming, education and conservation.

Join us in planting for the future.

How on Earth should we live?

Here at Gathering Ground, we’re deeply engaged in the work of answering this question.

It is clear now more than ever that the world is facing an ecological crisis, and that the only way to turn back the tide is to radically reimagine our relationship with the land that sustains us.

Our 38 acre farm on Washington Island, in Wisconsin’s Door County, serves as our living laboratory. The island is a self contained ecosystem, which makes it the perfect home for our experiments in community-based sustainable farming, education and conservation.

Join us in planting for the future.

How on Earth should we live?

Here at Gathering Ground, we’re deeply engaged in the work of answering this question.

It is clear now more than ever that the world is facing an ecological crisis, and that the only way to turn back the tide is to radically reimagine our relationship with the land that sustains us.

Our 38 acre farm on Washington Island, in Wisconsin’s Door County, serves as our living laboratory. The island is a self contained ecosystem, which makes it the perfect home for our experiments in community-based sustainable farming, education and conservation.

Join us in planting for the future.

How on Earth should we live?

Here at Gathering Ground, we’re deeply engaged in the work of answering this question.

It is clear now more than ever that the world is facing an ecological crisis, and that the only way to turn back the tide is to radically reimagine our relationship with the land that sustains us.

Our 38 acre farm on Washington Island, in Wisconsin’s Door County, serves as our living laboratory. The island is a self contained ecosystem, which makes it the perfect home for our experiments in community-based sustainable farming, education and conservation.

Join us in planting for the future.

Take a virtual trip to our Washington Island farm, and hear more from the founders about what motivates them to learn from its soil.

Watch this video overview of our property, featuring footage from our annual Dinner in the Vineyard fundraiser. Hear from Russell and Alessandra Rolffs about what inspired them to start the foundation, and what they envision for its future.

Video production by Dusan Harminc of Stumptown Media.

News From the Farm

Ground School – We are hiring!

Ground School – We are hiring!

We are hiring a Ground School Associate Director for 2025. This position will work with the farm manager and education director to co-lead our 10-week summer internship for college age students.  The position part-time  (20 / hours per week) with the option to add an...

read more
Dinner in the Vineyard Recap

Dinner in the Vineyard Recap

Thank you to all our volunteers, chefs, guests, sponsors and donors who made this event an amazing night. We are so grateful for your support. Here's the recipe for the refreshing spirit-free spritzer that was served at the dinner using herbs from the community...

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They say that the best time to plant a fruit tree is thirty years ago. Well, the second best time is now.

- Russell Rolffs

President and Farm Manager

Our Partners & Sponsors

Door County Community Foundation logo
Plantra logo
washington-island-ferry-line-logo
Stumptown Media logo
Nicolet National Bank logo
John C. Bock Foundation logo
walmart-foundation-logo

We are so grateful for the support we receive from our partners and sponsors. Do you have a company or organization that’s dedicated to promoting and investing in sustainable agriculture? Contact us for more info.