Happy Earth Day! Each year, this day reminds us of our collective responsibility to protect the planet. For companies looking to make a meaningful environmental impact, gardening programs are a thoughtful and creative initiative to consider.
From rooftop gardens to community partnerships, these initiatives can be a valuable way to turn sustainability goals into tangible action. Whether it’s hands-on gardening at the office, virtual workshops, or memberships at local green spaces, these initiatives can make a real difference.
Corporate Gardening Programs
A number of organizations have set up corporate gardening programs that offer companies a meaningful way to engage with environmental and community-focused initiatives. One organization that does this is Project Petals, a climate and community development organization based in New York that empowers under-resourced communities with tools, education, and resources to improve green spaces, food security, and environmental leadership.
In an interview with Alicia White, founder and executive director of Project Petals, White explains that she started engaging companies with the goal of helping them build meaningful connections with the communities they serve. To achieve this, she created a program where “companies could sign up and bring volunteers for short-term and long-term events to get their employees out, learn how to garden, grow their own food and help harvest for the communities that they serve. So, it’s a great partnership that we have with the companies and the environmental spaces that we work with.”
For example, Ashley Furniture volunteers with Project Petals on a monthly or bi-monthly basis during spring and summer months. Employees come out for a full day volunteering event — gardening, painting benches and preparing outdoor spaces. It’s about getting away from their desks and laptop screens, “putting their hands in the soil, and really learning the tools of what it is to steward environmental spaces,” White explains. Airbnb and Estee Lauder also volunteer with Project Petals on group volunteer days.
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Participating employees are often encouraged to fill out a post-event survey and White notes, “they always say this is the most fun team-building experience they’ve had — a lot of them have never gardened before.”
Another organization offering corporate gardening programs is StartOrganic, which supports companies like LinkedIn, Whole Foods and PayPal in creating organic gardening programs for both on-site and remote employees. StartOrganic explains that the beauty of such gardening programs is that it does not require expert-level knowledge of gardening. Rather, participants are provided with gardening kits, instructions and resources to guide them.
Companies like C&S Wholesale Grocers have taken a step further by creating a Workplace Organic Gardens Project that enables employees and their families to grow organic produce on company land for donation to local hunger relief organizations.
The Sustainability Link
Corporate gardening programs offer many sustainability benefits. For one, they are a creative and impactful way for companies to promote employee well-being and team building outside the office.
They encourage physical activity, helping counter sedentary work habits, and offer mental health benefits by reducing stress, boosting focus, and inspiring creativity through time spent outdoors and connecting with nature. More so, employees who garden tend to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, which naturally boosts their nutrition and prevents diseases.
In fact, a participant survey from StartOrganic’s online vegetable gardening program found that 92% noticed reduced stress simply from participating, and 96.1% said that the program had a positive impact on their lives.
Beyond employees, corporate gardening programs also benefit the environment. By turning unused spaces into green areas, they help improve air quality and support local biodiversity. These gardens often use sustainable practices like composting and organic farming, which minimize chemical use and promote soil health.
Such programs also cultivate a culture of environmental awareness because when employees get involved in gardening, they’re more likely to adopt eco-conscious habits both at work and at home.
Corporate gardening programs also create opportunities for companies to connect directly with the communities they operate in. By volunteering in local gardens, employees can build relationships with community members, contribute to beautifying shared spaces, and support access to fresh, healthy food in under-resourced areas. Beyond the physical work, it is a tangible expression of corporate social responsibility that helps build trust and strengthens social bonds.
Speaking on the long-term impacts of Project Petals on the communities they serve, White shares that the results have been amazing. “The green spaces that my organization has created have become hubs for wellness, for people to learn to grow their own food, but most importantly, sustainable spaces in these communities that help address air pollution and food security. I’ve seen it really benefit the communities that we work in.”
Overall, even as the anti-ESG sentiment grows louder in the U.S., forward-thinking companies recognize the value of initiatives like corporate gardening programs that cut through the noise by focusing on people, not politics. And in today’s world of remote work and rising disconnection, activities that nurture employee well-being, climate action and community engagement are needed more than before.
