Groundwork Hudson Valley’s Science Barge: A Floating Educational Farm in Yonkers
People garden for many reasons: to commune with nature, to grow flowers, to help pollinators, to slow climate change, and, of course, to grow food. For some, there is no greater achievement than to cultivate one tomato that puts all store-bought tomatoes to shame.
That’s where ‘s Science Barge comes in.
Understanding that depressed urban areas can be food deserts and that the climate crisis is forcing us to rethink how food is grown the GWHV s Science Barge uses sustainable methods...
...e g hydroponics rainwater collection purified river water and solar and wind power and is both an urban farm and an educational center for schoolchildren in the New York metro area
Photography courtesy of Groundwork Hudson Valley.
Tomatoes grown using the Dutch Bucket System, a method in which the containers are connected to the same drainage and irrigation lines, allowing for recirculation of water and nutrients.
It has a greenhouse where fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce, are grown, as well as culturally significant herbs for the local community.
Vegetables grown using the aquaponic method, which relies on the symbiotic relationship between fish and plants.
Choosing which crops to grow is based on previous years’ performance—and community input.
Currently, the GWHV’s Science Barge’s harvests go to the local YWCA women’s shelter.
Crops grown using the NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) hydroponic system.