A number of boutique companies have begun offering a vegetable garden as an added perk for their employees. A garden requires virtually no resources, yet it can bring in huge benefits for the company, such as an increase in office morale, a pronounced focus on worker health and wellness, and an edge over other competitors.
Minneapolis, MN-based branding agency Haberman invested $10,000 to set up a garden for its 30 employees. Said co-founder Fred Haberman: "It's creating that water-cooler effect. People have a greater excitement [about] working at Haberman."
Company-sponsored gardens are also gastronomically, emotionally, and financially rewarding for staffers who participate. Twisted Limb Paperworks, a recycled paper products company with a 1,500-square-foot garden outside its Bloomington, IN, office, estimates employees have reaped $2,400 in produce this season.
I'm in love with this idea, and might have to lobby for my own company to consider a plot in the big city! What do you think of it? Do you know of any organizations that are experimenting with corporate gardens?
Singh S. Madan
Kate Moss
Roberto Cavalli
I love Twisted Limb! They were such an inspiration when I was planning my wedding!!
I wonder how many corporate gardens there are where I live? I honestly have no idea but would imagine there are a few. Off the top of my head I know Gaiam has one and our local homeless shelter (though not a corporation).
1Not quite the same, but in the same vein, my company, a small, private tutoring company in Marin County, offers our employees a membership in our local, organic CSA. They get a box of fresh, local, organic fruits and veggies every two weeks while they work for us.
2The CSA is a fantastic idea for companies who don't have the space or even interest in gardening but want to provide the same benefit! Thanks! For other small businesses interested in starting a company garden, we've posted ten tips based upon our experience at: http://twistedlimb.blogspot.com/2009/08/ten-tips-for-starting-employee-g.... Good luck!
3TS Designs, a made-in-the-USA organic t-shirt company in North Carolina also has a company garden!
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