In January 2014, 11 worker-owners took over the operations of A Yard and A Half Landscaping, an organic landscaping company based in Waltham, Massachusetts. The company was founded in 1988 by Eileen Michaels. This cooperative ownership transition was a major milestone for the company. It represented the fulfillment of a vision that had been growing for five years, and that was carried out by owner and staff over the course of 12 months of sustained efforts. The conversion has equipped the company to carry on the vision of its founder and build the wealth of the employees for years to come, while rewarding Eileen’s entrepreneurship and providing for her retirement.
Industry: Landscaping
Location: Waltham, Massachusetts
Number of employees: 35
Became employee owned: 2014
Financing: Cooperative Fund of New England
From this company
- A Yard and a Half – About Us
- A Yard and a Half – Considering Cooperatives
- A Yard and a Half – Orientation for Prospective Coop Members
Learn more
- Truthout – Capitalism Has Failed Immigrants. Can Worker Cooperatives Do Better? (2019)
- More than Money Podcast – From Workers to Owners (audio) (2017)
- Shelterforce – The Next Boom for Worker Co-ops? (2016)
- DAWI et al – Successful Cooperative Ownership Transitions – Yard and a Half Landscaping (2015)
- Project Equity – Financing Case Study: A Yard & A Half Landscaping (2015)
- Agaric – An evening of cooperatives and a half (2014)
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