Celebrating Earth Week 2025

The Marlborough community came together April 21-25 to celebrate Earth Week with a diverse array of events aimed at promoting environmental awareness and sustainable practices. With opportunities ranging from documentary discussions to creative workshops and student-led sessions, the week invited students to get involved and learn more about our planet.

The week began with a highlight: a Pushing Perspectives talk featuring acclaimed filmmakers Oliver and Simon English, creators of the groundbreaking documentary Feeding Tomorrow. Drawing from their background in the restaurant industry, the brothers shared their journey of discovering the broken nature of our food systems and their transition into documentary filmmaking focused on sustainable agriculture. 

“Our vision was not fully fleshed out in the beginning,” explained Oliver English. “We were looking at population growth, climate change, health epidemics, and inequality, and we asked ourselves: What role does the food system play in contributing to these issues? But also, most importantly, what role can the food system play in being a helpful part of the solution?”

This question led the brothers to visit 75 farms around the world, resulting in their documentary feature, released in January 2024. Performing Arts faculty member Luke Rothschild composed the film’s score, creating a special connection between the project and the Marlborough community. 

The brothers emphasized the importance they have learned about the concept of regenerative agriculture. Unlike conventional farming, which often degrades soil and relies heavily on chemicals, regenerative farming focuses on building healthy soil and sustainable ecosystems—the foundation for both human health and environmental stewardship.

“Climate change can feel so big and so daunting that sometimes it is easier to just tune it out,” noted Oliver. “What we hope our filmmaking achieves is imparting the message that we are all positive actors in this movement. We all have the opportunity to make positive change, and our food choices are one of the most powerful and profound ways to do that.”

When All-School Environmental Representative Aoife O. ’25 posed the question, “What can individuals do today to support health, climate, and food systems?” Simon offered practical advice: “Start small. Buy one ingredient for your dinner recipe that is certified regenerative. Go to the farmer’s market once a month and buy one ingredient from a local farmer.”

Following Monday’s inspiring talk, the week continued with a variety of activities across campus. On Tuesday, students repurposed scraps from the SPARC’s laser cutter to create keychains and hair clips. This successful upcycling event demonstrated creative ways to repurpose materials that might otherwise go to waste.

On Thursday, the whole community was reminded that reusable utensils are an easy and effective way to minimize unnecessary waste on campus. Reviving a successful initiative from earlier in the year, the community observed “Fork Thursday,” a day dedicated to reducing single-use plastics by providing zero disposable options at Café M or anywhere on campus.

The week culminated with Sally’s Closet, a campus-wide thrifting event featuring free clothing items donated by students and staculty throughout the year. In addition to promoting sustainable fashion practices, the event encouraged spring cleaning with an environmental impact. 

Another standout component of this year’s Earth Week celebration was the student-created Advisory lesson titled “Small Changes, Big Impact.” The Campus Environmental Committee (CEC), which is led by all the Student Council Environmental Representatives, created an interactive lesson to educate their peers about proper waste sorting practices and their environmental impact. 

The Advisory lesson featured a funny but eye-opening video of members of CEC conducting an audit of campus waste bins after lunch. Their findings demonstrated that the Marlborough community has room for improvement when sorting trash between landfill, recycling, and compost bins. CEC encouraged everyone to make a commitment to being more mindful of these easy-to-achieve environmentally friendly practices. 

The lesson concluded with suggestions for additional sustainable practices including remembering to use reusable utensils, taking shorter showers, carpooling, and being mindful to reduce energy consumption. This student-led initiative exemplifies the power of peer-to-peer environmental education and empowerment. 

Earth Week 2025 demonstrated Marlborough’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. By embracing these values and incorporating them into our campus culture, we ensure that the work towards a more sustainable future is not just a week-long fad, but embedded into the Marlborough culture—both within our school walls and beyond.