Gardening is what they do at ScottsMiracle - Gro , so it may get along as no surprise that they have one of the largest corporate garden programs in the US . They encourage associates to garden because the society want them to experience its multitude of health and wellness benefits , such as increase forcible activity , more meter spent in nature , lessen stress and fortify societal interaction with colleague . It ’s also a style for associate to get more hands - on cognition about garden and give back to the local biotic community .
“ Gardening is an opportunity for our associates to get their hand into the dirt , learn how our products work and how Mother Nature bear on our exploit , ” say Melissa Bond , cognitive content director and garden committee unpaid worker at ScottsMiracle - Gro . “ It ’s a four month master class on the life history cycle of a vegetable garden , garden pestilence and community outreach . ”
Building on a legacyThe companionship first started encouraging associate degree to garden on company property at their Marysville , Ohio existence home base in 1943 in support of the World War II Victory Garden movement . During that metre , Americans were encouraged to grow their own food supply , and the company offered associates land on which to grow edible gardens . Flash forward 75 years . Today , the corporate gardens have flourish into 77 bring up beds with over 3,000 satisfying metrical unit of spring up blank space . More than 250 associates plant and incline the garden each growing season .
Giving backAssociates produce everything from potatoes to watermelon and donate the crop to the local Marysville Food Pantry , which feeds 75 food - insecure families a calendar week . Before the fellowship started donate in 2009 , the Marysville Food Pantry had no wise food useable to give to families . Since then , the company has bring home the bacon nigh 34,000 pound of freshly harvested fruit and vegetables to those in want in the community .
“ the great unwashed always look ahead to fresh vegetables , particularly after a long , cold and gray-headed winter , ” says Keitha Simpson , secretaire and financial officer of the Marysville Food Pantry . “ They come in inquire when the invigorated vegetables are coming in . ”
associate across the patronage are gardening at regional facilities as well . Just last year , associate at theMississauga , Canada officebegan their garden programme and have had a great participation answer from associate and the community .
And theShafter , California facilitycreated a competitive ( and fun ) garden competition among associates to further squad construction and a better understanding of our products .
loaning expertness to othersTheir rage for gardening does n’t intercept at their own front room access . They often take what they ’ve learned from their embodied garden experience and share it with other central Ohio companies that are hoping to double it for their own associates and communities . The volunteer - lead Associate Garden Committee meets with other company , such as JPMorgan Chase , Abercrombie & Fitch and Donatos , to share best practices and suggest on all aspects of commence a corporate garden program––from associate participation to sustainability . It ’s the commission ’s promise to spread the benefits of garden to as many other organizations as potential .
For more information : ScottsMiracle - Groscottsmiraclegro.com
