Tour of Newmarket Farms - An Example of Rooftop Urban Farming

Event Description

Join the BSA Green Roof and Infrastructure Team Knowledge Committee for a tour of Boston Medical Center’s second rooftop farm, boosting access to fresh foods through the hospital’s Nourishing our Communities Program. Newmarket Farm is an excellent example of a multi-functional green roof: reducing the heat island effect and promoting biodiversity, while donating approximately 10,000 pounds of produce to South End non-profits and to the benefit of the users of the hospital. We will tour the 7,500 square foot wheelchair accessible roof, designed to capture tens of thousands of gallons of rainwater, slowing stormwater runoff. We will also discuss the operations of maintaining an urban rooftop farm, and educational opportunities it brings to the surrounding community and hospital users.

Come experience a unique piece of green infrastructure in the city, urban rooftop farming, and challenging food insecurity. Join the discussion with Boston Medical Center’s Olivia Grieco as they talk about the opportunities that arise with urban farming access for the Boston community. Also joining us will be Recover Green Roof’s Mark Winterer, who will speak to the design aspects, installation methods, and any challenges faced during the project.

HEADS UP: This roof has bee habitats on site, please be prepared if you have any allergies or sensitivities.

This tour is a part of a series of tours through the GRIT Knowledge Committee. We will be hosting more green roof/green infrastructure tours this summer, to learn more about these events, follow our LinkedIn page for future events: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13009707/

Stay updated on year-round events there, where we host technical discussions, experienced guest speakers, and present emerging technologies in the fall and spring.

For those of you interested in green infrastructure and green roofs but unable to attend, NESEA is hosting a Pro Tour of the Josiah Quincy Upper School on June 26th. JQUS is located in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood, and features an accessible green roof for students and faculty, which will be accessible as part of this tour. For more information, see the event description from NESEA: https://nesea.org/be-event/pro-tour-leed-platinum-certified-all-electric-school-boston

Presenters

Olivia Grieco, Farm Education and Community Outreach Coordinator, Boston Medical Center

Mark Winterer, Co-Founder and Owner, GRP, Recover Green Roofs