Grounds & Landscaping
Seattle University's Grounds Department has been a leader in sustainable landscape management practices since 1986. The Grounds staff is committed to steward an environmentally friendly campus that provides educational opportunities for students, that functions as an urban wildlife sanctuary, and that serves as a safe and inviting space for the campus and our surrounding community.
The Edible Campus
For the past few years, we have been increasing the number of edible plants that we tend on the campus. They range from our Columbia Orchard to an occasional blueberry plant in the landscape.
This spring, a group of students have been locating and mapping the edibles on campus. Thanks to senior Madelyn Hamilton, we now have a beautiful hand drawn map of the location of the edibles on campus. Click here to download a pdf of the map in 8.5x11 size.
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Current Projects
Check this page for projects and changes happening in the gardens.
Touring Our Grounds
Would you like to know more about our landscapes and how we maintain them? We offer tours throughout the year, and would be happy to set one up for your group. Tours can highlight the history of the SU landscape, the sustainable practices we use in our pesticide-free maintenance program, or our in-house compost operation. We can customize a tour around your interests and can assist you in visiting any of our award-winning specialized gardens on campus. Email Janice Murphy or David Clausen.
Seasonal Featured Plants - Spring
See what plants are highlighted this season on campus.
Gardening Articles
Articles on a variety of subjects Garden Articles For more information from experts outside of Seattle University check out our Links page.
Awards and Recognitions
2010 Runner Up Award for Green Washington Award from Seattle Business Magazine's annual Green Washington Awards. This program recognizes organizations on the forefront of making Washington a greener place to live and work. Seattle University was a runner up for its post-consumer compost program.
2008 Green Washington Award from Washington CEO Magazine for SU's sustainable landscape practices and pre-consumer food waste composting program.
2006 Washington Toxics Coalition’s “Hall of Fame" for grassroots activists working on toxics issues in Washington State
2003 Certificate of Recognition from the Governors Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices
1994 Business in the Green recognition from King County’s Greenworks program for SU’s pollution-preventing grounds practices
Balconycompost.com featured Seattle University Ground's compost efforts in their University Compost Spotlight series.
The Metropolitan Field Guide - ideas, thoughts and resources for the design of urban wildlife habitat also an article about Seattle University gardens and grounds.
