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The floating urban farm and education center on the Hudson River, near the Yonkers Pier, reopened for its fifth season Saturday amid plenty of fanfare as dozens of city residents and elected officials looked on.
“Here we can really learn and educate ourselves and our families about what it really means to be green, to sustain our own living,” City Councilman Christopher Johnson said. “That’s what this barge gives us the opportunity to do.”
Acquired by Groundwork Hudson Valley and docked in Yonkers in 2008, the 135-foot greenhouse is powered by electricity from solar panels, wind turbines and biofuel, making it completely independent of the outside world. With the help of nearly two dozen volunteers, barge director Bob Walters and his team run the self-sustainable vessel seven days a week, from April to November.
As he scanned the surrounding area Saturday, Mayor Mike Spano said it wasn’t too long ago the area was a former industrial zone, abandoned and in need of remediation. Now, he said, it has become a hub for activity and education in the city.
“This beautiful science barge does so many great things for us - most importantly providing our children with an education in sustainability which we all envision as our future,” he said.
Behind the mayor, volunteers from various Yonkers high schools led visitors on tours aboard the barge, explaining the ins and outs of the urban farm.
For four hours, they demonstrated how the barge uses innovative growing practices, including a man-made dirt substitute and irrigation with rain water collected in huge drums, to raise lettuce, tomatoes, melons, eggplant and dozens of other types of fresh produce.
Inside the greenhouse, children climbed on top of a mounted bike, pedaling hard as they tried to use their energy to illuminate a series of light bulbs. On the opposite end of the boat, families learned how to hunt for glass eels while others potted a plant to take home.
“I think it’s really interesting,” 11-year-old Emmanual Akpo said as he dismounted the energy bike and tried to catch his breath. “The bike is definitely my favorite part.”
City resident Lisa Brown took her first tour of the barge on Saturday along with her husband and 11-year-old son. After hearing great things about the barge for years, Brown said they felt it was time to see the vessel for themselves.
And for her, it lived up to its billing.
“I think it’s great,” she said. “I think it’s great that it gives the kids the opportunity to learn.”
Now that spring has arrived, the Science Barge will be open throughout the week for educational programs, field trips and group visits. It will also be open for walk-on visits from the general public on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 – 6 p.m.
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