Why a Free Indoor Community Space for Growing, Learning, and Wellness Matters

Access to health, wellness, and nutrition should never depend on income, housing status, or the season. Yet for many people in our community, especially those living in apartments, shared housing, shelters, or unstable situations, growing food or learning hands-on wellness skills year-round is simply not possible.

Couch surfing is a very real issue.
Many people move between friends’ homes, temporary shelters, or transitional spaces while trying to stabilize their lives. Others are unhoused entirely. In these situations, people are often denied opportunities to improve their health and wellness, not because of lack of desire — but because of lack of space.

This space is designed to change that.

Creating a free indoor community space with three dedicated rooms is not just helpful — it is necessary. It removes barriers, restores dignity, and provides real, practical opportunities for anyone who wants to learn, grow, and care for their health.

A Space Designed With Purpose

The indoor space is intentionally structured into three functional areas, each supporting education, sustainability, nourishment, and long-term community care.

A Welcoming Entry & Marketplace Space

Awareness, Connection, and Sustainable Funding

The first room serves as a welcoming entry point — a place where people can arrive, feel respected, and see what is possible.

This space also plays a key role in funding ongoing free activities through Crafted With Purpose.

Handmade and plant-based wellness products are displayed and available for purchase. These items are created by local makers and artists and are directly tied to the plants, skills, and workshops taught within the space.

How this supports the work:

• A percentage of each in-person sale supports free programming

• Funds help cover shared tools, supplies, and materials

• Education and participation remain free for everyone

Crafted With Purpose also exists as an online platform, always free for makers and artists to list their work under clear community-focused guidelines.

• No listing fees

• No paywalls

• No pressure to sell

The in-person marketplace builds trust and awareness.
The online platform expands visibility and opportunity.
Together, they support the space without excluding anyone.

A Growing Room With Classroom & Workspace

Learning Through Real-Time Example

The second room is the heart of the space: an indoor growing area combined with a classroom and hands-on workspace.

Plants are grown year-round using simple indoor hydroponic systems, including the Kratky method. This space demonstrates a powerful truth:

You do not need land, a backyard, or expensive equipment to grow meaningful nutrition.

Participants learn to:

• Grow herbs and nutrient-rich plants in small indoor spaces

• Build Kratky containers from recycled materials

• Maintain plants affordably and sustainably

• Learn by seeing and doing — not just listening

The classroom area sits directly in front of the growing space so education is visual, practical, and grounded in real experience.

A Storage, Cleaning & Supply Room

Expanded Growing, Nourishment, and Care

The third room is far more than storage. It is a critical support space that allows this project to serve people who are currently excluded from growing opportunities.

This room will:

• Store and clean shared tools and supplies

• Maintain reusable containers and equipment

• Support low-waste and hygienic practices

It will also provide additional growing capacity specifically for:

• Participants in the Not Just A Food Program

• Individuals who do not have space at their residence

• People living in shelters or temporary housing

• Those couch surfing or experiencing homelessness

Health and wellness should not be denied simply because someone lacks a stable place to live. If someone has the desire to improve their nutrition and wellness, this space ensures they can still participate.

By growing plants on behalf of those without space, the program helps bridge a gap that currently leaves many people excluded.

Because the space requires basic health facilities, this room also allows for simple food preparation, including:

• Making sandwiches on-site

• Providing better, fresher options than currently available

• Supporting nourishment alongside education

This improves dignity, nutrition, and consistency — not just access.

Why Indoor Growing Education Is Essential

Many people in our community have no access to year-round growing options. Weather, housing restrictions, and space limitations make traditional gardening impossible.

Indoor hydroponics changes that.

By teaching how to:

• Build Kratky systems from recycled containers

• Grow plants indoors with minimal space

• Share growing responsibility when space is unavailable

People gain reliable, repeatable tools to support their health — regardless of housing status.

From Growing Plants to Creating Wellness

Growing plants is only the beginning. The space also teaches how to use what is grown in practical, meaningful ways.

Workshops include:

• Making spices and powders from dried plants

• Creating lip balms and simple topical products

• Learning plant-based wellness practices

• Crafting handmade items such as lavender baskets and bundles

These skills empower people to care for themselves and others using accessible, plant-based knowledge.

Free, Open, and Accessible to All

Every activity in this space is:

• Free

• Open to anyone

• No experience required

There are no fees to attend workshops.
No requirement to purchase products.
No exclusion based on housing status or income.

The marketplace supports the space — it never controls access to it.

Leading the Way Toward Better Opportunities

This indoor community space is more than a location. It is a model for what becomes possible when compassion, practicality, and transparency come together.

It shows that:

• Health and wellness can be inclusive

• Growing food does not require privilege

• Community spaces can support both learning and nourishment

• People deserve access to care, regardless of where they sleep

By growing indoors together, sharing tools and knowledge, and supporting one another through Crafted With Purpose and the Not Just A Food Program, this space aims to lead the way toward better opportunities for everyone in our community.