Participate in a fascinating public discussion with expert opinions on the idea of growing food in public spaces. What if healthy, fresh food could be a public good? Board Swale, a collaborative floating food forest dedicated to food sustainability, for a panel discussion on the topic hosted by the Urban Field Station with perspectives from the NYC Department of Parks, Partnership for Parks, National Forestry Service, Green Thumb, and Brook Park Community Garden. Community gardening has deep roots in many New York City neighborhoods, while new forms of urban farming – including entrepreneurial models, rooftop farms, controlled environment agriculture – are also emerging and proliferating. Activists define food justice as access to healthy, fresh, affordable, and culturally appropriate food. Some argue that food justice is a right. Swale is devoted to rethinking New York City’s connection to our needs for sustenance. Built on a 130-foot by 40-foot floating platform, Swale contains an edible forest garden. Functioning as both a sculpture and a tool, Swale provides free healthy food at the intersection of public art and service. With Swale, the creators want to reinforce water as a commons, and work towards fresh food as a commons too.
New York City, NY; NYC