Marshy Garden

Marshy Garden is a rewilding project establishing valuable habitat in non-pristine conditions through ecological and artistic intervention. 

The 1/2 acre site was founded in 2021 by Ash Ferlito and Brandon Hoak after the creation of the Soil Factory, an artist and scientist incubation site with the mission to cross-pollinate the aforementioned areas of interest with a focus on community connection and sustainability! 

The site originally was bare lawn with pockets of debris dumping due to its adjacency to the industrial lot and hanger The Soil Factory leases. However after three full seasons of growing and planting, the area flourishes with thousands of native plants, consisting of over 150 species grown, transplanted, as well as naturally occurring. This resurgence in floral biodiversity has re-attracted endemic wildlife in the forms of insects, amphibians, birds, and small mammals. The pollinators (both invertebrate and avian) are of particular interest and are monitored through frequent check-ups and photographing.

The garden has currently been a project of love and learning. We saw a need that needed to be filled and decided to act. Neither of us are compensated financially for our time invested in this project. We have received one mini-community grant, one generous donation to fund purchasing of plants, and one stipend from the Soil Factory, in the past.

In order to continue this work to its fullest potential, funding for an entire season could greatly scale the work that could be accomplished.

For live updates on the garden check out the Marshy Garden instagram: @marshygarden_bzzzzz