Science Barge Had An Awesome Season
A note from Bob Walters, Science Barge Director
The Science Barge seems quiet and cold (brrr) after the hustle and bustle of our first year on the Yonkers waterfront. The Barge was a huge success and had visitors from all over the world including media from Japan, Canada, Antigua, Germany and the Netherlands. It was a great day when Dan Rather formerly of 60 minutes showed up with his news crew to do a show on sustainable agriculture.
My hat goes off to the creator of the Barge, Dr. Ted Kaplow, and his team: Zak Adams, Jen Nelkin, and Ben Lindsley. The floating urban farm they built attracted huge interest in recycling hydroponics powered by sustainable energy.
Our working crew on the barge for Groundwork Hudson Valley: Devon Spencer, Ann Megaro, Emily Eder, Curt Collier, Francisco Laso and others made the Barge an exciting learning center. We were open seven days a week starting in April and extended our season into November because of demand. Over 3000 students attended programs on the barge and colleges such as Penn State, NYU, Pace Bronx Community and others came.
The volunteer crew in many ways was the heart and soul of the Barge. They jumped in and made things happen that would not have been possible without them. I am always reluctant to mention individual names because it was a team effort that made it work, Ely Niven was our go-to guy when the impossible needed to be done. It was he that designed and built our rolling railing at the Barge entrance. Jonathan and his family, Jon Jr., Binta, Micah and Josh were an incredible team. Josh was great and didn’t let the fact he is only five years old get in the way of his good work. Various individuals, you know who you are, lead tours, composted, harvested worms, planted crops, picked aphids, fed fish and completed a myriad of other tasks. The volunteers made the Barge a happy place.
Our weekends were filled with public programs and visitors. Thousands of folks, from moms with strollers to senior citizens, came on board. The visitors “oohed and aahed” as we taught about recirculating hydroponics that grew 25 foot long tomatoes vines, melons that grew swinging in the air, catfish that provided nutrients for growing vegetables and hydroponics that grew seven time more vegetables than traditional agriculture. It was also the little things: Venus Fly traps, red wiggler worms, and sensitivity plants that folded their leaves at a touch of a hand, that amazed the kids.
We had over twenty public education programs that allowed visitors to do things like help adjust the inclination of the solar collectors, build a hand-made kite out of recycled materials, paint a peat pot, plant and take home an heirloom tomato and more. Two major events were the floating sculpture exhibit, inspired by Curt Collier, and Riverfest. Riverfest, Yonkers’ premier Waterfront Festival, alone bought a thousand people in one day to the Science Barge
One program that was wonderful success was the Honda grant intern program. Five students from various Yonkers Public High Schools worked on the Barge giving tours, working in the greenhouse, and otherwise making themselves indispensable. Bryan, Christian, Michael, Pasquale and David were great.
Thanks must go out to our supporters who made this all possible. The New York Power Authority, the City of Yonkers, Honda America, Whole Foods, Hitachi, Community Energy, Con Edison and others were our supporters.
Special thanks also go to Groundwork Hudson Valley’s Board of Directors led by President Rob Baron. They contributed their time and energy to make it all work.
Ann Megaro, our wonderful grower says that the growing season starts on Valentines Day. We will keep the Barge open on Sundays for maintenance and the building and upgrade of exhibits. We invite all to come down and help with their ideas, energy, and hands.
Thanks to All,
Bob Walters, Science Barge Director for Groundwork Hudson Valley
Thank you Bob! I am thrilled to review your year of success, and I am grateful to you and everyone on your crew for embracing the Science Barge and providing such a great home. We wish you continued and greater success.
yea! (my 3rd blog commentary of the morning – I am hot ). Decent write up, MAN! (hee – couldn’t stand it). In complete sincerity, it is a tremendous theme.