invisible labor

info


Swale

2016 - 2018, New York, NY
with Mary Mattingly





Swale was a floating food forest, built atop a deck barge that traveled to public piers throughout New York City. It was an autonomous public open space on the water where visitors could harvest herbs, fruits and vegetables from the perennial gardens for free. Swale served as an outdoor classroom, calling attention to waterways as a commons in New York City, provoking conversation about changing city policy to allow for foodways and orchards to be planted in public space. 

Swale’s mission was to enhance the quality and responsible use of public waterways and land by utilizing renewable energy, sequestering carbon in the soil onboard through agroforestry farming practices and working to change perceptions and policies that could increase access to food as a public resource.

Swale was organized with the help of individuals, community groups and civic organizations to reinforce food, energy, and water as cooperatively stewarded commons. Swale  hosted 347,000 visitors, over 940 guided tours, 92 school field trips, 50 free public programs and 68 Summer Youth Employees.

I participated in the design, installation and management of the barge, and also cultivated partnerships with civic agencies and ran a comprehensive array of public programs for adults and Youth Employees.


Press & LinksA Blade of Grass

CBS News

New York Times: A Forest Floats on the Bronx River, With Free Produce

New York Times Video: A Free Food Forest in the Bronx

The Verge

Swale Lab at Governors Island

Swale / Shoal NYC