The Science Barge and Groundwork Hudson Valley
Environmental Progress and Sustainability at the Gateway to the Hudson Valley
By Amy Simpson Swiss
Photographed by Amy Simpson Swiss
A cool breeze flows along the choppy waters of the Hudson River today, sending the wind turbines spinning into a frenzy. Five of them stand along the top of this freshly painted, brightly colored barge, while below them a greenhouse glistens in the sun—bustling with activity and bursting with plant life. Nearby, 24 solar panels track the sun’s rays.
Welcome to the Science Barge—a prototype sustainable urban farm, docked next to the pier in downtown Yonkers.
A farm, floating on a river, in one of the Hudson Valley’s densest cities? Not what you might expect. That unexpectedness is one of the many things that makes the Science Barge such an engaging place and such a powerful force for education and change.
