Colorado Springs Indoor Farm Needs 10 Volunteers

A unique indoor farm in southeast Colorado Springs is feeding hundreds of students each week, and it needs your help to keep going.

The Aquapod, run by Solid Rock Community Development Center, has been growing fresh greens since October using an aquaponics system. About 400 tilapia swim in large tanks, and their waste becomes nutrients that feed butterhead lettuce and other greens growing above them. The water cycles between the fish and plants in a closed loop, creating a farm that works year-round without soil or weeds.

Daniel Zimmerman manages the operation and watches 700 heads of lettuce move through the system each week. As volunteers harvest one batch, new seedlings take their place. "The sooner people can get it on their plates, the more nutritional value it has," he said.

All the produce gets donated to local food centers and Harrison School District 2 schools. Solid Rock Food Center, Food to Power, and Sunnyside Market at the Family Success Center receive regular deliveries of fresh greens grown just miles away.

Here's the challenge: the farm currently has four volunteers but needs at least 10 to keep up with demand. Volunteers ages 10 and older can help seed, transplant, and harvest lettuce during Saturday morning shifts, either 8 to 10 a.m. or 10 a.m. to noon. No farming experience required, just closed-toe shoes.

Deborah Anderson has volunteered for about a year and finds meaning in the hands-on work. "It's so important to help your neighbors and to help your community because we are all one situation away from needing resources and relying on others," she said.

The Ripple Effect

The Aquapod shows how a small indoor space can create big community impact. Every volunteer hour translates directly into fresh food for families who might otherwise go without nutritious greens. The system keeps producing regardless of weather or season, making it a reliable food source when traditional farms face challenges.

Anderson especially values knowing the lettuce goes to neighbors for free. "People don't know that this is going out to the community for free," she said.

The work itself is accessible by design—no weeding, no heavy lifting, just learning about plants and helping them grow.

A few hours on Saturday morning could mean fresh salads on hundreds of dinner tables this week.