Learning to relate to plants, planet and people

Ronaldo Paz-Guzman is a rising high school junior who lives in Riverdale. On weekends, he volunteers as a tour guide at the Science Barge, a sustainable urban farm docked on the Yonkers portion of the Hudson River.

With an easy-going manner, he tells visitors about the produce grown on the barge, including cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and eggplant. Massive tanks collect rainwater for the plants.

“I want people to learn about sustainability and how to better the environment,” Ronaldo said. “We can show you the things you can grow hydroponically on rooftops.”

In addition to educating the public about growing food sustainably, the Science Barge brings together young people, opens career opportunities and builds friendships. The program, run by the non-profit Groundwork Hudson Valley, teaches interpersonal skills, something Bob Walters, the director of the barge, said is a lost art thanks to today’s technology.

“I think this is one of the most important things these young people learn on the barge,” he said.

Issam Ishak first visited the vessel when he was 10. Today, he is a rising junior at Manhattan College majoring in mechanical engineering and works on the barge as a tour guide. He described himself as somewhat shy and said working at the vessel made him “more people friendly.”

Easy access

Mr. Ishak said the informal atmosphere at the barge, where people can visit without appointments anytime it is open, made him more comfortable interacting with new acquaintances. His favorite part of the tour is discussing the energy system.

“One of the new things we are trying to do now is get a water turbine to generate electricity off the Hudson,” Mr. Ishak said. “It’s just nice to be a part of that.”

Leslee Ramos, a rising junior at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, plans to major in biology and minor in education. She switched her major from biochemistry to biology. She said that her time at the Science Barge confirmed that she made the right decision.

“When I came here and I started teaching and working with the kids and high schoolers… It made me realize that I really like doing this and I like teaching others about what I know and what I’ve learned,” she said. “I feel like the Science Barge really gave me that push and confidence that I needed to reassure myself that teaching was what I wanted.”

When Ms. Ramos completes her degree, she can teach grades 7-12 and also work with special education students.

In addition to people skills, Mr. Walters touted the science in the barge.

“What the barge can teach is that you can grow food locally and you can be self-sustaining,” he said. “There’s no pollution and we’re raising food. We solve climate change because we have no Con Ed bill.”

Instead of soil, the vessel uses grounded coconut husks to grow food. Solar panels, wind turbines and a back-up biodiesel generator power the vessel. They account for 80 percent, 15 percent and 5 percent, respectively, of the energy on the barge.

A growing market

The urban farm, which measures 138 feet by 38 feet, sells the food it grows at the farmer’s market in Van der Donck Park on Fridays.

“I want them to learn that yes you can grow your own food and that it really makes a difference,” said Pam Michels, a board member at Groundwork Hudson Valley. “You can use wind power. You can use solar power, [and] here is a great demonstration of it.”

“It’s a treasure of Yonkers,” said Sasha Kimiatek, a freelance illustrator and animator who lives in Brooklyn. She was drawn to the barge on a visit to Yonkers, where she is considering relocating.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Ms. Kimiatek continued. “It’s a completely unique structure. I’m very impressed with the innovation that they are using to grow these plants. I think a lot of it could be applied to domestic recreational indoor use.”

Frances Rodney, a Yonkers resident, brought her two grandnieces to the barge. She visited the vessel last year and this was her first trip back for the season.

“It’s good for them to have an idea so they can respect more and appreciate more what nature does,” Ms. Rodney remarked.

The Science Barge, located at 99 Dock St. in Yonkers, is open from 12 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. For more info, visit www.groundworkhv.org.