Woolly Pockets

Hey New Yorkers, venture on down to Union Square this weekend to see the giant (40’ x 8’) “Living Green Wall” of edible and lush native New York plant species that will be erected on the southern plaza.

The steel frame wall, specially constructed for this event, will be hung with 400 Woolly Pockets in honor of New York Restoration project’s NYC Grows. This annual, outdoor gardening festival (held this year on April 25th) promotes community gardening, urban agriculture and sustainable technology.

So what the heck are Woolly Pockets? Modular gardening containers made of 100 percent recycled plastic designed to be hung on vertical surfaces or placed freestanding on the floor both inside and outside, they help turn any environment into a lush garden. They are soft-sided, available in a variety of sizes and colors and their breathable sides allow excess moisture to evaporate while naturally aerating the soil. 

Infectiously fun, Woolly Pockets inspire gardens in improbable places. The Woolly School Garden program encourages schools to take a chain link fence and grow stuff. There are over 20 in Los Angeles already. If a school has the budget, the company will send a kit with everything needed to start: Woolly Pockets, do-it-yourself hardware & instructions, premium soil for edible gardening, organic seeds, planting chart, gardening manual and nutrition curriculum. If the school doesn’t have the budget, they’ll help organize a fundraising program. The goal is to grow 1000 school gardens by Fall 2010 and an additional 10,000 school gardens by Fall 2011.

Constructed on Earth Day by volunteers, the Woolly Pockets Union Square wall will be a colorful draw for New Yorkers. The rest of us can start planning our own Woolly gardens. Where will you put yours?

Photos by Laurel Petriello.