Science Barge

The Science Barge is a floating urban farm and environmental education center that has been docked in Yonkers, New York, USA since late 2008.

From 2006–2008, the Science Barge docked for periods of two months at each of six stops along the Manhattan waterfront with the goal of educating the public on urban sustainable agriculture.

The site has helped attract visitors to the downtown Yonkers area especially due to its accessibility by mass transit.

Rainwater is harvested from the greenhouse roof and stored in tanks with a 1200-gallon aggregate capacity before being used to irrigate hydroponic crops in a broad and constantly evolving variety of different growing systems and media.

The barge has also hosted a number of aquaponic and marine science experiments, including cultivation of tilapia, catfish, crayfish, clams, and oysters, among others.

The barge also deployed a semi-custom reverse osmosis system to desalinate water from the Hudson River for backup use.

[10] A double-page photo of the Science Barge appeared in National Geographic in March 2009 as part of an issue dedicated to energy efficiency.