Our Story
About
A NEW ERA OF COWORKING
Ground Up was founded to to challenge the deficits to well-being in modern living.
Ground Up was built out of a desire to challenge the deficits to well-being in modern living. Founders Gabe and Dillon connected when Dillon began volunteering on Gabe’s farm. Appreciating his time spent there, Dillon asked Gabe if he could spend a day each week working remotely from the property. He compiled leftover materials from the farm operation and fabricated a makeshift workstation in the orchard of the farm — unknowingly becoming Ground Up’s first member.
Dillon, a city dweller bereft of access to bucolic surroundings, began observing the positive impacts this time was having on him — physically, mentally, professionally, and socially. Almost by magic, a familiar yet unnameable malaise was lifted. A sense of spontaneity and ease took its place.
In Gabe’s view, the reason behind this was simple: the power of the environment was a force not to be reckoned with, but to be aligned with. Hours upon hours of conversation and a deep-dive into health and productivity statistics yielded a remarkable insight: the benefits green spaces provide could be applied to the world of office space, helping to revolutionize the work environment as a professional ecosystem that provides its members with the essentials — fresh produce, human connection, and harmony with the natural world — all without demanding any sacrifice be made to their lives.
Co-founders of Ground Up
Gabe & Dillon
A note from our founders
our mission
Building spaces that integrate the best elements of the home, work, and natural environment.
We aim to strike a balance between our professional and personal lives by achieving equilibrium between health and productivity.
Balance
Community
We understand just how evasive connection is in today’s world, so we actively work to facilitate opportunities for genuine social and professional interaction.
Service
In the information era, distractions abound. Our spaces cancel out the noise, allowing members to harness their intention to grow personally and develop professionally.
Intention
Real connection, real food, real growth. We help strip away the nonsense and create an environment to turn ideas into tangible realities that have a real impact.
Connection
We recognize the need to challenge the widespread patterns of social isolation and environmental degradation, so we direct our efforts towards building a better tomorrow.
Our values
Where We're Located
The Institute of Soil and Soul is a regenerative farm and educational center located in Long Grove, IL, providing organically sourced produce for local chefs, restaurants and families.
The Institute of Soil & Soul uses the agricultural arts to help individuals reconnect with the natural world, build inner resilience, and become leaders of tomorrow. Our integration with the farm allows our members to discover nature through workshops, events and other networking opportunities hosted onsite.
To learn more, visit soilandsoulfarm.org or click the link below.
The Institute of Soil & Soul
