Mercyhurst to display sustainability initiatives with ‘green tour’

Mercyhurst University frequently hosts tours of its campus for prospective students, new employees, and visiting dignitaries. This August, the university plans a tour of a different kind: its inaugural “Erie Professionals Green Tour.”

Invited guests will witness northwestern Pennsylvania’s first Tiny Forest, the Sister Maura Smith Peace Garden, geothermal exchange systems, new outdoor garden beds, recycling shed, indoor Tower Gardens, compost digesters, and more. They will also see the university’s green roof and learn about plans to install a greenhouse at the site.

Mercyhurst Sustainability Coordinator Molly Tarvin will conduct the tour on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 1:30 p.m. She will be assisted by student worker Catherine Segada '24 and joined by Mercyhurst President Dr. Kathy Getz along with Vice President for Mission Dr. Greg Baker; Dr. Chris Dolanc, co-director of Environmental Science; Dr. Mike Campbell, biology professor; and Bethany Woods, director of Academic Community Engagement.

Tarvin, meanwhile, explained the reasoning behind the tour. “Our goal is to widen the visibility of our projects and inspire their replication in the City of Erie, so we've invited environmental changemakers from the community to tour our sustainable campus, discuss the potential for collaboration with our students, and immerse themselves in Mercyhurst's renewed commitment to sustainability,” she said.

Among the organizations committed to attending are ReLEAF, Erie Grow and Glow Collective, Groundwork Erie, PennTAP, No Dirt Farms, the Erie Benedictine Sisters, PennFuture, the Green Building Alliance, and Gannon and Penn State Behrend universities. Tarvin said she has also invited a group of urban farmers who grow food in previously vacant lots, helping to alleviate food deserts and bring the joy of farming into the city center.

“With these attendees, experts on urban farming, forestry, energy efficiency, water quality, and politics will be on campus to learn and discuss the importance of sustainability projects in the City of Erie," Tarvin said.

The sustainability tour, made possible by a grant from the Sisters of Mercy, will be followed by similar tours for student groups from the Erie School District, Booker T. Washington Center, and others once school is back in session.

"We hope these students can be inspired by the opportunity of jobs in sustainable fields and start to understand how institutions like universities can use their resources to better the environment for all," Tarvin said. 

PHOTO: Molly Tarvin weeds Mercyhurst’s Tiny Forest.