Seeing sustainability on Governor's Island

I finally made it out to Governor's Island this weekend, after being completely inspired by seeing the presentation Adriaan Geuze made months ago - starting it off by riding a bicycle into the lecture hall. The threat of rain prevented a long bike ride around the island, but a leisurely walk through showed the beginnings of this island's life as a public center for recreation and sustainability education.



Every trash can in Governor's Island was flanked by a recyling bin - a sight seldom seen in New York.



Armory building turned prision is now turning.. into an unlikely home for vegetation.




A bicycle rental program has been established and these four person bike 'surreys' seem to be convincing many families to pedal rather than drive (it helps that most of the island is car-free at the moment).



A completely volunteer run art fair was going on, many exhibitions of which were geared to teach children about sustainbility. Children could learn to garden in the middle of the street 'Lettuce Lane' or add to insulating the wooden structure with reused, planted plastic bottles. The structure will eventually be completely enclosed with these hanging terrariums.




Olafur Eliasson's four waterfalls were visible from the ferry, and this one at Governor's Island itself. The jury is still out on whether these pieces are wasting energy and materials in the name of art, or if the recycling of rain/river water and creating current is truly helpful to the ecosystem of the East River, but there is something to be said for publicly accessible art.



Speaking of publicly accessible art... This was priceless.