Indoor and Outdoor Vegetable Gardens Connect Residents to Their Neighbors at Multi-Family Residences
From the city to the shore, these multi-family residences are using their gardens as alternative gathering spaces for their communities. The Kensington, located in Chinatown in downtown Boston, installed a Grobrix indoor vegetable-growing wall just outside their apartment gym. The Cove, located in Hingham, MA, installed six raised beds in its outdoor engagement area near the pool.
Their Mission
At The Kensington, a Bozzuto-managed property, the Property Management team was looking for a unique amenity to add to their solarium space that would contribute to the building’s LEED certification. They also wanted an amenity that would bring life into the space. Greystar-managed property The Cove wanted to create a sustainable space for their residents to gather, connect, and learn.
our solution
Green City Growers’ urban farming program met the needs of The Kensington and The Cove for sustainable, engaging resident amenities. Through our gardens and farmer-supported programs, residents can actively contribute to sustainability efforts while gaining hands-on experience in the garden and accessing organic, freshly grown food.
The Results
Impactful Resident Engagement
A study done by Grubb Properties found that 72% of surveyed young apartment renters value the importance of connection to their neighbors.
Green amenities create new spaces for resident interactions beyond the lobby or the mailroom. Gardening encourages residents to bond around shared tasks, bringing people of all ages together for learning and growth.
“It was always so great seeing how vibrant people became when they were in the garden. Nothing is more exciting than fresh veggies!”
Farmer Jessica, The Cove’s Urban Farmer Educator
LEED Certification and Sustainability First
Our garden’s high-quality local food production contributed to The Kensington’s LEED Gold certification, cementing their status as a place where building a greener future and a greener city are prioritized. The Cove’s outdoor gardens also support their environmental stewardship and help create a biodiverse environment in their shared outdoor space.
“We definitely have some frequent residents that come and grab the herbs. They’ve made salads and drinks, and just love being part of something green within the building.”
Alexia Lamparelli, Director of Residence Experience at The Kensington
Fresh Produce Right at Home
One significant benefit of having a Green City Growers garden in a multi-residential building is the proximity of fresh, organic produce to your kitchen. Residents can take produce right to their homes and continue the connection through cooking and sharing meals.
“One of the things that drew me to this residence in particular was that we had a community garden, and I wanted to live here because of it.”
Participant at The Cove