THANK YOU! Over 300 folks turned out to celebrate Earth Day at Saint Joseph Villa, a retreat and renewal center shared by The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Brentwood along the shore of the Shinnecock Bay, the Villa is also home to the Ecological Culture Initiative and the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers.
On April 22nd, we celebrated with a heartwarming day. Our community came together and we listened, spoke, and learned from each other. All enjoyed shopping from amazing local vendors, eating incredible food from local chefs and bakers, and sipping delicious wines. We smiled and we laughed. We thanked Mother Earth for everything and it was an excellent chance to connect with eco-activists, local farmers, growers, artists, and artisans, to be introduced to a new plant-based publication and we even had an independent local bookseller with gardening books and much more.
We are thankful to the Long Island Wine Country Wines who this year are celebrating 50 years of winemaking on the East End. Wines were donated by As If Wines, Chronicle Wines, Lieb Cellars, Macari Vineyards, Pellegrini Vineyards, Rose Hill Winery, SuhRu Wines, Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Wolffer Estate Vineyard.
We took the occasion to announce the first recipients of the SFEE 2023 Snail of Approval Awards which were presented to Ecological Culture Initiative (ECI) and Quail Hill Farm. Quail Hill was established in 1990 on land donated to The Peconic Land Trust, also celebrating 40 years of preservation this year. Destined to be trailblazers, Quail Hill became one of the first Community Supported Agriculture farms in the USA and the farm now raises produce and eggs to share with over 250 families from their 35 acres. ECI is much smaller but equally fruitful, it is a community garden of volunteer growers who tend 22 raised beds, and all produce is donated to St. Rosalie’s Food Pantry. ECI has also developed a community compost program that has become a template for other communities to replicate. Bravo to these agricultural doers and leaders!
Earth Day is as a reminder to be thankful for Earth’s natural resources and for all who work hard to protect our natural resources for future generations. Next year we plan to grow and have even more fun together. In the meantime, save the date for next year: Sunday, April 21, 2024, and enjoy these pictures from our event!
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
Americart and Please B Seated party rental helped make our event possible.
