Here at Eastie Farm, we are incredibly proud to host the first geothermal greenhouse in all of New England – but that is far from its only sustainable feature! We are always thinking of how we can do traditional aspects of farming differently to align with our mission of climate justice. Our greenhouse is a model of sustainable design and a symbol of our commitment to our mission in every aspect of what we do. Learn more about its sustainable features below!
Carbon Negative
This greenhouse is heated in the winter and cooled in the summer by exchanging heat with the ground. The process of pumping the fluid that transports the heat does require electricity – our supplier for electricity is 100% green (via the City of Boston Community Choice Energy program). When combined with the vegetation in the space, which sequesters carbon, the greenhouse is net-negative (i.e. absorbs more carbon than it releases into our atmosphere). Additionally, the roof can be opened and closed, allowing us to release trapped hot air in the summer and cool our space naturally. Fun fact – our geothermal wells reach over 450 feet into the ground!
Food Positive
This is my most favorite site to take my class for a visit…The kids love working with their hands planting, watering, and weeding. I notice that they tend to like their vegetables more when they are involved in growing them!
– Daniela, middle school teacher
Our greenhouse grows seedlings every year for our annual seedling sale, helping local gardeners and beginner farmers grow nutritious food in their own backyard! There is a retractable layer of shade fabric installed in the greenhouse to help keep heat in in the winter and reflect it in the summer, supporting our efforts to grow beautiful plants year-round. Additionally, during the CSA season, we pack our produce bags in the greenhouse, helping feed hundreds of community members with fresh, local food while staying cool.
Climate Adaptive
In the dog days of Summer, this greenhouse stays cool, providing a respite for those suffering from urban heat island effect. This allows us to host events year-round while keeping all of our community members safe and comfortable. We also manage all stormwater that falls on to the site through an underground collection basin and inward-facing gutters. The gutters route water into our rain collection barrels that we can use to water flowering plants on site. The walkway next to the greenhouse is paved with permeable materials and lined with New England native plants, allowing us to collect fallen rainwater rather than contribute to East Boston’s flooding concerns.
Future Focused
I had never heard of geothermal energy until I visited Eastie Farm. I didn’t realize this technology is already available to us. I wonder why we still use gas!
– Ross, East Boston elementary school student
Our Climate Nature program for school students can continue through winter with the help of this adaptive indoor space. Rather than having to limit farm education to the natural growing cycles, we can showcase how we can still grow food during the harsh winter months. Besides the usual farm fun, our citizens of tomorrow will also learn about climate solutions, and hopefully become environmental stewards. Let’s build a better future together for our global village community.
Growing more than just plants
Our greenhouse has become our main space for community events, celebrations, and workshops. Take a look at the images below to see the beautiful memories we’ve made!
