Randall’s Island Park’s Repository

Randall's Island Urban Farm and staff in partnership with four other urban farms & gardens look at the growth of shiitake and oyster mushrooms on cottonwood and mulberry trees sourced from the Freshwater Wetland. This study aims to explore the ability of different substrates to produce fruiting bodies of different mushroom varieties.

RIPA staff grew five hybrid brassica varieties alongside adjacent open-pollinated brassica varieties, developed in partnership with Dr. Phillip Griffiths from Cornell CALS, on Randall’s Island Urban Farm. All ten varieties were harvested and prepared for the public to provide feedback on taste, texture, and overall quality. The results of this study will help farmers evaluate which varieties to grow in the future.

The WATERS program provided paid, multi-year research and professional development opportunities for high school and college students from communities surrounding Randall’s Island. Through mentored field research, estuarine monitoring, and professional skill-building, interns conducted original ecological studies, contributed to ongoing Hudson River Estuary monitoring, and gained exposure to careers in environmental science and stewardship.

RIPA staff, in partnership with Dr. Ingwell from Purdue University, established the abundance of Squash Vine Borers on the squash crop at Randall's Island Urban Farm. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of the pest on a variety of squash crops based on abundance of adult moths and to explore the ability to manage the pest with a scented trap.

Randall’s Island Urban Farm soil samples reveal insights into soil biodiversity. The data shows that while the diversity of bacteria and fungi remains consistent across farm sites, the composition however, differs between older and younger sites. These findings help us understand how microbial communities evolve over time, improving our knowledge of urban soil ecosystems.

RIPA staff and interns conduct vegetation surveys (annual or every 2 years) in two restored salt marshes. The objectives of wetland vegetation monitoring on the island are to evaluate whether restoration efforts are providing habitat for macroinvertebrates and to detect shifts in plant community composition associated with improved salt marsh ecosystem function.