This year, the SLU Madrid Gardening Club has planned to host more on-campus events in efforts to attract more members and boost their popularity around campus.
In an interview with Mackenzie Oleary, president of the Gardening Club, she said that the club is hoping to make strides to become a bigger name on campus. Currently, the club meets primarily on Fridays and Saturdays, and the location of the garden is around a 40 minute commute from campus, on Calle de Eduardo Barreiros, at the Huertas Montemadrid. According to Oleary the Gardening Club is aware that these factors can be obstacles for students to attend the meetings.
“We know our location sometimes defers students from attending,” Oleary said.
Sophia Lee, a sophomore study abroad student who attended the club’s first meeting said she had a lot of fun at the gathering. However, like many busy students, she knows that it can be difficult for her to attend all the meetings.
“I will definitely try to make it back when it works with my schedule. I’m usually busy on the weekends,” Lee said.
In order to get more students involved with the club on campus, Oleary said that they will focus on on-campus fundraising this school year. The club is hoping to fundraise by selling seasonal produce they grow throughout the semester, such as tomatoes, squash, peppers, and eggplant.
“Our major hopes are to raise enough money to keep our club going while also becoming a name on campus where all students are aware of what we do and why we do it,” Oleary said.
Their current goal is to raise €150 euros during the fall semester, and €575 for the entire school year.
In addition to fundraising, the club also hopes to do more collaborations with other clubs to build connections and boost involvement. Carissa Hudson, a junior study abroad student and new member of the Gardening Club, expressed interest in participating in collaborative events and viewed them as a good way to increase publicity.
“Joint club events may reach a wider audience and benefit both clubs involved,” Hudson said.
According to Oleary, the Gardening Club is hoping to work with the Environmental Club on Earth Day and collaborate with BocaTalk by sharing produce grown at their plot for their sandwiches. The club also hopes to partner with the Human Rights Club to do a fundrasier surrounding food insecurity.
Oleary explained that despite the challenges and anxieties that come with running a club, the club feels as though their passion and drive will carry them through the school year.
“Like all clubs we are always scared for that initial club fair if students are going to be interested but of course we have to come into these things open minded and allow ourselves to show who we are and why we do the things we love. We as the community garden club wouldn’t be here if we didn’t love what we did and truly want to make a difference,” Oleary said.
