PHYTOREMEDIATION: a workshop on making low tech, floating water remediation gardens out of trash

Phytoremediation!
a workshop on making low tech, floating water remediation gardens out of trash

Phytoremediation is the use of plants to pull pollutants from the environment and render them harmless. In polluted bodies of water, gardens of water plants can be attached to buoyant structures, thus creating 'floating restoration devices'.

Scott Kellog, co-founder of Albany's Radix Ecological Sustainability Center and co-author of the book Toolbox for Sustainable City Living: A Do-it-Ourselves Guide, will lead the workshop. He will introduce basic concepts in phytoremediation and some of the techniques for applying these concepts to the remediation of polluted water (living machines, constructed wetlands, etc).

After an introduction, you will be lead in the construction of a mini 'floating trash island'. Made out of construction debris and old soda bottles, the island will be planted with wetland plants, and then given the ultimate challenge; an inaugural float on the infamous Lavender Lake (aka Gowanus Canal).

When: Saturday, September 11, 1 - 3pm

Where: Gowanus, Brooklyn (exact location to be disclosed with RSVP)

How to register: Pre-registration is required and space is limited!
RSVP to expeditiongowanus@gmail.com.

Cost: Sliding scale donations accepted at the door, suggested $7.

Expedition Gowanus is a series of workshops focused on DIY sustainability techniques that will culminate in the final design and installation stages for an off grid, regenerative, floating structure scheduled to set sail on the Gowanus Canal this fall.

For more project information, or to be added to the email list of future Expedition Gowanus events, emailexpeditiongowanus@gmail.com .