Provide occupants access to a fruit or vegetable garden

Rationale: An on-site fruit and vegetable garden that is well-maintained and accessible to occupants provides increased access to gardening opportunities, promoting increased physical activity and social interaction, contributing to reduced stress, increased job satisfaction, and improved eating habits. 

For the most accurate strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Fruit or Vegetable Garden (Full Credit):

To achieve full credit, demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements:

1. Provide an outdoor fruit or vegetable garden that is free of charge to all building occupants.
2. Ensure that the garden is open and accessible during all daytime hours.
3. Establish a weekly maintenance plan for the garden during the local growing season.
4. Plant the garden with fruits, vegetables, or herbs.
5. Ensure the garden meets demand based on the number of occupants with access by including the number of plants detailed below:
   • • for buildings with 1 - 500 occupants, 10 plants
     • for buildings with 501 - 1,000 occupants, 20 plants
     • for buildings with 1,001 - 1,500 occupants, 30 plants
     • for buildings with 1,501 - 2,000 occupants, 40 plants
     • for buildings with 2,001 - 2,500 occupants, 50 plants
     • for buildings with 2,501 - 3,000 occupants, 60 plants
     • for buildings with 3,001 - 3,500 occupants, 70 plants
     • for buildings with 3,501 - 4,000 occupants, 80 plants
     • for buildings with 4,001 - 4,501 occupants, 90 plants
     • for buildings with 4,501+ occupants, 100 plants
6. Ensure gardens are located outdoors and are a minimum of 32 square feet or 3 square meters.
7. Publicize information about the garden with all building occupants through a minimum of one of the following methods:
   1. • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
      • communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters.

Option 2 - Community Garden (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating compliance with all of the following requirements:

1. Identify a publicly accessible community garden that includes fruits, vegetables or herbs.
2. Ensure the publicly accessible community garden is located within a ½-mile or 800-meter walking route of a main building entrance.
3. Ensure that the garden is open and accessible during all daytime hours.
4. Ensure that the garden is a minimum of 2,500 square feet.
5. Publicize information about the garden with all building occupants through a minimum of one of the following methods:
   1. • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
      • communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters.

Option 3 - Hydroponic Garden (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating compliance with all of the following requirements:

1. Provide a hydroponic garden that is free of charge to all building occupants.
2. Locate the hydroponic garden within the building(s).
3. Ensure that the garden is open and accessible during all daytime hours.
4. Establish a weekly maintenance plan for the garden.
5. Plant the garden with fruits, vegetables, or herbs.
6. Ensure the garden meets demand based on the number of occupants with access by including the number of plants detailed below:
   • • for buildings with 1 - 500 occupants, 10 plants
     • for buildings with 501 - 1,000 occupants, 20 plants
     • for buildings with 1,001 - 1,500 occupants, 30 plants
     • for buildings with 1,501 - 2,000 occupants, 40 plants
     • for buildings with 2,001 - 2,500 occupants, 50 plants
     • for buildings with 2,501 - 3,000 occupants, 60 plants
     • for buildings with 3,001 - 3,500 occupants, 70 plants
     • for buildings with 3,501 - 4,000 occupants, 80 plants
     • for buildings with 4,001 - 4,501 occupants, 90 plants
     • for buildings with 4,501+ occupants, 100 plants
7. Publicize information about the garden with all building occupants through a minimum of one of the following methods:
   1. • a digital platform, such as a website, digital application, or display screen in common areas
      • communication material, such as notification emails or newsletters.

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway 

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1
  • Checkbox to certify that the fruit or vegetable garden will be free of charge to all building occupants
• Requirement 2
  •  Checkbox to certify that the fruit or vegetable garden will be open during all daytime hours
• Requirement 3
  • Upload an annotated map identifying the distance between the planned garden and a main building entrance
• Requirement 4
  • Checkbox to certify that a weekly maintenance plan for the garden will be established during the local growing season
• Requirement 5
  • Upload annotated design drawings identifying the types of fruits, vegetables, and/or herbs that will be planted in the garden
• Requirement 6
  • Text box to input the anticipated number of occupants with access to the garden
  • Text box to input the total planned number of plants within the garden
• Requirement 7
  • Text box to input the planned size of the garden (sq. ft)
• Requirement 8
  • Checkboxes to certify that information about the garden will be shared with all building occupants through one or more of the listed methods 

Option 2: 

• Requirement 1
  • Upload annotated design drawings identifying the types of fruits, vegetables, and/or herbs that will be planted in the garden
• Requirement 2
  • Upload an annotated map identifying the distance between the planned garden and a main building entrance
• Requirement 3
  • Checkbox to certify that the fruit or vegetable garden will be open during all daytime hours
• Requirement 4
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) showing the community garden
• Requirement 5
  • Checkboxes to certify that information about the garden will be shared with all building occupants through one or more of the listed methods

Option 3:

• Requirement 1
  • Upload annotated design drawings identifying the types of fruits, vegetables, and/or herbs that will be planted in the garden
• Requirement 2
  • Upload an annotated map identifying the distance between the planned garden and a main building entrance
• Requirement 3
  • Checkbox to certify that the fruit or vegetable garden will be open during all work hours
• Requirement 4
  • Checkbox to certify that the fruit or vegetable garden will be open during all daytime hours
• Requirement 5

  • Upload an annotated map identifying the size of the garden

  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) showing the community garden

• Requirement 6

  • Text box to input the anticipated number of occupants with access to the garden

  • Text box to input the total planned number of plants within the garden

• Requirement 7
  • Checkboxes to certify that information about the garden will be shared with all full- and part-time employees and staff within tenant spaces through one or more of the listed methods

Built Pathway 

Option 1:

• Requirement 1
  • Checkbox to certify that the fruit or vegetable garden is free of charge to all building occupants
• Requirement 2

  • Checkbox to certify that the fruit or vegetable garden is open during all daytime hours

• Requirement 3
  • Upload an annotated map identifying the distance between the garden and a main building entrance
• Requirement 4
  • Checkbox to certify that a weekly maintenance plan for the garden is established during the local growing season
• Requirement 5
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) identifying the types of fruits, vegetables, and/or herbs that are planted in the garden
• Requirement 6

  • Text box to input the number of occupants with access to the garden

  • Text box to input the total number of plants within the garden

• Requirement 7
  • Text box to input the size of the garden (sq. ft)
• Requirement 8
  • Checkbox to certify that information about the garden is shared with all building occupants

Option 2:

• Requirement 1
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) identifying the types of fruits, vegetables, and/or herbs that are planted in the garden
• Requirement 2
  • Upload an annotated map identifying the distance between the garden and a main building entrance
• Requirement 3
  • Checkbox to certify that the fruit or vegetable garden is open during all daytime hours
• Requirement 4

  • Upload an annotated map identifying the size of the garden

  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) showing the community garden

• Requirement 5
  • Checkbox to certify that information about the garden is shared with all building occupants

Option 3: 

• Requirement 1
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) identifying the types of fruits, vegetables, and/or herbs that are planted in the garden
• Requirement 2
  • Upload an annotated map identifying the distance between the garden and a main building entrance
• Requirement 3
  • Checkbox to certify that the fruit or vegetable garden is open during all work hours
• Requirement 4
  • Checkbox to certify that the fruit or vegetable garden is open during all daytime hours
• Requirement 5

  • Upload an annotated map identifying the size of the garden

  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) showing the community garden

• Requirement 6

  • Text box to input the number of occupants with access to the garden

  • text box to input the total number of plants within the garden

• Requirement 7
  • Checkbox to certify that information about the garden is shared with all full- and part-time employees and staff within tenant spaces