“Charlene Duong was in her second year at Brandeis University when she became aware of the widespread use of toxic, synthetic pesticides on her campus. Shocked but not surprised, she knew she had to do something about it.”
“Mackenzie is the Founder and Executive Director of Herbicide-Free Campus. This organization works with students and groundskeepers around the country to advocate for an end to the spraying of synthetic herbicides at schools...”
“Willamette University and its groundskeepers gained national recognition this spring for having nearly eliminated synthetic pesticide use on campus. The acknowledgment came from Herbicide Free Campus, a project founded by students at the University of California, Berkeley which promotes a toxin-free environment ”
“Urging that the health of people and pollinators can’t wait, the groups contend that unless major home and garden retailers act now, consumers and threatened species will continue to use and be exposed to glyphosate via Roundup for the next year. The coalition, backed by 124 other organizations...”
“ On the day of its annual shareholder meeting, Home Depot (NASDQ: HD) is under renewed pressure to stop selling cancer-linked, pollinator-toxic weedkiller glyphosate, the key ingredient in Roundup, as a coalition of consumer and environmental groups installed a giant billboard outside of company headquarters. ”
“Another part of this week’s activities was Weeding with Herbicide Free Brandeis, a group that is part of a larger campaign, Herbicide Free Campus, which currently has chapters in seven universities, including Brandeis”
“The pinnacle of college life in America is the green, grassy quad. Often the center of campus physically and metaphorically... But not all quads, or campuses for that matter, are cared for equally.”
“Bridging the gap between the people who maintain our campus and the students that use it everyday is super important to the mission of Herbicide Free Berkeley,” Tisdale said in an email.”
“Willamette University is among a select number of institutions nationwide recognized for eliminating synthetic pesticides on their campuses. A new report by Herbicide-Free Campus, a project at Earth Island Institute...”
“The pinnacle of college life in America is the green, grassy quad. Often the center of campus physically and metaphorically, these pristine lawns are where students congregate, graduate, and celebrate. But not all quads, or campuses for that matter, are cared for equally. ”
“A new report published by Herbicide-Free Campus, a project at Earth Island Institute, reveals that eliminating synthetic pesticides and transitioning to organic land management on college campuses can save money, create healthier environments, and conserve water.”
“All are tackling issues stemming from or related to Kaua‘i residents’ successful actions against agrochemical companies, according to panel moderator Mackenzie Feldman, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Herbicide Free Campus”
“This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, pulls some weeds with Mackenzie Feldman & Arianna Maysonave from Herbicide-Free Campus (herbicidefreecampus.org), a campaign to ban herbicides at schools! ”
“Nahm worked for an environmental NGO and learned about Herbicide Free Campus, a UC Berkeley initiative whose mission is to empower the next generation of students by starting locally and advocating for organic land care on their campuses.”
“You’ve probably heard of DDT, a synthetic chemical popularized in the 1940s for killing unwanted insects. Most high school American History courses touch on marine biologist Rachel Carson and her groundbreaking 1962 book titled Silent Spring...”
“In the spring of 2021, a group of excited Grinnell College students, along with faculty and staff, acted on a student initiative called “Too Much Grass” and came together to create a 5,200 square foot prairie in the most prominent location on campus, Mac Field.”
“Don’t take no for an answer. If you ever get discouraged (and trust us, you will), just remember that there are so many people supporting you from afar. You are on the right side of history, and anything that changes the world takes a lot of time, patience, and grit. ”
“‘We realized it was going to be very difficult to get rid of the grass without using glyphosate, or Roundup,’ said Grace Duffy, a Cedar Rapids native in her third year at Grinnell. But ‘we wanted this to be done without herbicides’”
“This past school year, HFC fellows joined forces with student initiative Too Much Grass to propose re-landscaping areas on campus with native prairie grass, creating a campus that is more representative of its pre-colonial ecological roots.”
“We chose to reach across the nation, creating a group of young people dedicated to protecting human health and stewarding our environment. Together, we’re campaigning for the elimination of toxic pesticides from campus landscapes.”
“Don’t take no for an answer. If you ever get discouraged (and trust us, you will), just remember that there are so many people supporting you from afar. You are on the right side of history, and anything that changes the world takes a lot of time, patience, and grit. When you hit a wall, you just need to find a way around it. And trust us, there always is a way. You got this!”
“The idea is to create a dialogue around weeds, transforming our typical notion of weeds as “bad” and showing how weeds can be beautiful, foster biodiversity, provide habitat for wildlife, and serve as food and medicine.”
“This week, hundreds of concerned consumers have taken to social media and sent emails to Home Depot executives. And individual shareholders have submitted questions about when the company will stop selling Roundup®.”
