Nov 22, 2008 7:54 am US/Eastern
Greenhouse Barge Floats From NYC To Yonkers
Science Ship Grows Vegetables
YONKERS (CBS) ―
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Scientists hope hydroponic plants will be growing on rooftops all over New York City in years to come.
CBS
A barge that uses renewable energy to demonstrate sustainable food production has moved from New York City to the suburbs.
The New York Sun Works Science Barge will now float about 13 miles north on the Hudson River in Yonkers.
A Westchester County-based nonprofit bought the barge from its original owners for $2, but will have to spend $200,000 to $300,000 annually to maintain it.
Tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce are grown in the barge's greenhouses in a sustainable process that produces zero net carbon emissions.
Creators of the barge also
came up with the idea because city-dwellers make up 80 percent of the
earth's population and the average vegetable eaten has traveled several
thousand miles just to get on the plate.
By using
recirculated plant vitamin water to grow the produce, and by powering
the system with wind, solar and bio fuels, scientists believe this
isn't science fiction, but instead a truly workable way to grow urban
crops with almost zero damage to the environment.
"We would like
to see installations of this kind on rooftops in cities around the
world," said Ted Caplow, Director of the N.Y. Sun Works Science Barge.
Scientists estimate that there is already enough existing roof top
space to grow large amounts of fresh vegetables.
About 3,000 New York City schoolchildren visited it in 2007 as part of an environmental education program.
The barge's new owners plan to maintain its focus on education when it reopens it in May 2009.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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