In Waukesha, Wisconsin, the West Suburban YMCA is addressing climate and access barriers with a new indoor hydroponic garden powered by Fork Farms' Flex Farm technology. The initiative, supported through a grant from YUSA, brings vertical farming directly into the community.
"We live in Wisconsin, so planting outside isn't always feasible," says Chelsea Kujawa, Director of Healthy Living at the YMCA of Greater Waukesha County. "Having the hydroponic garden and being able to grow fresh produce year-round has been really fun to share with the community."
Linking food access to education and wellness
The hydroponic units do more than produce crops, they serve as a platform for education and empowerment. "This initiative started because we saw an opportunity to make a real impact on how members think about food and wellness," says Katy Groh, Executive Director of the West Suburban YMCA. "It directly ties into our strategic plan by promoting sustainability, access to nutritious food, and overall well-being for all. At the Y, well-being starts with access. Access to fresh food, to knowledge, and to the opportunity to build a healthier community."
Fresh herbs and leafy greens, like lettuce, parsley, and chives, are regularly harvested and used in the YMCA's teaching kitchen. "The food that we're picking from this hydroponic garden, that's as nutrient-rich as it gets," Kujawa adds. "As soon as you pick that, we're consuming it and eating it."
Early engagement, lifelong habits
Fork Farms, the Wisconsin-based developer behind the Flex Farm units, emphasizes the long-term behavioral benefits of letting young people grow their own food. "The main way that access to this technology in the West Suburban YMCA can impact families and the kids that attend is primarily through positive perception of fresh food," says Josh Mahlik of Fork Farms.
"If we can get young people to grow their own fresh food, they're more likely to eat it and they're more likely to try new things in the world of fresh food."
Empathy through cultivation
Mahlik also notes that growing food nurtures emotional and social growth. "Kids and families learn a lot about empathy when they grow fresh food," he explains. "And I think this is the perfect environment for them to be able to do that."
"Everyone deserves the chance to grow, to move, to thrive," adds Ryan Buck, Executive Director at Southwest YMCA. "Whether it's through fitness, nutrition, or community support, we're here to make that possible for all."
Hydroponics as a model for community health
The West Suburban YMCA is one of several branches embracing hydroponics as a tool for wellbeing, joining a growing network of Ys where Fork Farms systems are taking root. Whether used to educate, nourish, or empower, these gardens reflect the shared vision that growing food locally can help cultivate healthier, more connected communities.
Learn more here and here.
For more information:
YMCA of Greater Waukesha County
Chelsea Kujawa, Association Director of Healthy Living
[email protected]
www.gwcymca.org
Fork Farms 
[email protected]
www.forkfarms.com