The Thoreau Farm Trust is launching a fundraising effort to install a solar photovoltaic system at Thoreau’s birthplace in Concord, Massachusetts. In support of this project, a crowdfunding page on Indiegogo has been established (https://www.bit.ly/1eNdZQi) and an anonymous donor has pledged to match all donations up to $12,000.
Thoreau Farm recently led a successful capital campaign to acquire and preserve Thoreau’s birthplace, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house, which had become dilapidated after many years of neglect, underwent a $900,000 restoration and opened to the public for the first time in its history in 2010. Thoreau Farm now welcomes visitors from around the world who are inspired by Thoreau for tours, events, and educational programs for adults and children.
Thoreau Farm undertook the restoration with Thoreau’s status as the “father” of the environmental movement in mind and in the spirit of living deliberately, as Thoreau himself urged. Thoreau Farm integrated many green materials and technologies into the project, while carefully maintaining the historic integrity of the building.
However, one last project remains.
“It has always been our dream to have solar energy at Thoreau’s birthplace,” said Nancy Grohol, executive director of Thoreau Farm.
Acquiring solar energy is an important part of Thoreau’s Farm mission. It is in line with Thoreau’s own environmental values, which continue to influence the environmental movement today. The site’s biggest source of electric use is its low temperature heat pump, which heats and cools the house without the use of fossil funds except for the electricity used to run the unit. Solar energy would offset this use and get the house “off the grid” entirely.
In addition, all the green features of the building are used for educational purposes. Visitors to the house learn how they can be more environmentally conscious just by making small changes in their own lives.
Solar energy is also budget friendly. “Generating our own electricity will also result in significant annual savings, money we can redirect to our educational mission,” said Grohol.
The organization must raise a minimum of $25,000 to pay for a solar photovoltaic system, a big task for a small nonprofit. However, a generous donor has offered to match all gifts received by Thoreau Farm up to $12,000.
“The match will help us get to our goal twice as fast, with each donor’s gift immediately doubling in value,” says Grohol. “Thoreau has inspired people around the world with his timeless wisdom and ideas. We hope people will help us honor his legacy by supporting this important project at his birthplace.”
To support the project, visit Thoreau Farm’s website at https://www.thoreaufarm.org or Indiegogo page at https://www.bit.ly/1eNdZQi.
About Thoreau Farm
Thoreau Farm serves as the steward of the Henry David Thoreau birthplace. We believe that Thoreau’s extraordinary ideas about life, nature, and social responsibility are as relevant today as they were in his lifetime. We hope visitors will find his birthplace a source of inspiration for living deliberately, practicing simplicity, and exploring new ideas for positive change. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.thoreaufarm.org.
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