“121 Food Organizations to Watch in 2021: HFC supports student groups who want to eliminate the use of synthetic herbicides on their campuses. ”
“As society begins to prioritize health, Herbicide-Free Campus’ mission of stopping the use of herbicides on school grounds and advocating for a transition to organic land care maintenance is increasingly relevant. ”
“Though the new semester has been strenuous due to the pandemic preventing HFC members from being on campus to rally students and active participants, that has not stopped them or their movement toward a campus free from toxic herbicides.”
“Regulatory agencies have failed to protect us... It is Home Depot and Lowe’s responsibility to protect the many people who still use these products and are unaware of the risks.”
“This campaign gives students the opportunity to come into their power and fight for a non-toxic world in a hands-on way. The ripple effects of training young leaders who then go out into the world and make change is immeasurable.”
“With herbicide-free campaigns existing at thirteen other campuses around the country, the question is not what would an herbicide-free campus look like, but rather, will you be there to join us?”
“Through social media, virtual meetings, and petitions, HFC is shifting its operations online to advocate for essential workers and more stringent herbicide-use standards. To achieve these goals, Feldman says it is important to remember that government and regulatory agencies are beholden to their constituents. ”
“Their goal... an environment where students don’t have to worry about interacting with health-degrading herbicides while also interacting more with the community”
“Herbicide Free Campus is learning that in order to eradicate the use of pesticides on campus, it needs to educate campus communities about how to appreciate weeds.”
“Stonyfield graciously donated $20,000 to our campaign. This support allowed us to nearly triple the number of campuses on which we are active. We are currently at 14 schools in eight states, and we are expanding every day.”
“Conventional means of turf and landscape management deplete the soil of natural bacteria & nutrients which make them more dependent on chemicals. But once these chemicals are removed and the soil is fed with organic compost, compost tea, and other organic materials, less chemical application is needed.”
“Napolitano has agreed to temporarily continue the suspension of glyphosate on UC campuses, but this is only until Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans are implemented.”
“University of California (UC) President Janet Napolitano recently has approved recommendations made by the UC Herbicide Task Force, a proposal that falls short of systems change that student activists are advocating.”
“Feldman said the ultimate goal is to expand the bans ‘beyond people who are privileged to attend a university.’ That includes protecting farmworkers, passing stricter pesticide regulations on a national scale, and pressuring the EPA to enforce them.”
“Because of national supporters like Stonyfield Organic, we’re able to increase our impact and further spread the word about our efforts to end herbicide use at every school in the nation”
“UC Santa Barbara’s Associated Students Senate voted unanimously in support of a resolution that proposes banning the use of toxic herbicides throughout the University of California system”
“Gustafson reflects that the biggest lesson she and Feldman have learned is that change must begin with open dialogue, specifically dialogue with the folks you’re requesting change from”
“Thanks to the inspiring work of Herbicide-Free UC... Napolitano also set up an Herbicide Task Force to consider the possibility of phasing out these toxins altogether”
“Mackenzie Feldman, youthful Executive Director of Herbicide-Free Campus, has successfully persuaded University of California campuses to end use of the herbicide glyphosate”
“It was only a matter of time before I found the moment that would propel me into action. I began to exercise my activism after a personal experience made me realize I had no other option. ”
“I am excited to train groundskeepers on transitioning to organic methods, and to inspire more students to join our movement because I know firsthand that students can make change happen”
“Their campaign has since grown into Herbicide-Free Campus, a platform that provides resources to anyone interested in helping to advocate for chemical-free, mechanical practices for weed management on campus”
“Superintendent Christina Kishimoto sent a memo Tuesday to all principals stressing that herbicides are banned at Hawaii public schools. She also called for the immediate removal of any herbicides stored at schools”
“Mackenzie Feldman, one of the Accelerator program’s youth leaders, founded Herbicide Free Campus as a student group at the University of California, Berkeley. Since graduating, she has expanded the organization, which aims to eliminate the use of herbicides and pesticides on school campuses across the country.”
“As a brand that refuses to use anything but certified organic cotton, supporting Mackenzie felt like a natural choice. We believe that campuses and communities without toxic herbicides are a cause worth getting behind”
“Mackenzie Feldman’s campaign is among the inspirations sure to give you the motivation you need to own your next year’s environmental goals and aspirations”
“Why are we using toxic chemicals when there are solutions at our fingertips that carry no risk at all? ”
“She is truly remarkable. I don’t think I have seen an undergrad in my experience who will wind up having as lasting an impact on the campus as Mackenzie.”
“Banning UC Berkeley’s use of herbicides from courts to campus is a must”
