Monthly donors are a sustaining life force behind the programs of Gathering Ground. This coming year they will be invited to a special event highlighting their importance to our organization. It will be fun and tasty! So join a cohort of people investing in the planet, in the community, in our future. And have fun doing it.
4 reasons to become a monthly donor
1. Your investment will produce much fruit (literally and figuratively)
Our first harvest of pears was enjoyed by Island School students this year. We are expanding our chestnut nursery and orchards, and our mixed nut and fruit orchards are all maturing and starting to bear fruit. As our trees and shrubs mature, the gifts they produce will continue to be shared and utilized by our community, including the WI Food Pantry, the Island School. In addition to the fruit we are growing, Gathering Ground hosts a Farmers Market that supports Island farmers, bakers and makers by creating a fun weekly market to share the bounty with Island residents and visitors.
2. You're investing in the next generation!
Our summer internship, Ground School, is growing and shaping the lives of young adults. With 7 years under our belt, we understand the need our internship is fulfilling for young people so we are creating robust, comprehensive experiences. Many of our students are coming to Ground School with a desire to have hands-on experiences to round out academic studies, others are curious about what kind of opportunities there are in agriculture. All of them share an urgent desire to be good stewards of the earth.
“It raised my confidence in growing food an exceptional amount. It also just raised my confidence towards working in general... I now understand that I can do things that seem really hard, and have a great time doing it also!” – Jaxson, 2022 Ground School Grad from UW Madison
“This summer I learned that there are so many different opportunities and ways to get involved with agriculture sustainability as a career choice. – Ana, 2022 Ground School Grad from Augustana
3. You are creating a place for everyone.
Gathering Ground is bridging the gap between farmland (where we work) and parkland (where we play). We are making our 38 acres a place for everyone to enjoy – from native bees looking for flowers to picnickers looking for a place to lunch. Our community garden is open and helping support nutrition on Washington Island. All are welcome to enjoy the Grounds.
Please stop by and come on in! Take a walk and see how things are growing!
4. You are connecting people.
Gathering Ground makes connections through our events, gatherings, school programs and farmers market. We are not only connecting people to people, but people to the earth and where their food comes from. Through building relationships we are providing opportunities for personal, professional and business growth.
“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, Ground School Student