Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Ground?
The Ground is on a 100-year journey to realize human potential in harmony with nature through hospitality in service to all species.
Located in Yamhill County, Oregon, The Ground is an evolving collection of destinations and experiences designed to help species connect in harmony with one another. The Ground will also create and host virtual agroecological and human potential-focused programming designed to help humans explore their deep connections to each other and to the world around them.
Our philosophy is rooted in the understanding that humans are part of nature—so it makes perfect sense that our story begins with the founding of Tabula Rasa Farms in 2015. A regenerative agriculture farm raising heritage animals, naturally and respectfully, the farm connects and nourishes people, planet, and animals alike.
The Ground stewards over 400 acres in Carlton, Oregon, including Tabula Rasa Farms, and many of our guest experiences will be located here. The Ground will also open town-based “human hospitality” locations in McMinnville and Carlton in 2022 and beyond.
What happens at The Ground?
With a holistic approach to hospitality, The Ground is more than a destination, it’s a philosophy of belonging that comes to life through five points of connection and interconnection:
Agroecology: farming, regenerative agriculture, permaculture, farm tours, education, local and seasonal produce, grass-fed and pastured meats, and access to artisan goods and products
Food & Beverage: restaurants, catering, and on-site cultivation and preparation of local, seasonal fare
Accommodations: accommodations built and operated in harmony with all nature, including humans
Wellness: fitness center with tennis court, yoga, fitness classes, meditation, and nature-based walking and hiking experiences
Programs & Events: events, programming, retreats, classes, workshops, and community meeting places
Like nature, The Ground is always evolving.
When is The Ground?
Happening Now in Carlton
Tabula Rasa Farms: founded in 2015, the farm is a thought leader in permaculture and the regenerative agriculture movement and raises grass-fed/grass-finished beef, heritage breed pork, and pastured laying hens, naturally and respectfully.
The Farmhouse at Tabula Rasa Farms: nestled on top of a hill with sweeping views of the valley, The Farmhouse at Tabula Rasa Farms joyfully connects land, animals, and people. Visitors can book the Farmhouse through Airbnb and opt to enjoy a tour of the farm during their stay.
Wellness Center: now open for tennis, the wellness center is evolving to include a gym, farm and nature hikes, fitness classes (including yoga), and personal training.
Carlton Phone Booth: a little piece of The Ground on Carlton’s main street and a promise of the joy-filled experiences to come.
Coming in 2022 and Beyond
Source Farms: What happens when a bunch of like-minded and like-hearted small farms come together to bring food for good to their communities and others? From the source of our local community, we bring you Source Farms. Direct to consumer sales coming in 2022.
Humble Spirit: a local and seasonal neighborhood bistro located on 3rd Street in historic downtown McMinnville. Coming in 2022.
Inn the Ground: with epic views of the Willamette Valley, this nine-suite bed & breakfast is built into a pastoral hillside of our regenerative farm in Carlton. Coming in early 2023 (subject to construction schedules and local ordinances).
Programs & Events: The Ground will provide the services, hospitality, and space in town (and selectively on the farm) for all species to connect, learn, and grow. The Ground will also host virtual programming oriented toward human potential and agroecology.
How does The Ground’s work support its mission?
At the heart of our mission is the desire to provide loving hospitality to all species, and this provides the true foundation of every guest experience.
Wherever you join us, you’ll find the space and comfort for connection and the desire to honor the interconnection between the species of nature, taking care to include human nature, and not to the exclusion of the other millions of species on the planet.
Who are the founders of The Ground?
The story of The Ground begins in 2008 with the acquisition of 23 acres of land in Yamhill County by Brenda Smola-Foti. After several decades of city-dwelling and professional artistic pursuits, Brenda—daughter of an Oklahoma cattleman—returned to her agricultural roots to establish residency and build a farmhouse in Carlton, Oregon. Fueled by her locavore tendencies and strong desire to understand where her food was coming from, she envisioned a working farm that would cultivate harmony between land, animals, and people.
In 2015, Tabula Rasa Farms—under Brenda’s stewardship—was established as a regenerative agriculture farm. Her husband, Frank Foti, became part of the story in 2019 and the seeds of a vision that would evolve into The Ground were planted.
In the past four years, The Ground has grown to include over 440 acres of land surrounding the farm. A deep reverence for the land inspired Brenda and Frank to envision a space where animals, nature, and humans could interact to realize human potential in harmony with the planet.
The Ground’s vision is rooted in the knowledge that the land is host to us all, and the awareness that humans are, in fact, part of nature. The goal is to provide loving hospitality in service to all species.
While Brenda continues to evolve as a thought-leader in regenerative farming and permaculture, Frank is the servant leader of The Ground with a focus on realizing human potential.
What about water and hospitality to all species?
Our environmental commitment starts where The Ground started—at Tabula Rasa Farms.
In a partnership with Elemental Ecosystems, Tabula Rasa Farms created water retention landscapes to ensure that the farmland can exist on its own water and rainwater resources and that our pastures and forested areas are mindfully optimized to minimize soil erosion and nutrient loss. Our regenerative farming practices cultivate healthy animals that enrich the soil and sequester greenhouse gases. The farm is also committed to ensuring that no part of the animals we raise go to waste.
At its core, regenerative agriculture is ecology-driven agriculture. It’s about understanding nature and cultivating a healthy relationship between the land, the animals, and people. When an insect, a pig, a cow, or a chicken has the freedom to do what it does naturally, they will work together with a little help from the farmer to enrich the soil and grow lush pastures which not only sustain them but also sequester greenhouse gases. Our commitment to regenerative farming allows us to cultivate harmony between land, people, and animals—creating health for each and restoring a better relationship with our food and how it’s grown. While it costs more to raise our animals with dignity and respect on open pastures filled with love, we believe in reciprocity—we raise animals for food and in exchange we honor them and provide them the best possible lives.
For more information on our regenerative farm practices, including our sustainable water supply, please visit the Tabula Rasa Farms website.
How many people are employed by The Ground?
The Ground currently employs around 20 individuals, most of whom are local to Yamhill County. As The Ground evolves and town-based hospitality venues open, our team will grow to around 90 this year.
Contact:
Lawrence Public Relations
Angie Galimanis
503-799-8091 | angie@lawrence-pr.com
The Ground
Heather Miller
971-901-1464 | heather.miller@theground.love