URBAN DESIGN & SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM: WEEK 1 & 2

Annabella and Genesis love the UDSP

Children grades 3 through 8 are taking advantage of an amazing opportunity at Renaissance Charter School---the Urban Design & Sustainability Program (UDSP). They're expanding their horizons and becoming eco-citizens.

First up: an introduction to permaculture. It’s a design philosophy that mimics patterns of nature. We are all designers, because we design our lives every day. Children know the world’s connected, and permaculture teaches us that people aren’t separate from nature.

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UDSP students’ first assignment was to jump in both with both feet and do a mock redesign of the school rooftop garden. They presented their designs to class, explaining why they placed each element where for maximum benefit. 

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Redesigning the rooftop garden

Salomon inspecting the produce

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They are being introduced to concepts of biodiversity, plant guilds, healthy soil composition, techniques for natural pest control, composting, and water catchment. But the UDSP isn’t just about the classroom. It’s experiential. Students pruned tomato plants and harvested vegetables and herbs from the rooftop garden, sampling string beans, green tomatoes, and carrots. They learned different methods of composting, including bokashi, the Japanese method of composting. They also created a compost bin on the roof.

Making food at Governor's Island

Erika at Alley Pond Environmental Center

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And there were field trips. For Week 1, we took a ferry to Grow NYC’s learning garden on Governor’s Island. UDSP students participated in a cooking class, observed their rainwater harvesting, solar cooker, and planted some seeds. For Week 2, the UDSP crew toured Queens County Farm where students met the animals and took a hay ride. Students are learning how to design solutions to urban challenges---not only for their community, but for the world.

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Henry

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Medali: My favorite activity is going to the rooftop and helping the garden be a better one (taking care of it, picking out the whole plant to make more space, and trying to redecorate it). I learned that in the compost bin, you could basically throw in food you eat---dairy, bones, etc.---but you can’t put anything such as wood, plastic, and things you can’t eat. I learned that we can all help the world, even if it’s something small.

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Emma

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Jeremiah (Dasney): Roses are red / Violets are blue / Compost is brown and poop is too / Composting is awesome and so are you. Favorite activity: sprinklers. Something I learned: With compost, you can use almost anything.

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Labeling Popsicle sticks for plant markers

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Madeleine: We saw bolted plants. We saw a lot of bees. We tried green beans. We tried yellow beans. We saw carrots. We saw worms. We saw tomatoes. My most favorite thing is when we did 3 stations: drumming, design, and art. My favorite ones were music and art-freeze-dance. My least favorite thing is when we go to the garden because there are lots of bugs. And I always scream when I see them.

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Harvesting food at Governor's Island

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Felix: I really liked the trip to Governors Island. I also liked being able to eat plants that were grown by other students.

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Ava has the answer

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Vanesa: My favorite activities were planting, plants, and vegetables. We got to be able to do hands-on activities like touching dirt and observing different plants, weeds, vegetables in the garden using our human senses.

October is a natural on the drums

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Camilo: My favorite activity was when we were playing free music. Anything we played with the drums. I enjoyed planting herbs, doing compost, and working with soil and dirt. I’ve learned that people don’t want to compost dairy, like cheese and milk and other things ’cause they stink a lot. Then when it is stinky, raccoons, chipmunks, squirrels, and mice come around. Compost is really important for the world. Without compost, there would barely be soil.
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Henry feeds the goats at Queens County Farm

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Jaylin: My favorite thing was planting a lot of seeds. I also liked where we learned now to make compost, plus transplanting and the sprinklers, too. I loved the interview with Peggy. I liked where we did freeze-dance and playing the drums---that was great. I loved all the activities. I had a really fun time here. I love this program.

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Ezra

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Murray: I liked when Karryn taught us what to ask if we were the designers and she was the client. For instance, we would ask if she wants certain plants on the property or a fence.

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Sprinklers in the greenhouse

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Justin: Greenhouse observations: There were iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and more strange plants! Some are dying at this weirdo stage. They have flowers on ’em! It’s wet here! Favorite activities: When we are on Governor’s Island. I loved the Ferry. Yesterday,when we were playing the drums. On the rooftop garden, playing. Surprising stuff: Just because the soil on top is wet, the bottom may be dry. Same thing as the top soil is dry, and the bottom is not. DON’T water too much.

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Finished design: rooftop garden

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Ingrid: My favorite activity was when we got sprinkled on and soaked wet. Also when we watered the plants and planted new plants because the other plants didn’t grow. I learned that we can compost a lot of things. Some go in the green organic matter and some go in the brown organic matter.

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Author

Justin Remus is the Communications Director of Beyond Organic Design.