Rooftop Farm
5,000 - 7,000 Lbs.
Total Food Harvested Annually
960 lbs.
Tomatoes Grown in 2017
100+
Volunteers
Three stories above BMC's power plant thrives a 2,658 square foot farm with more than 25 crops. The farm not only provides fresh, local produce to our hospitalized patients, cafeterias, Demonstration Kitchen, and Preventive Food Pantry, but is also part of BMC's commitment to going green. The farm reduces the hospital's carbon footprint, increases green space, and reduces energy use, including the energy required to transport food.
Rooftop Farm Tour: Thursday, May 30
Experience the intersection of food and health on a tour of Boston Medical Center's rooftop farm. On this tour you will learn about rooftop farming and green roofs, bee keeping, and how Boston Medical Center utilizes their farm in multiple ways to improve the health of our community. Register >
Free Container Gardening Workshop: Saturday, June 1
Join us up on the Rooftop Farm to learn how to grow food in containers! Please note this workshop is only open to BMC Patients and Employees. Register >
The farm, which was a year and a half in the making, began as the brainchild of Dave Maffeo, senior director of support services and Robert Biggio, senior vice president of facilities and support services, with the support of BMC's Office of Development. Dave worked with Lindsay Allen and John Stoddard of Higher Ground Farm to find a rooftop and growing system that met BMC's needs. The farm was designed and installed by Somerville-based, Recover Green Roofs, and Higher Ground Farm is managing the growing. Allen, who is serving as BMC's first farm manager, also completed a light study of the roof to determine the feasibility of growing crops in the space.
The power plant fauna is not alone though. Listen closely and hear the distinct buzz from the farm's resident bees. Two brightly colored urban beehives, painted by BMC's pediatric patients, will help the produce pollinate while also providing local honey.
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