Jovial Family Farm Facilitates Intergenerational Learning Opportunities Through Urban Farming

Maera Williams is a sophomore in Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue University. She joined the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) Urban Farming team as a freshman and now serves as project manager of ten undergraduate students collaborating with Jovial Family Farm to design and develop three indoor hydroponics systems for a laboratory space on their property in Broad Ripple, IN. Jovial Family Farm is a nonprofit organization founded by Drs. Bobbie and Brian Jellison with the mission to provide senior citizens, their families, and their communities with meaningful engagement opportunities on an intergenerational scale through urban agricultural activities. Through the process of working alongside Jovial Family Farm, EPICS Urban Farming has been able to expand its partnerships to include Purdue Polytechnic High School, Westminster Village, Indiana University, Broad Ripple Elementary Schools, and Purdue Extension. The project will facilitate multigenerational educational opportunities and community engagement in indoor hydroponics systems. These systems will provide fresh produce on a year-round basis for community members, which will support the initiative to combat food insecurity in the Indianapolis area. By increasing accessibility to fresh produce and distributing healthy recipes, Jovial Family Farm works to promote a healthy lifestyle amongst the community. The laboratory space will allow for research and testing of optimal conditions for growing greens and other specialty crops hydroponically. Through these initiatives, Jovial Family Farm is supporting service-learning through Purdue University’s EPICS program and fostering opportunities for a wide network of groups regardless of age, mobility, or experience level. Their continued support and involvement in this project have created an environment focused on experimentation, experiential learning, and hands-on engagement that reveals the invaluable experience of service-learning.