Sustainability is at the heart of who we are at Marywood University. As a Laudato Si’ University, inspired by Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home, we’ve made sustainability a cornerstone of campus life. From turning kitchen scraps into compost gold to growing greens with cutting-edge hydroponics, we’re leading with action and empowering our community to make a difference.
At Marywood, sustainability means working together to create a healthier planet, a stronger community, and a brighter future. Ready to grow green with us?
Big changes are blooming in Marywood’s Community Garden! With the support of the Murray Award, this space is being transformed into a vibrant hub for hands-on learning and sustainability. The revitalization will continue through spring 2025, with a grand re-opening planned for Earth Week 2025.
We like to think of the Community Garden as a collaborative classroom where students from architecture, business, and environmental science programs come together to create something extraordinary. From redesigning planting zones to envisioning new ways to connect with nature, the revitalized garden will reflect Marywood’s innovative spirit and commitment to the environment.
Follow the gardeners on The Marywood Environmental Club Instagram Page.
Why waste food when you can turn it into something amazing? That’s the idea behind Marywood’s Compost Pilot Program, launched in October 2023. This initiative, led by the Science Department and Dining Services, takes pre-consumer food scraps from Nazareth Dining Hall and transforms them into nutrient-rich compost.
Here’s how it works: students from Environmental Science, the Sustainable Design minor, and Campus Ministry collect kitchen waste—think fruit peels and veggie scraps—and transport it to the Community Garden compost bins. And here’s the fun part: the compost bins were custom-designed by 5th Year Architecture Students in Michelle Pannone’s studio course. They’re practical, stylish, and perfectly Marywood.
This program isn’t just about reducing waste, it’s a hands-on lesson in sustainability for the entire campus. Plus, we’re working on a real-time tracker to show how much food waste we’ve diverted from landfills.
Spoiler alert—it’s going to be a lot.
Who needs soil when you’ve got a FlexFarm Hydroponic System? At Marywood, we’re growing fresh greens sustainably with this futuristic farming method. Hydroponics uses less water, skips the pesticides, and produces amazing results—and we’re just getting started.
With every harvest, we’re not only growing food but also teaching students about sustainable agriculture and the role technology plays in shaping a greener future.
What’s next? We’re expanding the system and launching a live tracker so you can see how much produce we’re growing—and how it’s making a difference.
Learn more about the teach that's supporting our future via the Fork Farms FlexFarm.
At the heart of Marywood’s campus is our Greenhouse, where innovation meets impact. This vibrant hub brings together students, faculty, and community members to cultivate ideas and plants that make a real difference.
Through the Growing Giving Greens program, students grow herbs in the greenhouse that are donated to the Friends of the Poor’s Jackson Terrace Pantry. This simple yet meaningful initiative shares fresh, healthy food with families in need, strengthening community ties.
Meanwhile, our Environmental Science students are conducting groundbreaking research on native seed stratification, a process that plays a critical role in restoring local ecosystems and protecting biodiversity.
Each spring, the greenhouse comes alive for our Native Plant Sale, an annual event where the community can embrace sustainable gardening practices while supporting student-led initiatives. The next sale is set for May 2025, so don’t forget to mark your calendar!
Sustainability is all about using resources wisely, and at Marywood, we’re walking the walk.
Our combined heat and power (CHP) system generates electricity efficiently while recycling heat to provide heating and cooling across campus. It’s smart, sustainable, and significantly reduces our carbon footprint.
In the Community Garden, we’ve also installed a rainwater collection system, showing how even small-scale solutions can make a big difference in water conservation.
We’re making an impact, and soon you’ll be able to see it in real time. We’re working on a Sustainability Tracker that will show:
It’s not just data—it’s proof that together, we’re making a difference.
Sustainability at Marywood isn’t something you watch from the sidelines, it’s something you live. Whether you’re a prospective student, a current student, or part of our community, there’s a way for you to join in.
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