It’s April, the start of Earth Month festivities! Join the celebration by supporting eco-friendly local businesses, volunteering at events, and participating in activities dedicated to promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility. From eco-conscious thrift shops to community clean-up initiatives, there’s a myriad of opportunities to engage to make a positive impact on our planet right in our own neighborhoods. Join us in exploring the vibrant tapestry of eco-friendly options and meaningful activities available along NYC Ferry routes, fostering a greener, more sustainable future for all.
Businesses to Check Out
Celsious
Route: East River
Landing: North Williamsburg
Celsious, NYC’s premier sustainable laundry service and online eco-friendly garment care hub, was co-founded by sisters Corinna and Theresa Williams, leveraging their expertise in fashion, design, and environmental advocacy. Their commitment to a “cleaner clean” ethos ensures top-notch laundry services and products devoid of harmful ingredients, offering customers an unparalleled eco-friendly laundry experience both in-store and at home.
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Peace by Piece Thrift Store & Community Center
Route: South Brooklyn
Landing: Bay Ridge
Not only can you score some great thrifted pieces at this shop, but you can also get involved with their community center events. Check out their monthly food box distributions!
Green in Brooklyn
Route: Astoria
Landing: Brooklyn Navy Yard
Green in BKLYN is a one-stop shop dedicated to promoting eco-friendly lifestyles, offering a range of products and information to support sustainable living. From cleaning supplies to beauty products, kitchen supplies to energy savers, and even kids’ items, Green in BKLYN strives to make green living convenient, informative, and enjoyable for all.
Modo Yoga
Route: East River
Landing: North Williamsburg
Modo Yoga Studio fosters a community of yoga enthusiasts united by a shared passion for yoga, environmental conservation, and global harmony, offering inclusive classes suitable for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. By taking a class at Modo, individuals become part of a committed and conscious community, welcoming them to experience transformative practice in the heated studio environment.
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Common Good
Route: East River
Landing: Greenpoint
In 2010, the founder of Common Good initiated a mission to challenge single-use plastics, leading to the creation of safe and sustainable home and personal care products, pioneering the refill revolution. Inspired by concerns as a busy stylist and young mother about excessive plastic waste, particularly in household items like laundry detergent, they set out to develop natural, refillable alternatives. Now, over a decade later, their commitment to sustainability has led to the opening of a retail store in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where they continue to prioritize community engagement and growth.
A Sustainable Village
Route: Soundview
Landing: Stuyvesant Cove
After years of advocating for eco-friendly practices among family, friends, and the community, owner Em, found her calling in opening a zero waste and refill shop, with a mission focused on plastic reduction and waste minimization. You can find refillable and reuseable home goods and more at A Sustainable Village.
Earth & Me
Route: Astoria
Landing: Astoria
Kayli Kunkel, founder of Earth & Me, recognized the challenge of finding affordable, sustainable essentials amid excessive packaging and high markups. In response, she launched her brand, offering zero-waste home and self-care products, alongside community spaces for education and activism, with the long-term goal of mainstreaming sustainability practices across all businesses.
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BAGGU
Route: East River
Landing: North Williamsburg
BAGGU has prioritized sustainability since its inception in 2007, initially focusing on waste reduction in operations and production processes. Over time, the company has expanded its sustainability efforts to identify and act on opportunities for improvement, exemplified by its commitment to minimal waste design and prioritizing product longevity.
Remix Market
Route: Astoria
Landing: Long Island City
Remix Market, a secondhand shop in Long Island City and Brooklyn, is committed to reducing landfill waste and supporting the local community by selling a diverse range of home furnishings and goods at discounted prices. They collaborate with Junkluggers NYC to divert donations from the landfill, donating around 50% of their Queens inventory to local nonprofits and contributing 10% of all proceeds to Habitat for Humanity.
East Village Vintage Collective
Route: Astoria
Landing: Long Island City
East Village Vintage Collective, established in 2015 in New York City’s East Village, aims to revive the area’s cherished old-school ambiance. Renowned as a curated thrift store, EVVC meticulously selects vintage clothing, accessories, and gifts, offering them at affordable prices both in-store and online. Moreover, they extend rental and discount options for various productions beyond their showcased inventory, ensuring clients find the perfect pieces for their needs.
