Let good grow wild isn’t just our motto, it’s also our mandate. That’s why we’re teaming with our friends at Support + Feed and The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles to create the Hydro-Wild Lab, a working hydroponic farm nestled in a shipping container. Through classes, community building, and hands-on agricultural experience, the Hydro-Wild Lab will deepen a connection between personal and planetary wellness while restoring food-growing power back to a Los Angeles community.

Here’s how it works:

Starting in May 2022, students at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles - Watts/Willowbrook Clubhouse in South Los Angeles will have access to a multi-week curriculum that teaches them the science behind their favorite veggies, the connection between personal wellness and food advocacy, and the cultural significance of gardens and growth in their own neighborhoods and beyond.

Why use a hydroponic farm? Because it’s a superstar of sustainable agriculture. Hydroponic farms use less land than conventional ones, which helps overused fields regenerate their resources, and lets wild land stay wild. Hydroponic farms also use 10x less water than “regular” farms—a huge plus in drought-prone lands like California. Growing produce locally also means it’s more nutrient dense and better tasting when it’s harvested and given to community members. In short, hydroponics is one key way to grow food so it benefits people and the planet, especially in urban areas where typical farmland or soil is unavailable. (A hydroponic farm is easy to set up, too—like, you could have one on your windowsill if you want.) The Hydro-Wild Lab gives young people a path to explore the connection between nature and technology, and provides a simple gateway to fresh and nutritious produce— something harder to get than it should be, thanks to our nation’s unequal food system.

You can follow the Hydro-Wild Lab’s programming and progress here, and learn ways to get more involved in your own community’s food cycle by signing up for the best newsletter in the world (ours) right here.