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There’s something new underfoot at Harvard University. Literally. The august, shady green of Harvard Yard is getting an organic facelift.

Bacteria and fungi fed by compost have replaced pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, and replenished the soil and grass traversed by thousands of students and faculty each day. What started as a one-acre pilot project has spread through 25 acres. And plans are being drawn to make all of Harvard's 80 acres of green space organically grown in the next two years.

It’s a model that other campuses and institutions are looking to follow. Our "next green thing" series continues today with Wayne Carbone, manager of Harvard's landscape services.

At Harvard’s site, there's also a kind of mini-course on organic landscaping, including recipes for compost tea.

The New York Times: The Grass Is Greener at Harvard

(Photo by Mossaiq via Flickr/Creative Commons)