How Harvest Labs Will Work

A high-level look at the model, the approach, and the communities it’s designed to support.

Harvest Labs is designed as a shared processing and education hub, built to support local food systems through collaboration, access, and practical skill-building.

Rather than operating as a traditional commercial facility, Harvest Labs is intentionally structured to grow in phases. This allows programs, partnerships, and access models to develop responsibly and in alignment with real community needs.

This page provides an overview of how the Harvest Labs model is designed to function, and how different communities interact with it.

The Core Model

At its foundation, Harvest Labs is built around shared infrastructure and shared knowledge.

The model centers on:

Access to preservation and processing equipment
Hands-on workshops and demonstrations
Pilot-scale programs for small producers
Community and partner led programming

By sharing tools, space, and expertise, Harvest Labs lowers barriers that often prevent individuals and small producers from building capacity while avoiding extractive or profit-driven structures.

For Community Members

Harvest Labs is designed to make food skills and preservation knowledge more accessible to everyday people.

Programming for community members may include:

Hands-on workshops and demonstrations
Skill-building around preservation, fermentation, and processing
Educational programming focused on food systems literacy
Opportunities to learn without needing land, equipment, or prior experience

Participation is designed to be approachable and flexible, with an emphasis on practical skills that can be applied at home or within local communities.

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Read the full Community Overview here (PDF)

For Producers, Growers & Makers

Harvest Labs is built to support small-scale producers and growers by reducing barriers to processing, preservation, and product development without extracting value from their labor.

The model prioritizes:

Shared access to equipment and infrastructure
Cost-recovery pricing rather than profit extraction
Pilot-scale support for testing ideas or extending shelf life
Collaborative development based on real producer needs

Access models and offerings will be developed in phases, informed directly by producers and constrained by feasibility, capacity, and sustainability.

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Download the full Producer + Grower + Maker Overview here (PDF)

For Organizations, Clubs, and Community-Based Groups

Harvest Labs is designed to function as a collaborative platform, not a standalone provider. That means we need your involvement.

Partnerships may include:

Co-hosted workshops or demonstrations
Shared programming or pilot initiatives
Educational collaborations
Resource or space sharing aligned with mutual goals

Collaborators may include nonprofits, student and academic programs, extension initiatives, advocacy organizations, and local clubs, collectives, or interest-based groups.

The emphasis is on thoughtful alignment and shared capacity, rather than scale for its own sake.

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View the full Partnership Overview here (PDF)

A Phased, Intentional Approach

Harvest Labs is intentionally designed to grow in stages.

This phased approach allows:

Programs to be tested and refined
Partnerships to develop organically
Capacity to scale responsibly
Community needs to guide expansion

As Harvest Labs evolves, these frameworks will continue to be refined collaboratively with the communities they serve.

Get Involved

Stay Informed

Occasional updates on Harvest Labs planning, partnerships, and what's coming next.

Harvest Labs

A community-centered food processing, preservation, and education hub currently in development.

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