**Fenway Park’s Rooftop Farm Revolutionizes Sustainability and Local Sourcing**
BOSTON – Fenway Park, the iconic baseball stadium and home to the Boston Red Sox, has embarked on an incredible transformation. Nestled atop this hallowed ground sits a thriving rooftop farm, signaling a new era for sustainability and local sourcing.
Since 2015, Fenway Park’s rooftop has been transformed into a thriving farm, producing an impressive 7,000 pounds of fresh produce each year. The initiative was born out of the ownership’s desire for more sustainable and locally-sourced food options. Christopher Grallert, President of Green City Growers, the organization responsible for overseeing the farm, expressed his excitement, stating, Tens and tens of thousands of people get to walk by and see this garden and realize what’s possible right in your own backyard.
The farm serves a dual purpose. Not only does it provide an abundant supply of fresh produce for concession stands within the ballpark and private event catering, but it also reduces the need to transport produce from far-flung locations. Grallert explained, This knocks off a significant portion of produce being bought on the outside, so we’re not shipping produce thousands of miles and bringing it here to Boston.
Haley Bergeron, an urban farmer at Fenway through Green City Growers, expressed her love for the endeavor, emphasizing the joy of knowing exactly where the food she grows ends up. She noted that this year, everything seems to be going smoothly, thanks in part to the copious rain they received, alleviating the need for extensive irrigation.
The farm operates using a modular system, utilizing milk crates with special linings, organic soil, and an efficient drip irrigation system. This sustainable farming practice not only contributes to the local food supply but also plays a vital role in reducing heat in an area dominated by black asphalt roofs. Grallert pointed out, When we plant a garden and when we have plants breathing and respiring on a rooftop, we’re actually reducing heat island effect.
Furthermore, the farm’s reliance on rainwater for irrigation helps alleviate the burden on the city’s storm drains. By using rainwater, the farm reduces the amount of runoff entering the stormwater system, leading to a more sustainable approach to water management.
The impact of Fenway Park’s rooftop farm goes beyond the stadium walls. Green City Growers operates 250 sites across eastern Massachusetts, with 48 of them located in Boston Public Schools. The mission of Green City Growers is to inspire people with the possibilities of urban farming and the benefits it brings. Grallert shared, People can come right to downtown Boston, right to Fenway Park and see that it’s actually possible to grow vegetables pretty much anywhere.
As a testament to their commitment, any surplus produce from the farm is donated to local food justice organizations, ensuring that the community benefits from the harvest.
Fenway Park’s rooftop farm represents a beacon of change, showcasing the possibilities of urban agriculture while addressing environmental and sustainability concerns. It not only serves as a source of fresh and local produce but also demonstrates the power of collaboration between sports venues and local communities. With this revolutionary initiative, Fenway Park is not only transforming its own landscape but inspiring others to reimagine what is possible in their own backyards.
