Rooftop Farm

By Amanda Jepson | Categories: | Comments Off on Rooftop Farm

Boston Medical Center’s (BMC’s) Rooftop Farms opened in 2017 as part of the Nourishing Communities program, which includes the Preventative Food Pantry and Teaching Kitchen. A second farm will open in the spring of 2024, bringing the total growing space to approximately 6,0000 square feet. With two farms, the program will yield 10,000 pounds of fresh, organically grown produce annually to distribute throughout the food pantry, a low-cost farmer’s market, and our kitchens. The farm partners with internal departments and organizations in the Boston area to host team–building, volunteer, and educational opportunities focused on growing food, nutrition, and green infrastructure. 

The hospital employs two part-time farm staff who focus on food production, education, and community outreach. The program also sponsors two to four interns per year who assist the farm staff and earn experience in rooftop farming and community engagement. The program’s educational component reaches a wide swath of the community, from public school students to immigrant groups, to patients, employees, and clinical staff. For example, the farm reported more than 1,300 visits in 2023. Of the food produced in 2023, 50 percent goes to patients facing food insecurity who visit the food pantry, 41 percent goes to the general community through the low-cost farmers market, and 10 percent goes to the kitchens. 

Since opening seven years ago, the rooftop farm has grown approximately 30,000–35,000 pounds of food for community members, with approximately 75 percent directly reaching those who are low–income or experiencing food insecurity. The original farm also has engaged individuals in tours, volunteer days, and educational events more than 9,000 times, providing community members with a forum to connect with each other, learn about green innovation, and experience a hospital space that builds healthy communities in multiple ways. With a second farm opening, BMC expects to double its impact and continue to grow its community partnerships, aiming to support a fair Boston food system that provides workforce development, climate resilience, and nourishing food for all people.

To learn more about the Rooftop Farm, please visit this link.