TerraPods is a regenerative community initiative that integrates biomaterial research, agroecology, and digital technological innovation. In a context of economic collapse and state instability, the project creates an interconnected ecosystem where research, production, and distribution support each other through laboratories, zero-waste markets, and circular economy platforms. Priorities include low-tech resilience, digital sovereignty, and community self-sufficiency.
TerraPods is a living laboratory, artist residency, and agroecological farm located in Baskinta, Lebanon. It integrates science, art, and ecology to empower creators in innovation through bio-based practices, while nurturing local communities and restoring ecosystems.
The project promotes collective self-sufficiency and community-driven systemic change through:
Development of multidisciplinary STEAM ( (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) skills and Biodesign
Cultivation of biological materials
Shared access to resources
TerraPods operates as a hub of an interconnected circular ecosystem that includes:
TerraPods Living Lab – Research, experimentation, and education on biomaterials and agroecology
EcoSouk – The region’s first zero-waste market (physical store in Beirut since 2019, digital expansion in 2026)
RegenerateHub.org – Circular economy platform mapping cross-sector material flows
CONTEXT: Crisis as Foundation
TerraPods was conceptualized nearly a decade ago in response to Lebanon's compounding systemic crises. The founder, Joslin Faith Kehdy, did not begin with a single entry point but responded to an interconnected web of urgent needs:
Timeline of Crisis (2015-2025):
2017: Formal registration of Recycle Lebanon NGO (founding organization)
2019: Economic crisis intensifying; founder establishes EcoSouk zero-waste marketplace in Beirut
2019-2020: Lebanese revolution; disruption of formal institutions and government partnerships
2020-2023: Economic collapse, banking sector instability, currency devaluation
2023: Critical turning point, ancestral land access secured after nearly a decade of vision-building
2024: Infrastructure development begins; low-tech, resilient building methods implemented; pilot workshops tested
2024: War outbreak further disrupts economic landscape and operations
2025: Official launch with fully booked workshop season despite ongoing instability
The Founder's Reflection:
"Lebanon and our region is a testing ground where failed statehood is a silver lining of how to survive what we see spreading globally, unfortunately."
The crisis context is defined by direct lived experience marked by several major challenges. First, there is an economic collapse accompanied by instability in the banking sector, creating a climate of financial uncertainty. At the same time, essential infrastructure is breaking down, making daily life increasingly difficult. The situation is further worsened by political instability and the collapse of institutions, leading to a loss of governance and direction. Material scarcity, combined with heavy dependence on imports, limits the availability of resources. This situation also results in growing food insecurity. Finally, trust in institutions is very limited, while electricity instability and connectivity disruptions hinder communication and economic activities.
THE INNOVATION: Interconnected Ecosystem Response
Rather than replicating external models, TerraPods was explicitly built to address Lebanon's specific challenges and the broader patterns of structural instability.
Founder's Explicit Statement:
"When I founded this a decade ago I did not look to replicate external models but instead reflected on Lebanon's challenges and the linkages across nations and tried to build an interconnected set of tools, resources and space."
Three Interconnected Programs Created:
1. TerraPods Living Lab (Land-based, 2023-present)
Location: Ancestral land above Baskinta village (Mount Lebanon Governorate)
Timeline: Land secured 2023, infrastructure 2024, launch 2025
Activities: Research and experimentation in living biomaterials (mycelium, bacterial cellulose, plant fibers, agricultural waste)
Methods: Agroecology, permaculture, forest garden development
Educational approach: "Learning by doing" - hands-on, practice-led experimentation
Seasonal operation: June-October (land-based season)
Living materials being cultivated: Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium for modular furniture (hexagonal and cubic geometries)
2. EcoSouk - Zero-Waste Marketplace (2019-present, expanding 2026)
The first regional zero-waste marketplace features a physical store located in Beirut, which has been operational since 2019. It is expanding digitally with a multi-merchant e-commerce platform set to launch in March 2026. The marketplace’s purpose is to provide distribution, market access, and visibility for local makers. Its revenue model is based on shared platforms that reduce individual overhead costs while supporting collective infrastructure. The products offered include member-created goods made from biomaterials, agroecological produce, and sustainable design.
