Captured in these dreamy photographs by Elizabeth Weinberg, Jerko the Gowanus Water Vacuum is a controversial houseboat that docked in the Gowanus canal in Brooklyn a few years ago. The design drew criticism because the water is polluted and likely dangerous to be in contact with. It’s not prime real estate, but people reportedly lived in the boat for a year, risking their health to live rent-free. While this turned up more than a few noses, living on the water wasn’t just a youthful ploy. Jerko hosted at least one Green Block Party, a low-budget, DIY version of John Todd’s efforts in the Baima waterway of Fuzhou, China. The environmental renewal project created a fun way for people to get involved in their community and clean-up New York’s natural resources. Friends and neighbors filtered the contaminated water from on deck, taking the chance to live simply for a day and make the canal a nicer place.
