Gratitude. Grateful hearts. Abundance. We are so thankful to be a part of a community that loves the earth, loves people, and loves sharing good food. The saying, “Many hands make light work,” is proved over and over again at Gathering Ground. Not only because many hands make picking grapes, shoveling wood chips, and watering an orchard easier, but also because the camaraderie built while we are working alongside each other and the generous earth  lightens the heart and expands the mind. Thank you to all our volunteers and supporters in 2023. Join is in 2024.

We harvested 900 lbs of grapes, planted 750 chestnut trees, started a community garden!

The last five years have been tough for the vineyard. The rose chafers and deer have claimed the harvest. But this year, with netting, fencing, and some beautiful sunny days, we harvested 900lbs of grapes! In partnership with Whitecap Winery at Grasse’s Acres in Gill’s Rock, we are making wine. Join us next summer for celebrating our new farm product, a Washington Island Rose.

We also established our first community garden from scratch. We built fences, planted veggies, built raised grow boxes donated by One Small Farm so gardening can be accessible to everyone, and harvested so many tomatoes, squash, herbs, and friendship from working together.

Lonn Frye and Andy Coulter have gifted Gathering Ground with a $2,000 matching gift. Every donation received between now and the end of the year, up to $2,000, will be doubled because of their generosity. Join us in planting for the for the future. Your gift will ensure that our gardens and educational workshops and internships will continue on Washington Island. With so much exciting work ahead, we grateful for your partnerships.

We will host five educational workshops next summer for community members and our in-coming class of interns, covering topics from soil health,  irrigation, three-sisters planting. Every workshop will provide practical information and supplies for gardeners to go home with the tools they will need.

Join a committee crew of monthly donors who sustain Gathering Ground. Your monthly gift helps keep our farm and educational programs running, knowing we have your gift to count on.

Monthly givers are invited to special planning calls and early-bird tickets.

Thank you,
Alessandra and the entire Gathering Ground Board

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“I got to spend time with people I don’t think I would have met otherwise…The community garden allowed me hear their experiences and how they have lived their lives. We exchanged gifts of new perspectives and unique experiences that helped me relate to and understand more points of view.”

— Isabelle, 2023 Ground School Student