3. RegenerateHub.org - Circular Economy Data Platform (Active, expanding)
The government partnership is a public-private collaboration involving the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Environment. Its function is to map cross-sector material flows and visualize opportunities within the circular economy. Approximately 3,500 entities were surveyed regarding their material flows, with 1,500 responses received. However, due to post-war economic disruptions and relocations of entities, the data now requires a new survey. The purpose of this initiative is to identify regenerative loops and opportunities for collaboration. The technological infrastructure supporting this effort consists of self-hosted, open-source data visualization systems.
Core Principles:
- Practice-led, ecological, iterative: "Rough in a sense that we do not operate yet from a framework or structure but intuitive and in rhythm with the land"
- Learning by doing: Continuous experimentation with failures openly documented
- Low-tech resilience: Prioritizing affordable, replicable solutions over expensive equipment
- Decentralization: Building tools and systems that can outlive individuals
- Open-source knowledge: Transparent documentation ensuring global knowledge commons benefit
- Collective stewardship: Blurring line between individual growth and community contribution
- Digital sovereignty: Self-hosted, open-source infrastructure escaping corporate extraction
Specific Innovations:
- Physical Resilience:
Earthen structures built from local mud and stone (low-cost, climate-appropriate)
Terraced gardens restored using ancestral knowledge
Forest gardens for long-term ecosystem and food security
Heirloom variety cultivation maintaining food sovereignty
- Digital Infrastructure:
grow.terrapods.org (self-hosted Moodle platform for year-round education)
EcoSouk.net (custom multi-merchant e-commerce avoiding PayPal/Stripe unavailability in Lebanon)
RegenerateHub.org (circular economy platform mapping material flows)
Nextcloud (secure, ethical shared workspace replacing Google/Microsoft)
ERPNext (transparent, auditable financial systems)
All websites redesigned for no-code management enabling lean operations
- Biomaterials Innovation:
Cultivation of living materials: mycelium, bacterial cellulose, plant fibers
Agricultural waste transformation into productive resources
Natural dyeing practices (hibiscus-dyed bacterial cellulose documented)
Weaving and fabrication techniques combining traditional and innovative methods
Designed for replicability beyond site-specific context
Why Score 4, not 5? Bridge funding still needed for 2026; operational sustainability not yet achieved (projected 3.4 years); team expansion not yet funded.
Founder's decade-long vision and commitment Land resources (ancestral property) Digital infrastructure investment Local materials (mud, stone, agricultural waste)
Workshop and residency programs Biomaterials R&D and production EcoSouk marketplace operations (Beirut physical store since 2019) Digital course development (launching June 2026) Mentorship and skill-building programs
2025: Fully booked workshop season; growing local practitioner network 2026: Digital course platform; EcoSouk.net multi-merchant marketplace; residency program Product co-development partnerships generating revenue Open-source documentation enabling external replication
Income pathways for local makers, artisans, farmers, designers Sliding-scale access enabling economic inclusion (where funding allows) Individual maker success + collective infrastructure sustainability reinforce each other 3.4-year timeline to operational sustainability without grants (projected)
Long-term: Sustainable livelihoods for regional practitioners; reduced import dependency; community economic resilience in crisis context Structural shift from survival to regenerative economic practice Model scalable across Global South contexts
Why Score 3, not 4? Health improvements documented but limited to direct participants; broader population health impact not yet measured; still pilot phase.
