floating-Island by Mr S. Kellogg

Expedition Gowanus is proud to present Phytoremediation!
A workshop on making low tech, floating water remediation gardens out of trash.
— Beauteous and helpful.

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 (www.radixcenter.org) 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! RSVP to
expeditiongowanus@gmail.com. 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, email expeditiongowanus@gmail.com.