That sense of camaraderie and connection permeates at other corporate gardens too. "This definitely brings together a diverse group of people," says Timberland's Blaisdell. With 700 people working at Timberland's headquarters, many employees didn't know each other before picking up watering cans together. Or they may meet at the farm stand in the cafeteria at around 9 a.m. in search of the perfect posies or basil or vegetables. "They hover," waiting for the produce, she says. "Cut flowers are always gone in an instant. It lights up the office." Altruism is another big draw to the company garden. Timberland staff buy produce at a little farm stand in their cafeteria, and proceeds support a food bank in New Hampshire — a fairly common approach for employee gardens. Timberland employees may use some of their 40 hours of paid community service time to tend the flowers and vegetables. At other companies, employees go to the gardens on their own time — lunch hours, before or after work.