We are fundraising to get pesticides out of our schoolgrounds and surrounding areas
The Pesticide-Free Soil Project (PFSP) is an environmental justice initiative powered by Central Coast youth and adults. Its goal is to build soil, increase access to organic food, and uplift the links between human and ecological health.
Through youth-led and community-centered programming, PFSP works to develop pesticide-free zones on and around school campuses, including cafeterias. With these efforts, we aim to institutionalize climate-resilient policy and build community power to enact change. Started in 2019, we are a project of the Encampment for Citizenship.
Our work takes a three-pronged approach:
- Environmental justice actions, such as the school-wide “Compost Tea Party.”
- Arts-based activism that educates and empowers the public to engage in nature-based climate solutions.
- Youth development and ongoing mentorship with our high school and college-aged internships.
For our history and current projects, click here.
For our 2021 Earth Day video, click here.
The EFC’s Pesticide-Free Soil Project (PFSP) staff and interns, in collaboration with the Rio School District and participating local organizations, have created a lively video that takes a step-by-step approach to sharing how to organize a compost tea party at your school or in your community. The Compost Tea Party is a collaborative event with the Rio School District and local community organizations that not only takes the first step in moving away from using pesticides on school grounds, but also provides workshops about nature-based climate solutions, addressing both farmworker and family health, soil health, and climate change. The district has earned the California Green School Designation as a direct result of the CTP’s and PFSP’s continuous involvement in climate-resilient policies and programming at the district. Click here to learn more.