Elevated agriculture at Boston Medical Center

Expanded farming on a roof of the Boston Medical Center.

Edited from a New England Council report

Boston Medical Center has opened a second farm on the roof of one of its administrative buildings, which will produce food to be donated to local nonprofits and community centers.

‘‘BMC’s first farm, Power Plant Farm, opened in 2017 to provide fresh and nutritious food for patients. Now BMC expects its new Newmarket Farm to quadruple the amount of produce grown annually while partnering with a local food-access nonprofit, in Boston Area Gleaners. The farms support a clinical program at BMC called the Preventive Food Pantry, which is meant for doctors to prescribe certain foods for recovery from certain illnesses.

“‘Our rooftop farms increase green space in our community, reduce the hospital’s carbon footprint, and strengthen at-risk local food systems,’ said senior director of support services at BMC David Maffeo.’’