Dear friends,

At our Dinner in the Vineyard ON THE FARM, one of our six-month interns Christina (pictured above enjoying the Garden Tour earlier this month) shared that our Ground School internship was “the branch that pulled her out of a rushing torrent of confusion and helped set her feet on solid ground.” She now knows what kind of career she wants to pursue — one that ties together farming and education. 

Together, we are discovering what abundance really means. It’s the abundant crops that Christina is growing with her fellow interns Ava and Wren and manager Becca that are being shared at the farmers market and Mann’s store, and with our neighbors at all 10 Door County food pantries, but it’s also the learning that is taking place on the farm as these vegetables are growing. Our interns are uncovering abundant talents and skills within themselves and how to use these to build a better community. We are so grateful for our farm crew. They are simply amazing.

Maybe that’s why the farm-fresh garlic, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers taste so delicious.

— Alessandra Rolffs, executive director

Don’t Miss Out: Fun On The Farms

Scoop The Loop (Th 9/17 at 8:30 am) – Enjoy our annual bike ride! On this ~25 mi ride you will get to enjoy 4 farm tours, lunch, music and beverage of your choice! Tickets are selling fast. Order your t-shirts by August 31. Tickets sales will close Sept 6 or when sold out.

FARM-tober Fest (Sa Oct 3 at 1-4pm) – Join us for lunch, games and pumpkin carving on the farm! There’s going to be more info coming out soon about how to enter our pumpkin pie contest and more. Mark you calendar and stay tuned for more details!

Spaghetti on the farm (Wednesdays); 5-6:30. We are hosting our first spaghetti dinner on the farm tonight (Aug 26) and next Wednesday (Sept 2). We will make the sauces, a veggie side, and the pasta. You bring your plate, silverware, a picnic blanket and BYOB. You could also just bring a to-go container and bring the homemade sauce home!  Donations will be accepted via cash, check or online.

Stay tuned for details on our Fall Book Club.

Grape Harvest – Second Week of October

Upcoming Cooking Classes

Gazpacho Cooking Class (M 8/31 at 2 pm) – Only 8 spots left. Free will donation. Learn more and reserve your spot here.

Samosa Cooking Class (T 9/15 at 2pm) – Only 8 spots available. The cost is $30. Learn more and sign up here.

Taste The Abundance & Deliciousness with our Fall CSA

Gathering Ground’s 6-week Summer/Fall CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares includes the abundance of the end of summer produce and fall crops. ? Each  Wednesday, we will package up a variety of delicious vegetables.

Shares include a taste of everything we are harvesting from here to the end of harvest. From early September to mid November, choose the 6 weeks that work best for you. Need to skip because of travel? Just let us know!

A large variety of vegetables from the farm will be ready each Wednesday to pick up on the farm. Each week you are likely to receive greens (lettuce or spinach), root vegetables (carrots, beets or radishes), tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplant, onions, garlic, leeks, or scallions, winter squash, and often a small flower bouquet.

CSA shares will be picked up at Aznoe Farm stand at 1249 Aznoe Rd.  The cost for six weeks is $180. Payment for the share is due the first week of pick up.

Each share supports our mission of promoting and supporting sustainable agriculture and connecting people of all ages to healthy food, the land, and healthy food. By joining the CSA, you’re stocking your pantry and helping to keep our community cooking together. ? You’re also supporting our work bringing produce to the DC food pantries.  

Come grow with us! Sign up here.

Can’t do a CSA, but still want some delicious veggies?

We also always have our veggies available at our farm stand (M-Th 10-4pm) and at the Farmers Market (Saturday 9-12 on Main Road). Join our Farm Stand News and Manager Becca Boogert will send an email each Monday with what’s available that week.

Planting For The Future Campaign

We launched the Planting For The Future campaign last October with the goal of raising $1.1M, and we’ve already received over $940,000 in donations and pledges. These funds help us continue providing fresh veggies to our community and educational programs that connect people of all ages to nature, healthy food, and good community. If you have not yet supported this effort, please consider giving a gift today. You can sign up to give annually or monthly online. Or checks can go to PO Box 276, Washington Island, WI 54246.

Thank you to everyone who has already join in!

p.s. Want our new Planting For The Future T-shirt? It was designed by our friend Alex Krantz (Ground School Intern, 2020). They are available at the Farmers Market and I can mail one to you. $20 plus s&h. Email me.