About GUTS
Greening UToledo Through Service (GUTS) is an on-campus student-facilitated project which began as a student proposal to the Student Green Fund in 2016. Student employees and faculty advisors focus on three main areas: native plantings and garden projects, greenhouse cultivation and service-learning opportunities.
Through our projects, Greening UToledo Through Service works to increase biodiversity and water filtration to the Ottawa River on campus through reducing turf grass plantings and replacing them with native gardens. Numerous projects have been completed on campus since GUTS’ inception in 2016. Completed projects and a map of gardens across campus can be found in the “Garden Locations” tab.
Greening UToledo Through Service is dedicated to cultivating native plant species, primarily from locally sourced genotype seeds. We grow and care for these plants in two outdoor nurseries and a rooftop greenhouse, which provides a controlled environment for seed germination and early plant development. By producing locally adapted plants on site, our program reduces the need to source plants from distant nurseries and turns underutilized campus spaces into productive growing environments.
The third focus of Greening UToledo Through Service is planning and organizing service-learning opportunities for students of all majors. While partaking in a service-learning event, students will experience real-life applications of what they have learned in class while gaining marketable skills and increased networking. The student volunteers gain hands on experience with seed harvesting, cleaning, out planting and a variety of other greenhouse tasks while increasing their knowledge of native plants and their importance. In an academic year, we have over 900 hours of work completed by over 400 volunteers.
Working on these focus areas, Greening UToledo Through Service is excited for future increases in sustainability, biodiversity, education and hands-on learning experiences across campus.
Our Mission and Vision:
The mission of Greening UToledo Through Service is to create native landscapes at The University of Toledo that promote sustainability, conservation and biodiversity through the collaborative efforts of students, undergraduate service-learning participants and community volunteers while providing hands-on learning that fosters knowledge of native ecosystems, environmental stewardship, sustainable land management and civic engagement.
Our vision is to create spaces on campus where native landscapes support biodiversity, inspire environmental stewardship and serve as living classrooms that provide hands-on learning opportunities for students and volunteers.
Through education, service and community collaboration, GUTS strives to cultivate a culture of sustainability that benefits both the university and the broader community.