8. Maintain and restore campus landscapes for both practical and aesthetic reasons.

Tree planting in Norway Valley. photo by Gene Bakko

Keep planting trees as a carbon sink, to offset the carbon we use in the form of fossil fuel, in conjunction with our larger plan to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions overall.

Continue the conversion of the college agricultural lands to environmentally sustainable practices, such as crop rotation (incorporating perennial legumes) and reduced tillage. In order to reduce chemical fertilizer use, we will promote crop rotation and the application of compost to restore soil fertility. We will reduce pesticide use using an integrated pest management strategy, including a more diversified cropping system and maintenance of healthy soil with large numbers of beneficial invertebrates that prey on pest insects.

Continue research projects on sustainable agriculture.

Explore collaborations with the Finstad Center for experiments in sustainable agriculture.

Help faculty use the natural lands for academic purposes.

Use the college farmland to raise food for the cafeteria.

Look for shielded fixtures for outdoor lights, to avoid light pollution at night.