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Our Journey

 Click below to see the construction of our Hyde Park Greenhouse and to hear from Co-Founder Lisa Evans.

 

Through persistence, patience, and hard work, our business has expanded from a sunroom addition to an urban farm complete with a glass greenhouse, two high tunnels, raised garden beds, and a gorgeous walking path lined with native plants. We are thankful to everyone who supported us along the way. Scroll to see our farm grow!

microgreen farmer teaching

We Grow Microgreens, LLC began in a sunroom addition in Tim and Lisa's home in Roslindale, MA.

microgreen trays on racks in greenhouse
backyard greenhouse
Mayor Walsh at ribbon cutting

In March 2018, Tim and Lisa were conveyed the deed to the land in Hyde Park, MA. The land was privately owned until 1994, when the City foreclosed on the land. Since then, it had been held in the Department of Neighborhood Development’s inventory of city-owned vacant land. The land now holds an agricultural deed restriction. Former Mayor Marty Walsh congratulates Lisa and Tim on their success at the Ribbon cutting in October of 2019.

invasive shrubbery on land in Hyde Park
young volunteers clearing land
drainage ditch with pollution

Work began in clearing the land! Parts of the stormwater drainage ditch were filled with thousands of bottles and invasive plants like Japanese Knotweed and multi-flora rose. The ditch is now clean and clear of weeds and trash due to our clean-up efforts.

farmer cleaning up trash
student pulling wheelbarrow

Almost immediately after starting to work at the new site in Hyde Park to clear it of brambles and trash, the neighborhood teens started to appear wanting to help out. We are immensely grateful for all of their hard work pruning trees and removing knotweed, broken bottles, and rocks. Their energy and enthusiasm helped keep us going during the long process of getting the project approved.

volunteers clearing land on farm
land cleared for small net-zero greenhouse

Before the Gakon greenhouse was built, operations ran out of this small net-zero greenhouse on the site.

farmer holding marigold by net-zero greenhouse
small net-zero greenhouse

Excavation began on the Gakon Greenhouse in March 2019.

farmers in front of excavator
excavator on hill
farmer in front of excavators
pouring cement for foundation walls

Forming the foundation walls.

Our greenhouse arrived in one

18-wheeler truck!

greenhouse arrives in truck
forming the foundation walls

The foundation is formed.

metal frame of greenhouse
metal frame of greenhouse

Two 3,500 gallon rainwater collection tanks sit underneath our greenhouse, collecting rainwater from the roof. 

3500-gallon rainwater tank
greenhouse interior with microgreens

Our greenhouse structure was completed in August 2019 and we began growing on racks. 

microgreens growing on racks in greenhouse

In February, we began installation of heated flood benches, a water and energy conserving feature of the greenhouse. The benches were finished and in use by April.

heat installation on flood benches
microgreens and tropical plants in greenhouse

Our greenhouse, looking in from Norton Street.

summer greenhouse with open vents
farmers in front of greenhouse with vents open
farmers in greenhouse in front of tomato plants

The Community Preservation Act Path

With the help of the Community Preservation Act, we were able to construct a beautiful walking path down the length of the farm. The path is  skillfully designed by Wes Wirth of Thomas Wirth Associates and features unique plants and a lovely view of our growing operations in our greenhouse and high tunnels. 

The High Tunnels

The construction of two high tunnels was the next step of our journey.  The high tunnels are allowing us to expand both the variety and quantity of the crops we produce, as well as provide an educational environmental for youth lessons on microgreens growing. 

Raised Garden Beds 

We were awarded a grant to purchase enough wood to make 160 raised garden beds. Our architecture intern created an all-encompassing plan for dedicated volunteers to build. We could not be more thankful for the community's efforts to help build them! We are so excited to finish filling them with soil and start our next phase of growing.