KSC’s Eco-Reps hosted their debut fundraising event of the spring ‘25 semester, a houseplant sale meant to raise money for upcoming organizational priorities.
Eco-Reps partnered with Black Forest Nursery for the second year in a row to sell a variety of houseplants and plantcare-related items in the L.P. Young Student Center’s lobby on Thursday, Jan. 23.
Junior and Eco-Reps Vice President Lena Goins said the event helps to raise money for the club’s operations and also raises awareness of the club in an engaging way.
“We’re receiving a portion of the profits made from the sale today, and that will help us fund a lot of our upcoming goals like the Earth Day celebration and the beach clean up at Odiorne Point State Park. It also is a great way for us to make our presence known and talk to the student community,” said Goins.
“Hopefully, some people who come by to look at the plants will take an interest in our club and learn about all the cool stuff we do,” added Goins.
Goins said the plant sale gives Eco-Reps an opportunity to engage with members of the student community who are not a part of the club and get them thinking about sustainability.
“It’s really nice because even people who aren’t part of Eco-Reps get to participate, and plants are a great way to get yourself thinking more nature-minded,” said Goins.
The Eco-Reps partnered with Boscawen, N.H.-based Black Forest Nursery, who provided the plants and plantcare items that were sold at the fundraiser.
Black Forest Nursery Events Coordinator and Garden Designer Isabel Burley said the collaboration with Eco-Reps is part of their efforts to promote sustainability.
“Our big focus is pushing towards using native plants to rebuild habitats that are under constant threat. Giving back to pollinators and native animals that need those plants to be able to feed, like Monarch butterflies and their relationship to milkweed is more important than ever these days,” said Burley.
“One of the reasons we were drawn towards working with the Eco-Reps at Keene State is because of how committed they are to promoting those same sustainability goals, and I hope we continue working together on future events,” added Burley.
The sale was originally scheduled to take place in the student center’s flag room but was moved to the lobby due to ongoing renovations.
Senior and Eco-Reps Treasurer Ryan Rotigliano said the change of location turned out to be beneficial.
“We held the event sale last year in the flag room, but it’s a lot harder to get people to stop by when you’re so out of the way. This year, since we’re set up right along the path where there’s already a lot of foot traffic, we’ve actually seen more people taking an interest than last year,” said Rotigliano.
Senior Sarah Binns was one of the students who stopped to check out the plant sale.
“It caught my eye because everything was so colorful and cool. It’s the middle of winter, and everyone needs a little green in their life,” said Binns.
“All the plants are so cute, and I’m really excited by the venus fly traps,” added Binns.
Ryan Pacheco can be contacted at
rpacheco@kscequinox.com
