GOOD: The Science Barge

www.good.is/ecosystem

Our planet is a fragile ecosystem. To maintain balance, well have to find ways to bring sustainable agriculture to our growing cities. The Science Barge, a floating farm in New York City, is proof that we can. The barge grows produce hydroponically, using only sustainable energy, and teaches local students how to do the same on their rooftops.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• GOOD
• Magazine
• Science
• Barge
• Floating
• Farm
• Sustainable
• Agriculture
• New
• York
• City
• Energy
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[Cinniminto]

i live in new york city and our family grows our own produce =]

[roidroid]

Just when you thought farming was supercharged by Hydroponics...

There's a thing called Aeroponics that's uses even less water/land than Hydroponics!

I don't even know how it gets better from here - will we grow food on fluffy kittens?

Chia-pet.

Oh Science what have you done now.

[KanadianKain]

I love this, anyone got a spare barge in British Columbia. I could do this near Roberts Creek. Its more a bold stand then just running off and colonizing the clear cut forests... however that would be nice too :)

So.. anyone got a barge available in Western Canada? (also able to relocate! as I have been travelling for 2 years teaching permaculture/sustainability in Australia, Mexico, US)

[AngelwingSasuke]

@tessniko I volunteer at the Science Barge. The Hudson River isn't ideal water because it is extremely muddy and some would say nasty(PCBs). Most of the water used is rain water, the river is only used as a back up plan. We have never attempted rice, wheat, or corn but we were able to grow cotton which proves that maybe one day we'll experiment.

[Coventelite]

WTF? Hydroponics suck. Look at the tomatoes, most of them from the supermarket are big and hard, but if you go to a farm, say a small village in Romania, the tomatoes will be very diffrenet in size, shape and taste. Most of the natrual crap in North America is someway genetically altered

[tessniko]

Just wondering, do they plan to grow staple grain foods such as rice, wheat, or corn, this way? What about major cities with no large bodies of water close by (or the bodies of water that are close by are compromised for use by heavy metals and other contaminants?) When will the alternative fuels become mainstream? When will food produced this way become inexpensive enough to be feasible?

[KileSimons]

Don't be stupid, tomatoes don't "grow", they come from the supermarket.

[Davyxgrind]

I had an Internship here for about two months. It was awesome.

[kingssman2]

From a business prospective, places like fresh produce and what's more fresh than grown locally? the barges don't take up land, has an easy source of water, hydroponics is NASA way of growing things and better for more vegitation in less space. If anything, these small urban gardens are prototypes for space colonies.

[ftart]

this isnt the way its suppose to be. So unatural. the products of the plants has an alternative effect. possibly.

[TheGammaBunta]

It is good. No, its GREAT!

[HamTech87]

A lot of it came from donated stuff. The $200k goes mostly for staffing of the educational programs and open hours on weekends. Also goes to supporting class trips from low-income schools.