Next Life Furniture
Route: Astoria
Landing: Long Island City
Get a quality 2nd-hand piece of furniture from Next Life Furniture for a great price. Delivery available!
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Organizations and Community Events
Brooklyn Greenway Initiative Earth Day Event
Date: April 20, 2024, 10am
Join the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative to steward the Greenway and Naval Cemetery Landscape, ensuring it remains clean and accessible for all users. Learn about the Naval Cemetery Landscape (NCL) and the Greenway’s maintenance efforts, and participate in targeted removal of invasive species and street tree stewardship on Saturday, April 20, from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Registration is required for this event supported by Councilmember Restler and funded by the Department of Youth and Community Development.
Tour of the Javits Center
Route: St. George
Landing: Midtown West
Date: April 15, 2024, 10am
The Javits Center offers tours of its six-block campus, showcasing its state-of-the-art operations for hosting New York City’s largest events and its pioneering sustainability initiatives. With a 6.75-acre green roof, rooftop working farm, and diverse wildlife habitat, including 51 bird species and nine active bee hives, the center demonstrates its commitment to sustainability while also serving as a vital economic asset for New York, supporting various industries through its recent 1.2 million square-foot expansion on Manhattan’s West Side.
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RISE Rockaway
Route: Rockaway
Landing: Rockaway
Established in 2005, RISE leads community-driven initiatives, recognizing potential in overlooked and marginalized places and people. From transforming illegal dumping grounds into vibrant community spaces like the 28-acre Waterfront Park to repurposing abandoned areas for safe recreational use through Project Underway, RISE fosters collaboration among residents to enhance both built and natural environments. Sign up to volunteer today!
Climate Museum
Route: Battery Park City
Landing: St George
Over the past five years, the Museum has curated eight exhibitions and hosted over 300 events, involving over 350 high school students in leadership, advocacy, and arts programs. Collaborating with various organizations and receiving support from major arts and educational funders, their work has garnered attention in peer-reviewed museum publications and mainstream media outlets, contributing significantly to the global cultural effort addressing the climate crisis.
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Snug Harbor Cultural Center
Route: St. George
Landing: St. George
Snug Harbor is an expansive cultural destination in New York City, boasting a rich tapestry of history, architecture, and the arts. As one of America’s largest ongoing adaptive reuse projects, it offers visitors a diverse array of experiences, including exhibitions, concerts, botanical gardens, and educational programs, while also serving as home to numerous esteemed institutions like the Staten Island Museum and the Noble Maritime Collection.
GrowNYC
Route: St. George
Landing: St. George
Originally founded in 1970 as the Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC) in the wake of Earth Day, GrowNYC has evolved into a prominent 501(3)(c) environmental nonprofit dedicated to enhancing sustainability in NYC. With a focus on ensuring equitable access to fresh food, green spaces, waste reduction, and environmental care, GrowNYC empowers communities to thrive, particularly those with frontline identities, through initiatives spanning food access, zero waste, green space development, and environmental education. GrowNYC has many opportunities for individuals 18 and older to dig in and improve New York City’s environment.
Brooklyn Grange Farm
Route: Astoria
Landing: Brooklyn Navy Yard
Founded in 2010, Brooklyn Grange is a pioneering rooftop farming and green roofing enterprise, boasting the largest rooftop soil farms globally, situated in New York City. They advocate for sustainable urban living through initiatives like building green spaces, offering educational programs and events, and enhancing access to locally sourced produce within NYC communities, all aimed at reestablishing the bond between individuals and the natural environment while creating jobs and nurturing green urban landscapes.Check out their upcoming events including tours and yoga at the Brooklyn Navy Yard farm.
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Gotham Greens
Virtual purchasing only.
Established in 2011, the inaugural Gotham greenhouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., stands as the pioneer among commercial facilities of its caliber, spanning over 15,000 square feet and renowned globally for its urban agriculture initiatives. Their state-of-the-art sustainable practices prioritize energy efficiency and water recycling, eschewing harmful chemical agents in favor of natural methods, such as employing beneficial insects like ladybugs to maintain produce health.
Fort Hill Park: Earth Day Invasive Removal & Habitat Restoration Replanting
Date: April 20 + 21, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Route: St. George
Landing: St. George
Learn how to identify and remove harmful invasive plants, plant native species that will attract & feed birds, bees & butterflies, and join the community to learn, exercise and meet your neighbors.