Swale, a Floating Food Forest Will Be at Brooklyn Army Terminal + Get a Free Tour with the Founder!

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We’ve been tracking the movements of Swale, a forage-ready floating food forest around the New York City waterfront, for the last few years from the Bronx to Brooklyn Bridge Park and Governors Island. This year, Swale will dock from May to June at the Brooklyn Army Terminal and open on the weekends. We’ll be hosting two free tours of Swale with founder and artist Mary Mattingly, one on May 20th and one on June 8th, for members of Untapped Cities Insiders. Registration for the free tour will start on May 7th.

Swale is built on a 130 x 40 foot barge, with 5,000 square feet of an edible perennial garden, which visitors can pick for free! The goal of Swale is educate and empower New Yorkers about fresh, healthy food – to get families and children in the local communities where Swale docks to build “ecological resilience through promoting food as a public commons.” In addition to free visits, Swale will host programming on a wide range of topics from public art, to wellness, to environmental activism.

The Brooklyn Army Terminal will be the sole location for Swale this year, another initiative in the industrial campus’ sustainable efforts which have recently included the proposal to bring a 100,000 square foot community solar garden on the roof of the terminal.

“The Brooklyn Army Terminal continues to gain momentum with new innovative businesses, artist workspace, a growing food hub, and thousands of modern industrial jobs,” said James Patchett, NYCEDC, President and CEO. “We’re thrilled to bring Swale to the campus, and see it as another way to engage and serve the community. This summer, Sunset Park residents can take free classes and workshops, learn about harvesting fresh foods and vegetables, and enjoy everything this vibrant campus has to offer.”

Check out more photographs of Swale from last year below and join Untapped Cities Insiders to get a free tour of the barge with founder Mary Mattingly!