With the push to get people back into offices, there’s a glaring question floating around the corporate world: how do we make the office a place people actually want to come back to? As someone who believes in the impact of plants not just on spaces but on people, this question has me wishing of a world where every office has its own green vegetable garden out back.
Does it sound too good to be true? Well, it’s already happening. In this episode, I sat down with Josh and Troy, the founders of StartOrganic, a company that helps employers give that opportunity to their employees. They’ve created office gardens for companies like PayPal, eBay, Intuit, and Apple, and what they’re doing is so much more than planting tomatoes.
In this episode, we learn:
- [03:35] How StartOrganic started
- [06:54] How did they end up designing gardens for PayPal?
- [10:31] Scaling up with corporate programs
- [12:05] What are the first steps in consulting with businesses on garden installation projects?
- [14:00] What's the most unique place they’ve installed a garden?
- [14:50] Make gardening fun with Espoma Organic’s all-natural products!
- [16:26] What is the primary focus of StartOrganic?
- [19:44] How they tailor their corporate garden programs to client needs
- [22:11] PayPal’s evolving garden program
- [24:56] How does StartOrganic help employees care for their corporate garden?
- [26:54] Measuring the success of corporate gardens
- [29:17] Heartwarming employee stories
- [32:10] Can small offices start corporate gardens?
- [34:42] What are the popular crops and seasonal offerings
- [36:33] Where can you find StartOrganic?
Mentioned in our conversation:
- Human Spaces Report on The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace
- StartOrganic Free Starter Course
How have office gardens impacted employees' well-being?
Check out the full show notes and blog here!
Thank you to our episode sponsor:
Espoma Organic
Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.
Follow Maria and Growing Joy:
Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung
Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!
Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)
Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!
Instagram: @growingjoywithmari
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.