Ancestral land with degraded terraces Agricultural knowledge and agroecology expertise Community health needs (food insecurity, healthcare access gaps) Founder health commitment (care practices as explicit methodology)
Medicinal plant cultivation in forest gardens Food production through agroecology farm Workshops on slow living and care practices Heirloom variety cultivation for nutritional diversity Community learning on health-promoting practices
Operating agroecology farm producing food Forest gardens growing medicinal plants and produce Documented care practices and slow living methodologies Participant access to nutritious, locally-produced food Workshops on plant-based health practices
Participants gaining practical nutrition knowledge Local food production increasing in region Access to medicinal plants improving for some community members Care practice integration into daily life for residents/participants
Emerging: Improved nutrition and health access in participant communities Potential: Regional food security improvements as model scales Limited scope: Currently affecting workshop participants and residents, not yet broader population Structural shift from survival to regenerative economic practice Model scalable across Global South contexts
Degraded terraced land Local materials (mud, stone) Agricultural waste streams Seed varieties and plant knowledge Climate-vulnerable region
Terrace restoration (2023-2025) Forest garden development Heirloom variety cultivation Agroecological practice (no chemical inputs) Low-impact earthen construction Biomaterial innovation reducing extraction
Restored terraces with improved soil structure Forest gardens with diverse plantings Native species and heirloom varieties established Low-tech agricultural infrastructure Educational documentation of methods
Soil regeneration evident on restored land Biodiversity increasing in forest gardens Agricultural productivity improving on degraded land Community capacity for agroecological practice growing Model for replication documented
Significant: Degraded land restored; soil health regenerated; long-term ecosystem services restored Sustained: Agroecological practices maintaining without chemical dependency Scalable: Methods documented for replication in similar contexts
Forest garden development Soil restoration Reduced material extraction Carbon storage in biomass
Mature forest gardens with carbon storage Regenerated soil carbon Reduced import-related transportation emissions
Estimated carbon sequestration in restored land and forest gardens Reduced material extraction emissions through biomaterial alternatives
Moderate scale: Estimated 10-50 tonnes CO₂ sequestered through land restoration and forest gardens Not yet quantified: Specific CO₂ removal measurements not documented in case study Potential: Mobile lab and scaling could significantly increase removal capacity
Zero-waste shop operations (EcoSouk, since 2019) Recycle Lebanon NGO expertise (founded 2017) Circular economy data platform infrastructure Agricultural and biomaterial waste streams Regional material flow knowledge
EcoSouk zero-waste marketplace (physical + digital) Agricultural waste transformation (plant fibers, compost) Biomaterial cultivation from agricultural by-products RegenerateHub material flow mapping Zero-waste audit and certification Sustainable production practices education
Fully operational zero-waste marketplace serving Beirut region Agricultural waste streams converted to productive use Documented sustainable production practices Material flow mapping of ~3,500 regional entities Community makers trained in zero-waste practices
Regional practitioners adopting zero-waste methods Circular supply chains developing in marketplace Material dependency reduced through biomaterial alternatives Waste sector awareness and capacity increasing
Systematic: Integrated circular economy model functioning at regional scale High coverage: EcoSouk marketplace achieving 80%+ waste diversion Scalable: RegenerateHub data informing policy; model adaptable to other regions
Why Score 4, not 5? Innovations are substantial and spreading but not yet scaled to regional/national level; adoption still emerging beyond core network.
Technical expertise in digital infrastructure Server investment and self-hosting capacity Open-source software knowledge Coding and platform development skills Digital commons principles
Development of self-hosted Moodle platform (grow.terrapods.org) EcoSouk.net multi-merchant e-commerce design RegenerateHub.org circular economy data visualization Nextcloud secure workspace implementation ERPNext open-source financial management system Website redesign with no-code management capability Integration of ethical data management practices
Self-hosted education platform (launching June 2026) Multi-merchant e-commerce platform (launching March 2026) Circular economy data visualization system (active) Transparent financial management system operational Documented open-source methodology Accessible digital infrastructure for resource-limited contexts
Multiple external actors evaluating adoption (e.g., other commons projects) Government engagement with RegenerateHub data systems Year-round digital accessibility replacing seasonal limitation Community makers accessing e-commerce without extraction platforms Replicability demonstrated through documentation
Substantial: Multiple innovations (education, commerce, data, finance) implemented Adoption growing: Government partnerships, practitioner networks engaging with systems Scalable: Open-source methodology enabling replication; formalizing in public/commons use
Why Score 4, not 5? Strong commitment and practice but not yet systemic change in broader distribution of resources/access; governance structures being formalized.
