In partnership with Growing Spaces, this project broke ground on Monday, August 7 and was finished less than a week later, three hours prior to their ribbon cutting on Friday, August 11.

Daniel Davis, a volunteer builder from the South Bend Community Re-entry Center, helped build the 42-feet in diameter dome with insulated walls and solar panels attached to the roof. 

Davis was excited to help the community. 

"It's so much more than just building a dome," he said. "It's building networks and friendships and building trust in the community that we can come back out and we can achieve things and we can do stuff other than what landed us in the reentry center.

Unity Gardens is open year-round and during the school year to teach students about "off the grid renewable energy," said Unity Gardens' Founder and Executive Director Sara Stewart. 

She lists different topics for kids to learn about ranging from geo-thermal principles, solar, passive solar, reflection and aquaponics.

However, Learning Labs Geo Dome doesn't just stop at educating children.

"What about our area scientists, botanists and whatnot?" asked Stewart. "They also can come in here and create magic."

Unity Gardens offers free classes in the fall on Thursdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. with topics such as: gardening, fruit tree basics or preserving your harvest. 

Visit their website to learn more.