Swale is public food in NYC.

 Swale is a mobile, community-led food access initiative that transforms NYC waterways into civic spaces for environmental and economic justice. Built on a repurposed barge, Swale serves communities where it remains illegal to forage on public land, providing free access to perennial fruits, herbs, and vegetables while educating the public on sustainable food systems and land rights. The project works in partnership with Bronx-based organizations including Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ), the Bronx River Alliance, and the Foodway at Concrete Plant Park to promote public stewardship, intergenerational learning, and systemic policy change.

Swale’s programming includes free public harvests, youth-led workshops on food sovereignty and climate resilience, and ongoing campaigns to legalize public foraging across NYC.

Swale was founded by artist Mary Mattingly and led by a team of dedicated people. Initial support was from Kickstarter donors and a grant from A Blade of Grass.

This next phase of Swale will support the development of a permanent floating platform, Floating Garden, to increase food access, host community-designed education programs, and work to expand the Foodway model across the boroughs. With our partners, in 2026 and 2027, the initiative aims to reach 200,000 new community members, train youth leaders, and advance local legislation to decriminalize foraging.