What's floating in the Hudson river?

Most people would never dream of eating something floating in the Hudson River, especially at the mouth of the river near New York City.

But an interesting project aims to put production of vegetables just a few paddles away from Manhatten. Plenty magazine has a feature on the Science Barge, http://www.plentymag.com/features/2007/05/vegetables_on_board.php.

This floating greenhouse has a windmill, solar power and more to make it pretty self-reliant. It's the first tangible project from the New York Sun Works. From the article:

Tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers sit in a mixture of rice hulls and coconut husks, both agricultural waste products, and extend vertically along strings hung from the greenhouse’s ceiling. Herbs like basil and cilantro grow in crushed bits of rock and clay from stacked bins called “Verti-Gro” towers. Heads of lettuce, planted in rock that has been spun into cotton candy-like fibers, grow in elevated trays that display their roots.

Rainwater collected from the greenhouse’s roof, as well as desalinated river water, irrigates plants, and vents on the side of the greenhouse help reduce the need for electricity.

This is another example of how innovative producers can really go local. New England's Backyard Beauties http://backyardbeauties.com/ is another.

For prospecting greenhouse growers who want to try something else different. See my June 6, 2005, column titled "Science fiction can become reality in produce."

There, I wrote how New Yorkers wouldn't even have to leave the building to get their produce:

Greenhouses could be built on top of skyscrapers, taking advantage of the heat generated by the massive edifices. And 30 or 40 stories up, they would be that much closer to the sun.

Such man-made microclimates could satisfy the demand for ultra-fresh produce within easy reach of millions of hungry consumers. The reliance on California product could be eased, and along with that, the strain on the transportation industry -- and along with that, the demand for fuel.