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Sunday, October 11, Franklin Park Zoo: Due to an external event, a portion of Circuit Drive will be closed until approximately 2:30 p.m. Guests may enter and exit the Zoo via the Zebra Entrance on Blue Hill Avenue. Parking lots near this entrance will be available while a portion of Circuit Drive is closed. The parking lot on Pierpont Road near the Zoo’s Giraffe Entrance will reopen after approximately 2:30 p.m. All roadways will be available for our evening Boston Lights event. 

 

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blueberries growing in Franklin Park Zoo's Food Forest

Greenhouse Deconstruction Workshop

Franklin Park Zoo

November 9, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Attention all greenhouse owners! Join us for a one-day workshop demonstrating how to extend the lifespan of your greenhouse, as well as best practices for deconstructing your greenhouse. 

Pre-registration required. Registrants are required to provide, and may be asked to confirm, proof of greenhouse ownership type upon registration.

Register for Workshop

We're partnering with Boston Building Resources and Youth Build Boston to deconstruct an old greenhouse on site with the goal of diverting approximately 80% of materials from disposal, rescuing all aluminum, steel, and polycarbonate panels from the structure for reuse in future projects. 

A local greenhouse building company will also be on site at the workshop to inform greenhouse owners on how to extend the life of their structures.  

This project will serve as a case study for greenhouse owners looking to prevent their structural materials from going directly to waste disposal or recycling after the structure reaches its lifespan and requires removal. Common materials include polycarbonate panels and polyethylene, which are non-biodegradable, derived from fossil fuels, and persist in the environment for centuries. Other materials include galvanized steel, aluminum, and glass, which can often be salvaged for reuse.  

All greenhouse owners (or future owners) are welcome to attend; however, space will be limited for non-greenhouse owners. Registrants are required to provide, and may be asked to confirm, proof of ownership type upon registration.

Session Goals: 

  • Demonstrate how to deconstruct a greenhouse. 
  • Share what materials can be repurposed for subsequent projects. 
  • Identify vendors and companies that accept materials identified in the project. 
  • Share the costs and potential savings associated with deconstruction vs. waste disposal 
  • Share best practices to extend the lifespan of a greenhouse. 
  • Explore options for moving greenhouses through basic disassembly and assembly techniques. 
  • Tour a recently constructed greenhouse as well as an older greenhouse in need of repair. 

This project is funded in part by a Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. A key deliverable of the work is to create a digital, shareable resource that informs greenhouse owners of best practices for sustainably deconstructing an old greenhouse in Greater Boston, including service providers, local reuse outlets, potential material uses, and benefits. This resource will demonstrate that there are many options for extending the use and life of greenhouse materials. 

Additional partners and vendors in attendance will added to this page soon.

Logistics:

The workshop will take place at a greenhouse located in a non-public area. All attendees will be supervised by Zoo staff at all times. Attendees will be required to sign a volunteer waiver for access to non-public areas and participation in deconstruction activities. 

Attendees are to arrive at Franklin Park Zoo's Giraffe Entrance at 9:00 a.m. 

Attire for outdoor work is suggested. Attendees are encouraged (although not required) to participate in deconstruction activities including sorting materials into piles, lifting objects up to 50 lbs, and working outdoors in the elements.  

Agenda: 

9:00 a.m.
Brief tour of a new 2400 SQ FT greenhouse and discussion with builders. Light refreshments will be served. Q&A with local greenhouse builder. 

10:00 a.m.
Observe Boston Building Resources and Youth Build Boston as they begin the process of deconstructing a 30 x 80’ polycarbonate greenhouse. Participate in the process of sorting various materials. Learn all available waste, recycling, and reuse streams for the project. 

11:30 a.m.
Lunch. Light snacks will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch, or to visit the Zoo's Farmhouse Cafe.

12:30 p.m.
Tour an approximately 20-year-old greenhouse that requires new polycarbonate panels and greenhouse plastic membrane. Discussion on the pros and cons of deconstruction or extending the lifespan with new building envelope materials. 

1:00 p.m.
Q&A with Boston Building Resources. Participate in the process of sorting various materials. Learn all available waste, recycling, and reuse streams for the project. 

Q&A with local greenhouse builder.