Keene State College Campus Ecology Club planned an event to show students the promise they have to help and spread awareness about the environment.
KSC held the Harvest Fest on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on campus at Oya Hill, near the freshmen dorms and KSC’s Dining Commons.
Live musicians, vendors and guests all gathered around to enjoy the fall afternoon.
Ecology is all about the biology of organisms’ relationships with one another, as well as the political movement to protect such, according to the online Google Dictionary.
Andrew Olson, secretary of the Campus Ecology executive board said, “Harvest Fest is a way for students to get together and enjoy live, local music and learn a bit about what we do. We also have vendors and tables out from other clubs on campus.”
KSC Campus Ecology Club is a group on campus that actively works to create more environmental activity and raise awareness about the environment.
“We are pretty active in a few specific projects that create a more environmentally friendly world,” Olson said.
Olson continued, “We host Solar Fest in the spring and bring in [a] solar panel van to power everything. We also work closely, and have been for about six months, on a divestment campaign, which is to stop universities and colleges from investing in fossil fuels. Our focus is mainly with KSC and keeping our campus as environmentally sound as possible.”
Olivia Schiaffo / Equinox Staff
Some tables included the Geology Club, Fair Trade Club, NextGen Climate New Hampshire and 350NH. 350NH is a non-profit organization that KSC’s Ecology Club often works with.
According to its official website, which states, “350NH is dedicated to bringing climate change to the forefront to the minds of those who live, work, and play in New Hampshire. The mission of 350NH is to support New Hampshire’s environment, society, and economy by reducing CO2 emissions to a level below 350 parts per million. Our goals are to promote the use of clean and renewable energy sources and to phase out polluting and non-renewable energy sources.”
A major part of the event was the music.
Five bands played, most were local and all were from the New England area, according to Olson.
Olson said, “We know a lot of these bands just from previous connections. Many have played for events on campus before, or we know them from concerts, some we’re even friends with.”
One student, Allison Picone, found out about the festival because she is a member KSC’s Fair Trade Club.
The club held a table booth at the event, and Picone was there for support but also to enjoy the music.
She said, “It’s a beautiful day, I love listening to local music — TheColorOrange is actually a band from Keene State and they’re incredible. I’m supporting campus events but this whole event is beautiful.”
Having information available to students during the Harvest Fest helped boost students’ interest in the environment and gave a way for students who share similar values to get involved, according to Picone.
Community members found their way to the festival, many because of the local musicians’ advertisements.
Keene resident Nick Sartini said he heard about Harvest Fest because TheColorOrange were playing.
“My friends and I decided to come and listen in. The live music is great. I thought it was just going to be a regular outdoor, patio-style concert, but it’s a lot more than that,” Sartini said.
Sartini continued, “I checked out the tables, the Ecology Club gave out reusable water bottles, stuff like that. The weather’s nice, the campus is beautiful and the music sets a good mood. As cliché as it might sound, just with that, it’s obvious that the Ecology Club is doing their job. I don’t know a lot about [The Ecology Club] but just this atmosphere makes me care about the environment and appreciate all this.”
Sartini continued, “I spoke with a few of the guys who helped organize it and I actually think what they’re doing is pretty neat. I might try and get involved somehow in the Keene community. They’ve got a good idea.”
The strong efforts of KSC’s Ecology Club are persistent and effective. All types of students are getting involved, many of those who aren’t an environmental studies major, according to Olson.
The Ecology Club continues to plan for future events, such as Solar Fest, according to Olson. He said, “I’m thrilled with today’s outcome. People are having a good time and they’re appreciating everything we’ve got here. That’s all we can really ask for; that’s success. What our campus, our community and our Earth has is beautiful and we need to make sure that we are respecting it and taking good of ourselves and the environment.”
Eleanor Marshall can be contacted at emarshall@keene-equinox.com
