Jewish Chicago Magazine

Gabriel Gould is nourishing community from the ground up.
 
He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Institute of Soil and Soul, a regenerative farm and educational center in Long Grove. In just five years, the farm now produces nearly twice the output of conventional farms while restoring soil health and exceeding organic standards. Almost every vegetable and egg is donated to The Ark, providing fresh, nutrient-dense food to over 1,500 people every year.
 
His innovative nonprofit model gives back through both organic, chemical-free food production and meaningful community engagement. More than 1,400 Jewish participants visit annually through partnerships with synagogues, schools, and community organizations. Gabriel, a Glencoe native, connects the joy that youth feel with their hands in the soil as a direct expression of their Jewish identity.
 
Gabriel’s work “is a direct expression of core Jewish values, including stewardship of the earth (bal tashchit), care for others (tzedakah), and communal responsibility (arevut),” shared a board member of the Institute of Soil and Soul. 

Age: 32
                                                                    
Primary gig: Founder and Executive Director of the Institute of Soil and Soul

On the side: Musician and poet
 
Describe yourself in 10 words or less: I’m just an analogue guy living in a digital world.

What is your proudest accomplishment? As a writer, I’d have to say I’m most proud whenever I am able to finish a verse.  The pride I feel after toiling to write four honest lines and knowing it’s complete is incomparable to just about anything else.
 
A Jew who inspires you: Leonard Cohen

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I see myself living by the sea, with my wife and kids, on a large farm with 100 sheep.