Garden Shop Positions NYU as a Leader in Sustainable Horticulture

      Sustainability around Washington Square now includes most of the green outdoor spaces thanks to the NYU Garden Shop, which designs, installs, and maintains the garden areas and sidewalk planters on campus. George Reis, supervisor of sustainable landscaping, and his crew in the shop are focused on positioning NYU as a leader in sustainable horticulture for an urban university through the use of on-site composting, increased use of native plant species, low-volume irrigation, and compliance with Organic Land Care.
       One major initiative is the new Schwartz Plaza Native Woodland Garden, funded by a Class of 2008 legacy gift. This garden will feature plant species likely to have been present on Manhattan Island before European settlement. It will be ready on Sept. 12, 2009, the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Henry Hudson in New York Harbor.
       Native plants are being employed elsewhere on campus. Amelanchier trees, which have an edible fruit, have been planted in several locations on campus. Other edibles such as beets, strawberries, and peas have been planted on a trial basis in sidewalk planters as a demonstration of their ornamental value as well as the possibilities for small-scale urban agriculture. Where non-natives such as tulips are planted, on-site composting and chemical-free methods ensure that sustainable practices are maintained.
       NYU faculty in disciplines such as food studies, art, environmental studies, urban ecology, urban design, biology, and Italian studies have worked collaboratively with the Garden Shop, a unit of Facility and Construction Management’s Sustainability, Energy, and Technical Services Department, to maximize the value of the green spaces NYU offers to pedestrians.
       Send your gardening questions or comments to garden@ nyu.edu.