On October 12, 2019, I volunteered to clean-up alongside the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, New York, along with a few classmates of mine. During my hours there, so much was accomplished. We were split into groups, each having our own jobs to get done. My group was put in charge of weeding and planting. We started by first deciphering which plants were actually weeds and needed to be pulled out by the roots, and which plant life should remain. Once all of the weeds were pulled, we began to plant. We were given many plants in pots that needed to get put into the ground in order to continue growing. When the planting and weeding was all finished, we had some time left so we joined other groups to continue working. My friend Luke and I had to fill wheel barrows with mulch and bring them to fill in the gaps in the steps. Several trips were made to make the steps walkable once again. 

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         Other groups were given different tasks to complete. Some people were in charge of flattening the sidewalk and had to work with big machinery. Steam rollers were used to roll out the tar for the walkway. There were groups mixing soil and fertilizer. Another group was responsible for moving small plants into medium sized pots so they would have more room to grow. Everyone who volunteered that day was kept very busy with the jobs they were given. 

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         Personally, I had no idea that the Gowanus Canal was such an environmental issue until I joined this service project to clean it up. I really enjoyed it so much. Quite honestly, a lot more than I ever expected to. Alongside my friends Luke and Pooja, it was an awesome day, and the experience that I had would definitely be the reason I continue to do volunteer work. In the future, I would like to see the Gowanus Canal as a clean, sanitary waterway. In order to reach that goal, more than our 6 hours of volunteer work needs to be put in. I would be interested in returning and continuing to build up and beautify the surrounding area by weeding and planting some more.  

 

         I was shocked to see how many people volunteered at the Gowanus Canal the same day that we were all there. I was unaware of how well known the canal and all of its environmental issues are, and how many people had the same goal as we all did, which is to make the canal cleaner, safer, and a more welcoming environment. It was so rewarding to help fix the planet rather than continuing to ruin it. To have done this together with my friends was a bonding experience which none of us will ever forget. Overall, I really enjoyed the experience, and it turned out to be so much better than I imagined it would be. I look forward to doing more volunteer work in the future.