Rooftop Farm
5,000 - 6,000 Lbs.
Total Food Harvested Annually
1,288
People visited the farm in 2019
245+
Volunteers
406+
Youth visited the farm
7 Weeks
of free summer camp on the farm
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.
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.
Awards
Articles
- Modern Farmer: How One Boston Hospital Is Feeding Patients through Its Rooftop Farm
- Reuters: A Boston Hospital with a Farm on Its Roof Seeks to Inspire Others
- Edible Boston: The Hospital Rooftop Farm
- American Journal of Public Health: Implementation of a Rooftop Farm Integrated With a Teaching Kitchen and Preventive Food Pantry in a Hospital Setting
- Greenroofs.com: Announcing Greenroofs.com’s 2019 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design
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