the farm at soil and soul
The Institute of Soil and Soul is a 9-acre regenerative mixed-production farm located in Long Grove, IL (Zone 5b). The rich clay-loam soils of northern Illinois provide an ideal environment for diverse, ecological farming that nourishes both the land and the community.
Market Garden
Our market garden spans just under half an acre, producing around 10,000 pounds of vegetables each year across 20 different crops. We use regenerative practices including no-till farming, cover cropping, and composting to maintain healthy, organic living soils that support vibrant plant growth season after season.
Orchard
Our orchard is a diverse ecosystem of apples, peaches, cherries, pawpaw, persimmon, and honey locust trees. Nitrogen-fixing shrubs naturally enrich the soil, and alley-cropping with seasonal rotation allows us to grow storage crops like winter squash, corn, melons, and potatoes alongside the trees, creating a resilient, productive landscape.
Chicken pasture
Our pastured chickens—Welsummers, Orpingtons, and Rhode Island Reds—enjoy year-round access to fresh pasture. We manage the coops using the deep litter method, keeping them clean while producing nutrient-rich compost that feeds our gardens and orchard.
Pollinator, Conservation, and Educational Spaces
In addition to production, we dedicate areas to pollinator strips, woodland conservation, educational gardens, and community learning spaces, to connect visitors to the land and demonstrate sustainable agricultural practices in action.