The Agrilab is the centerpiece of a larger community project of the Kheprw Institute to expand our food justice initiatives to create a culture of sustainability and growth rooted in community empowerment. The project includes:

KI Urban Agri-Culture Learning Lab: The house we are currently rehabbing will serve as a public space for individuals and groups to learn about and engage in aquaponics, urban gardening, and urban farming.  Empowering individuals and groups with the knowledge, skills, and experience to grow their food and strengthen/expand their relationships by working together to address a common problem and builds community. This is the foundation for long-term sustainable solutions to community challenges. In addition, studies have shown that increasing social capital through social networking leads to long-term community sustainability.

Decentralized KI Community Gardens: Three vacant lots that KI is leasing through the City of Indianapolis will be accessible to the residents participating in the programs at the KI Agri-Culture Learning Lab to put what they need have learned into real-life practical applications. We will also collaborate with local artists to design and integrate art into the gardens on these lots for the community to enjoy.

Farming Tool Lending Collective:  Establish a tool lending collective in the KI Agri-Culture Learning Lab where community members have access to the tools necessary to create their gardens that might be otherwise inaccessible (tillers, hand tools, etc.).

A Board of Health Approved Kitchen: We will install kitchen equipment for our healthy food access programs at the KI Urban Agri-Culture Learning Lab. This will enable us to provide education on preparing nutritious meals using produce grown via aquaponics, urban gardening, and urban farming.

Solar Panels: We will install solar panels in the Learning Lab to make the space sustainable and reduce our environmental impact. We are currently looking to install solar panels initially to provide 50% of our electricity use and to transition to fully 100% within the next three years.  Solar panels will allow us to generate some of our electricity, thereby reducing electrical costs and the burden on the electrical grid.

We are partnering with New Life Development Ministries, a non-profit prison reentry program to build out the space for all of this. They work with formerly incarcerated individuals who are learning and gaining skills and experience in building construction and home repair. We will also engage our youth and young adults in the renovation process. This will give formerly incarcerated individuals returning to the community and local young adults skills in building construction, home repair, and exposure to installing and using solar panels.