SMFA Garden
The SMFA Garden is an ongoing collaboration to support local pollinators at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) at Tufts University and to cultivate artistic cross-pollination throughout the greater SMFA at Tufts community. The garden is made of seven large planters located at the SMFA's main 230 Fenway building in Boston, situated on balconies off the central atrium and school library.
On a biological level, the container beds feature plant species which are native to New England and flower perennially to provide food resources for local insect pollinator populations. On a social level, the SMFA Garden brings refreshing greenery into the school's industrial urban space, offers space for students to install artworks and builds connections across SMFA at Tufts. The garden relies on the engagement, knowledge and experiences of all beings in the community to continue blooming.
Funding for the SMFA Garden was provided by the Tufts University Green Fund in its 2019-2020 application cycle. After delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, the garden was established in 2022. Much gratitude goes to my project partner, Lauren Kimball-Brown of the SMFA Library, as well as the SMFA Sustainability Committee, the Tufts Green Fund Committee, SMFA Facilities, administrators, studio managers, faculty, staff, students, alumni and countless others who have supported the project.
Funding for the SMFA Garden was provided by the Tufts University Green Fund in its 2019-2020 application cycle. After delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, the garden was established in 2022. Much gratitude goes to my project partner, Lauren Kimball-Brown of the SMFA Library, as well as the SMFA Sustainability Committee, the Tufts Green Fund Committee, SMFA Facilities, administrators, studio managers, faculty, staff, students, alumni and countless others who have supported the project.
SMFA GardenEstablished 2022
Lauren Kimball-Brown & Séphora Bergiste pose with SMFA Garden planter box
Current Garden Activities
Visit go.tufts.edu/SMFAgarden for resources on the importance of native plant and pollinator species, on art, ecology and plant-based studio practices, and for upcoming garden programming. A list of plants growing in the SMFA Garden is also available.
Garden activities include:
- HSS workshops: Since 2020, the SMFA Garden has participated in the school's annual Health, Safety, and Sustainability Week by offering workshops on a range of topics, including seed-starting and gardening for pollinators, garden design, zines and artists' books on gardens and food, and activist art and gardening.
- Seed Library: As of 2023, the SMFA Garden is collaborating with the SMFA at Tufts Library to bring a seed library to the university community. Individuals can "checkout" seeds to cultivate in their dorms or apartments and are encouraged to harvest and "return" seeds at the end of the growing season.
- Exhibitions & engagement by student groups & classes: In 2022 the SMFA Garden planter boxes were outfitted with trellises and stakes for installing artworks amongst the plants. Student groups and classes are invited to curate exhibitions and performances in the garden, and to engage with the site through means such as focused visits for observational drawing or harvesting of plant material for use in papermaking.
