Natural Herbicides for a Greener Campus Environment

Natural Herbicides for a Greener Campus Environment

Background

  • Overview of the sustainability issue and the efforts made to address it.

Problems with Weeds

  • College campuses prioritize aesthetics, striving for green and manicured lawns.

Problems with Chemical/Synthetic Herbicides

  • Adverse health effects of synthetic herbicides include:

    • Water Pollution: Runoff from chemical treatments contaminates waterways.

    • Residue in Soil: Prolonged presence in soil affects soil health and biology.

    • Harm to Pollinators: Chemicals may adversely affect beneficial insect populations, crucial for pollination.

Solution: Natural Herbicides

  • Formulation of Natural Herbicides:

    • Mixture A: 125 mL of 20% acetic acid vinegar, 25 mL of d-limonene, and 100 mL of water.

    • Mixture B: 225 mL of 10% acetic acid vinegar and 25 mL of d-limonene.

  • Testing on Weed Species: Effective against various Georgia weeds including:

    • Virginia buttonweed

    • Chickweed

    • Poa annua

    • Nutsedge

    • Dandelion

    • Pigweed

    • Clover

    • Medic

    • Burweed

    • Visual Evidence: Before and after application results demonstrated effectiveness.

Benefits of Natural Herbicides

  • Comparative Advantage: Serves as a replacement for glyphosate, labeled as a “probable carcinogen.”

  • d-Limonene:

    • Recognized as generally safe by the FDA for human consumption

    • Commonly used as a flavoring agent.

  • Soil pH Impact:

    • May temporarily alter soil pH but not on a long-term basis.

  • Pollinator Protection: Does not harm pollinators, in contrast to many synthetic options.

  • Cost Efficiency:

    • Total cost for a gallon of natural herbicide: $15.74.

    • For comparison, harmful chemical herbicide RoundUp costs $14.11 per gallon.

  • Ease of Preparation: Simple to make from ingredients that are readily available.

Community Outreach - Georgia Tech Natural Herbicides Project

  • Testing: Conducted tests of natural weed control methods on Georgia Tech plots in Fall 2015, aiming for transition to organic practices.

  • Local Educations:

    • Educated local growers about the harmful effects of chemical herbicides and introduced possible alternatives on February 19, 2016.

    • Provided natural herbicide solutions to local growers through the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s County Garden Leadership Program on the same date.

    • Offered partnership options to local growers for collaborative efforts.

  • Educational Session: Taught a class on herbicides at Georgia Tech on April 4, 2016.

Tips for Collaborating with University Landscape Services

  • Establishment of Relationships:

    • Develop a cooperative relationship with the landscaping department.

    • Attend campus events involving landscape services personnel.

    • Initiate contact with the director of the landscaping department.

    • Express appreciation for current landscaping efforts.

    • Arrange a meeting to discuss current weed control methodologies.

Conducting a Weed Control Trial

  • Building a Team:

    • Assemble a volunteer/student team and engage a faculty member.

    • Write a proposal including:

    • Gratitude for their commitment to sustainability.

    • Description of benefits to students and the university.

    • Illustration of success in other schools, especially Georgia Tech.

    • Target medium visibility, medium-sized lawn areas.

    • Suggestion for signage to inform about the trial.

    • Provide a detailed plan and schedule for implementation (further details available on the next slides).

Sustainable Weed Control Plan

  • Initial Steps:

    • Perform soil testing at the outset.

  • Weekly Activities:

    • Every Monday and Wednesday: Execute spot treatment directly to weeds and record outcomes in a Weed Log and Weed Information Management System (WIMS).

    • Every Friday: Assess site quality, remove persistent weeds utilizing Fiskars, and document results in the Weed Log and WIMS.

    • Following soil test results: Apply necessary nutrients as identified from the tests.

Weed Log Template

  • Required Information:

    • Date and time of application.

    • Name of applicator.

    • Species targeted.

    • Number of plants or area of plants treated (drawing optional).

    • Abundance and density of targets.

    • Growth stages of targets (e.g., flowering).

    • Mixture applied along with any adjuvants.

    • Visual quality of the area: Did it meet or exceed institutional standards?

    • Weather conditions during application.

    • Soil temperature at the time of application.

Engaging University Communications Team

  • Contact Relevant Departments: Collaborate with communications teams from departments such as:

    • Environmental science/engineering

    • Biology

    • Agriculture

  • Public Relations:

    • Participation of the school newspaper.

    • Promotion on sustainability-related websites.

    • Inclusion of natural herbicide initiatives in campus tours by guides.

Supplies Needed for Natural Herbicide Application

  • Materials:

    • 20% acetic acid vinegar

    • d-Limonene

    • Fiskars Uproot Weed and Root Removers

    • Garden lime

    • Professional bag seeder

    • Backpack pesticide applicator (or spray bottles)

    • Tape for area delineation

    • Sign for notifying about treatment areas.

Implementation Strategy for Landscape Services

  • Initial Meeting: Set up a detailed meeting with the landscape services team.

  • Supply Herbicide: Provide the natural herbicide for trial use.

  • Application Instructions:

    • Instruct on comprehensive application technique, ensuring coverage of leaves and stems of targeted weeds.

  • Optimal Conditions for Application:

    • Execute applications during the hottest part of the day.

    • Conditions should include warm, sunny weather, with no rainfall for the next 24 hours, and low wind.

Tips on Conducting Outreach

  • Identifying Effective Strategies:

    • Consider whether the campus has a gardening club and engage members regarding herbicide usage.

    • Explore collaboration with agricultural or gardening classes focusing on organic weed control.

    • Participate in Earth Day celebrations by setting up a booth about natural weed control.

    • Assess connections to local community or urban gardening groups for collaborative outreach.

Community Engagement and Volunteer Opportunities

  • Collaboration with Community Groups:

    • Volunteer to assist in weeding community gardens.

    • Organize a student volunteering team to:

    • Create and distribute samples of natural herbicides.

    • Collaborate directly with gardeners to implement chemical-free solutions.

    • Set up a participatory research study to explore organic weed management in community settings (referencing participatory action research methods at https://www.participatorymethods.org/glossary/participatory-action-research).

Conclusion: Call to Action

  • Contact Information: Reach out to Professor Brosofsky if interested in initiating organic weed control initiatives.