Input Community commitment to equitable resource access Commons governance principles Diverse practitioner network Commitment to accessibility
Attività (Activities) Sliding-scale fees for workshops and residencies Peer-to-peer skill exchange Open-source knowledge documentation Community-rooted decision-making processes Multi-stakeholder partnerships Support for marginalized makers and artisans
Accessible workshop and residency opportunities Documented knowledge commons Participatory decision-making structures Economic opportunities for local makers Peer learning networks operational
Diverse participation across gender, age, geography, economic status Reduced barriers to access (financial, informational, social) Increased agency for participants in determining priorities Equitable revenue distribution through shared platforms Vulnerability-informed practice integration
Broad: Multiple groups (local/regional/international; men/women; youth/elders; wealthy/poor) accessing opportunities Sustained: Structural commitment to equity through pooling and commons governance Not yet structural change: Still limited in scale relative to regional needs; governance formalization in-progress
Founder unpaid for ~10 years (unsustainable, being addressed) Workshop facilitators and residents on sliding scales Team expansion needed with fair compensation planned No formal collective bargaining structure yet
Commons governance principles Government partnership history LabGov framework partnership Founder leadership commitment
Formal government partnerships documented (Ministry agreements) Open meeting structures established Decision-making documentation system Ethics and transparency protocols being formalized
Future partnerships planned Local community involvement in workshops and decision-making Multi-sector partnerships (academia, NGO, government, private) Founder explicitly open to co-governance models
Ancestral land rooted in Baskinta Local community relationships Regional practitioner networks Cultural and social knowledge
Regular community workshops (June-October season) Engagement with local government (Mayor invitation spring 2026) Regional practitioner network building Cultural integration (art + science + ecology) Physical marketplace in Beirut serving urban communities
Fully booked workshop seasons (proof of demand/acceptance) Growing regional practitioner participation EcoSouk marketplace serving Beirut communities Community recognition and visibility Local government engagement initiated
STEAM methodology commitment Multidisciplinary expertise (science, art, ecology, design) Open-source knowledge principles Cultural arts integration Expert practitioner networks
Hands-on workshops (biomaterials, agroecology, earthen architecture, design) STEAM skill-building programs Artist residencies integrating creative practice Digital course development (launching June 2026) Open documentation and knowledge sharing Peer-to-peer skill exchange Cultural practices (natural dyeing, weaving, slow living)
Multiple workshop programs operational (2025 fully booked) Digital education platform with foundational biomaterials course Documented protocols for skill transfer Artist residency model established Community practitioners trained in diverse disciplines
Participants developing practical, transferable STEAM skills Ecological literacy growing among participants Cultural integration of creative + scientific + ecological practice Peer learning networks strengthening Digital access enabling year-round learning
Multidisciplinary: STEAM integration demonstrated consistently Inclusive: Diverse participants (age, background, geographic origin) Continuous: Year-round through digital; seasonal through land-based Institutionalized: Becoming formalized in Moodle platform and partner structures
Long-term vision (10+ years already invested) Intergenerational knowledge integration (ancestral + contemporary) Youth network engagement Future-focused framework
Youth workshop participation Intergenerational mentorship (elders + young makers) Digital platform designed for ongoing access (beyond project cycle) Residency programs open to emerging practitioners (young professionals) Documentation and knowledge commons for future generations Leadership development pathways
Active youth participation in workshops and residencies Mentorship relationships established Digital infrastructure outliving founders/initial team Documentation accessible for future practitioners Leadership roles being developed for younger practitioners
Young people gaining skills and economic pathways Ecological literacy growing in younger generation Sense of future-orientation and long-term thinking Youth voice increasingly represented in decision-making
Present but developing: Youth involvement is active, not yet in leadership/governance majority Future-focused: 20-year vision explicitly intergenerational Would require stronger formalized youth leadership and governance roles
One capacity-building grant secured (2025, from 30+ applications) Multiple planned revenue streams Historical support through partnerships Founder's decade of unpaid labor (unsustainable) Land access (no purchase required)
Workshop and residency program development Digital course content creation EcoSouk marketplace operation and expansion RegenerateHub data platform management Revenue model piloting (2026) Financial management system setup (ERPNext)
EcoSouk operational (Beirut marketplace, digital expansion launching March 2026) Workshop programs fully booked (2025) Digital courses ready for launch (June 2026) Financial transparency systems operational Multi-revenue model infrastructure designed
Revenue diversification beginning (workshops, residencies, digital, merchandise, data) Financial management improving through transparent systems Operational costs increasingly covered by project activities Team expansion funding being secured
Projected: 3.4-year timeline to operational sustainability (realistic assessment) Currently: Operating on limited funding; bridge funding needed for 2026 season Not yet 4: Financing still uncertain; revenue models not yet proven at scale