Hampshire College recognized by Re:wild Your Campus for efforts to reduce toxic pesticide use and improve sustainability of campus grounds
For Release:
April 14, 2026
Hampshire College is the latest school to receive the Green Grounds Certification at the Platinum level becoming the second school in the Five College Consortium to receive the recognition. Awarded by advocacy group Re:wild Your Campus, the certification recognizes campuses that are eliminating the use of toxic pesticides, increasing organic land care, fostering biodiversity and promoting soil health.
“We created the Green Grounds Certification to incentivize schools to protect both the workers and student populations and highlight their commitment to biodiversity, proving that managing grounds without chemicals is practical and achievable,” said Mackenzie Feldman, co-director of Re:wild Your Campus. “We are working with schools across the nation to close the knowledge gap that exists when it comes to organic land care principles and implementation. This certification will help us recognize the work being done on these campuses and beyond to ditch the toxins and go organic.”
Hampshire College has been implementing organic practices for 4+ years, proudly maintaining a campus free from toxic pesticides like glyphosate. Instead, Hampshire College focuses on mowing grass higher, mulching, aeration and overseeding.
Hampshire Grounds Team is also focused on increasing native plants on campus, a central tenant of the certification. Hampshire College grounds are home to numerous wildflower meadow and native habitat projects totaling over 35 acres.
“Hampshire College takes pride in being a responsible steward of the land entrusted to our care. Guided by our motto, ‘To Know is Not Enough,’ we actively translate knowledge into meaningful action. We support functional ecological diversity while creating landscapes that are both aesthetically pleasing and enriching for our community.” Explains James Sanner, assistant director of facilities services. “Through initiatives such as habitat restoration projects and research into maximizing carbon sequestration within our landscapes, we take deliberate steps each day to build a healthier, more beautiful, and sustainable future for all.”
The Green Grounds Certification has three levels in addition to Platinum. To receive certification, Bronze level schools must manage 50% of campus managed area without synthetic pesticides, Silver level schools must manage 70% of campus managed area without synthetic pesticides, Gold level schools must manage 90% of campus managed area without synthetic pesticides, and Platinum schools must manage a fully organic campus without the use of any synthetic pesticides. Campuses must also meet other requirements which include submitting pesticide usage reports, notifying the campus community when pesticides are used and replacing fossil fuel-powered campus maintenance equipment with electric ones. The certification is currently available for institutions of education, including k-12 schools, but Re:wild Your Campus plans to expand into certifying hospitals, corporate campuses, hotels, places of worship, and beyond.
###
Re:wild Your Campus:
Founded by a group of passionate students, Re:wild Your Campus is transforming the land care paradigm and is on a mission to eliminate synthetic pesticides from all college campuses in the U.S. by 2030. Through working closely with campus administrators, groundskeepers, students, faculty, and local organizations, Re:wild Your Campus eliminates synthetic pesticides, implements organic land care, and increases biodiversity and native plants through education and projects tailored to each campus's unique needs and goals. Re:wild Your Campus is a fiscally sponsored project of Re:wild. Learn more at: rewildyourcampus.org/
Contact:
Sheina Crystal
Co-Director
Re:wild Your Campus
scrystal@rewild.org
202-469-2674
