Sustainable-ag school 'grounded'

Lynn Grooms
Aug 14, 2023
Aug 14, 2023

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Russell Rolffs, right, teaches Ground School students in the young-chestnut orchard at Gathering Ground.

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Community volunteers, Ground School students and Russell Rolffs plant a copse – or food forest – at Gathering Ground on Washington Island, Wisconsin. Agroforestry is one of the subjects addressed at the Ground School.

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Isabelle Koo works at Hoot Blossom Farm on Washington Island in addition to studying at the Ground School. Russell and Alessandra Rolffs own and operate the farm, which specializes in vegetables, herbs and cut flowers.

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Alessandra Rolffs, left, and community member Rachel Schwandt, in purple sweatshirt, weed an herb garden during a weekly community-garden ‘meet up’ on Washington Island.

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Isabelle Koo and Claire Knutsen build fence

Isabelle Koo, left, and Claire Knutsen help build a fence to prevent deer from damaging young trees.

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Bob Purman, in background, along with his wife, Yannique Purman, and son, Leo Purman, pose for a photo in one of their orchards. The couple owns Island Orchard Cider, which is a farm-partner with the Ground School.

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Lynn Grooms

WASHINGTON ISLAND, Wis. – On Washington Island lies Gathering Ground and its Ground School, which involves a 40-acre diversified farm. The school is operated by Russell and Alessandra Rolffs, a husband-wife team focused on building literacy in sustainable agriculture. They’re doing so by providing students hands-on and classroom experiences.

Lynn Grooms writes about the diversity of agriculture, including the industry’s newest ideas, research and technologies as a staff reporter for Agri-View based in Wisconsin.