Bridge over Troubled Waters: Connecting with Our Local Waterways
Willis Elkins, Newtown Creek Alliance; Matt Malina, NYC H2O; Andrea Parker, Gowanus Canal Conservancy
For many of us it’s hard to remember that we live in what Walt Whitman called “the city of hurried and sparkling waters”—an archipelago, or chain of islands, located in one of the world’s largest natural harbors. Discover how these educators and environmentalists are turning urban stories of pollution into ones of regeneration and how you can join the folks making waves to protect our local water.
Examining the Plant-Water Connection
Emily Carter and Ashley Gagnay, BBG
Plants use water in complex ways. Take a closer look at this vital relationship and its connections to people. You’ll even make a small terrarium to take home!
Aquaponics 101
Yemi Amu, Oko Farms
Want a salad with that responsibly raised tilapia? Aquaponics is a revolutionary, sustainable system for farming fish while recycling fish waste into plant food. Learn the basics from an accomplished urban aquaculturist currently growing fish, vegetables, and herbs in Bushwick.
Celebrating Our Farming Traditions
Darryl Montgomery, Hancock Community Backyard Garden Park; Ijendu Obasi, GreenThumb
Whether planting a small bed or an urban farm, we bring history and vast experience to bear in every garden plot. By combining traditional knowledge with new online tools, let’s take the guesswork out of planning a bountiful vegetable garden this season.
Conserving Water with Compost
Claudia Navas and Cuyler Remick, NYC Compost Project Hosted by BBG
The virtues of using compost are endless, but some are better known than others. Find out how compost helps us conserve and steward soil and water—vital tasks for urban gardeners!
Facing Our Lead Legacy
Franziska Landes, Columbia University
Our inheritance of urban soil contamination can seem daunting, yet knowledge is power. Learn how researchers hope to engage gardeners as citizen scientists to test local soils and address this issue head-on.
Farm the Rain
Lenny Librizzi, GrowNYC
As much of the world struggles with drought, more New Yorkers are asking, Why do we let the rain slip through our fingers? Enjoy an introduction to rainwater harvesting and learn to make the most of this precious, free resource right where it falls.
Grow a Native Rainbow Garden
Bella Ciabattoni, 2016 BBG Intern
Native plants sometimes get an unfair rap as being unsuitable for ornamental gardens. This colorful, pollinator-friendly, season-by-season garden plan will show you how to break that stereotype in a border or container garden.
Hydroponics DIY
Fabiana Cellini, NYC DOE—Environmental Study Center
Hydroponics is the process of growing plants in nutrient-rich water instead of soil. This workshop demystifies the process of starting your own simple indoor garden and shares ideas for using hydroponics in the classroom.
Tour the New Water Garden
Katherine Patton, BBG Garden Guide
BBG’s groundbreaking Water Garden and ongoing Water Conservation Project, the first of its kind in North America, are really making a splash. Learn how they promise to serve as a beautiful model for reducing dependence on freshwater and lessening combined sewer overflow. Weather permitting.
