URBAN DESIGN & SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM: WEEK 5

UDSP students are designers

UDSP students had the privilege of hosting not one but two green professionals for Week 5.

​Nir Krakauer, a civil engineering professor at City College of New York, schooled participants about the different branches of engineering---mechanical, chemical, electrical, and civil. Amy Crews, one of New York City's premier landscape architects, wowed students with examples of projects she's worked on.

​UDSP students listened attentively and asked Nir and Amy numerous questions about their respective fields. ​We were thrilled that the kids were excited to learn about sustainability related careers. The UDSP was designed, in part, to make students aware that they, too, can become green professionals if they want to.

Students also got to ply their skills at design again. They executed some top-notch designs based on their expanding knowledge of sustainability and permaculture.

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Justin, Ezra, and Henry

Isabela, Annabella, Jaylin, and Ava

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Henry

Annabella: Nir had a presentation about being an engineer. We did soil samples with NIr, Amy, and Rachel. We looked for microbes. I liked watching Dirt the Movie.

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Erika:  Amy, the landscape architect, taught us that what she does is hard but can be fun. We watched the movie Dirt, which taught me that dirt is way more important than I thought it was.

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Marialba isn't afraid of getting dirty

Ava says she's a farmer

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The UDSP crew are doing a superb job taking care of Renaissance’s rooftop garden’s plants and vegetables. They're also diligently maintaining the UDSP compost bin, recycling organic matter into a deep, rich soil for our container beds. 

Miguel and Santos prepare newspapers for compost

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Peter: I liked making the bug hotels and a new design of the rooftop garden.

Erika loves working on the rooftop garden

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The UDSP teaches kids about design, and sometimes you don’t need to look far for inspiration. Greg K. (Ezra’s dad) was kind enough to invite students from both classes to his house near Renaissance Charter School. Students saw a great example of a local residential urban garden.

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Greg's house and garden

The garden's bounty

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They loved Greg's rainwater harvesting system that fed not only his garden but a separate rain garden. The kids also dug Greg's compost tumbler and munched on delicious grapes from his grape arbor. Ezra is sharing what he’s learned from the UDSP with his dad, so they can make their garden even better. 

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Compost tumbler

Fruit punch celebration

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Orla: Last week, I went to Brooklyn Grange and Hogshead. I met Amy, Nir, and Rachel. I watched the movie Dirt. I listened to Nir’s and Amy’s presentations. I looked for microbes and I saw them.

Charlese: I really liked the field trips. Me, the teachers, and classmates went to the garden to see plants. I’m so excited about graduation day. I’m going to miss Monica, Josh, and Justin.

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Isabela

Noel

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The UDSP offers many opportunities for students to learn and grow using a variety of teaching methods. For Week 5, we watched two movies about sustainability and permaculture. 

The first, Inhabit, is a stunning visual film featuring some of the top names in permaculture break down their craft and concepts in ways that anyone can understand. We also screened Dirt The Movie, learning how urban development, industrial farming, and mining are creating drought and climate change. The film highlights individuals who are doing amazing work to restore our mutually beneficial relationship to soil.

Check out the trailers for both movies below:

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In the UDSP, we switch it up whenever we can. Students got in a little exercise one morning, doing jumping jacks and push-ups to stay physically engaged. Sound body, sound mind!

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Marialba and Santos get into the groove

Ava likes doing push-ups

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We packed two field trips into one for our next to last week. UDSP students visited one of Brooklyn Grange’s two rooftop farms, the biggest soil rooftop farms in the world. Brooklyn Grange grows over 50,000 lbs of organic produce each year!

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Class in session at Brooklyn Grange

Noel is a good listener

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Justin: I really liked the trip to Brooklyn Grange. We smelled and ate vegetables and herbs.

Shadab: Brooklyn Grange was my favorite. It had a cool rooftop garden with chickens. We saw their eggs and a beehive. It was really fun!

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Orla has a green mustache

Chickens were popular at Brooklyn Grange

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Students also made their way to Smiling Hogshead Ranch, a thriving urban farm on an abandoned MTA/LIRR terminal, previously an illegal dumping ground. Founding member Gil Lopez gave them a hands-on tour, letting students sample berries and vegetables. Hogshead is a permaculture demonstration site that practices bioremediation. They also donate a portion of their vegetables to the community for free. We encourage anyone to visit either Brooklyn Grange or Hogshead. Both are at the forefront of urban design and sustainability.

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Gil and Monica hold court at Hogshead

Orla waters the compost as Gil supervises

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Angel: At Hogshead, we tasted some unexpectedly spicy flowers. Or maybe they were just hot. Some flowers tasted like lemon. There were berries that weren’t ripe but they still tasted good!

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Vanesa enjoying a light moment

Juan and Mariela take five

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The kids really enjoyed going to Hogshead---maybe a little too much. A few were inspired to take impromptu showers on site, which Gil was happy to oblige.

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Gil helps October cool off

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​Fabiola: October put his whole head in a bucket at Hogshead and got wet. I am excited for graduation!

October post-shower

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Stay tuned for our final UDSP Blog about Week 6. We'll have some awesome photos of UDSP students' graduation, including their presentations. You don't want to miss it!

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Hogshead entrance

Marialba plays to the camera

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Author

Justin Remus is the Communications Director of Beyond Organic Design.