THANK YOU! 

Over 50 years ago on April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was a national day of awareness across America that turned out over 20 million Americans – over 10%  of the US population at the time to protest unregulated industrial development.   That day is still one of the largest protests in US history.  This tradition inspired us and for the last three years Earth Day weekend we have welcomed organizations, growers, artists and foodies to join us in solidarity –  we are all invested in doing the work of nourishing our planet.

Earth Day weekend kicked off our 2024 season of events this year with a hearty drum beat, as hundreds of East Enders attended and strolled the lawns at Saint Joseph Villa, a retreat and renewal center managed by The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Brentwood along the shore of the Shinnecock Bay.  The Villa is also home to the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers who farm the shoreline and Ecological Culture Initiative, a community garden and compost program that has been awarded a Snail of Approval award for its work and practices.

The Villa with its mission of  building sustainable engagement and earth friendly good works is nestled between the North and South forks making it the perfect place to bring a diverse, sustainably minded mix of earth-friendly vendors together.  We had beekeepers, a wide mix of growers, food producers, native landscapers,  an independent bookstore, artists, and eco-activists on site and  were serenaded all afternoon with folksy tunes by the fabulous local band Points East.

We began by gathering around the elegant sculpture of the beneficial native dragonfly, an apt symbol for ECI to witness a ceremonial transfer of nutrient-rich sugar kelp to honor the rich agricultural tradition of the Shinnecock Tribal Nation and the new stewards who tend the Villa garden.  Seeded, grown, and harvested by the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers in the waters along the Villa’s shores, nutrient-rich kelp will amend the gardens and compost that the Ecological Culture Initiative maintains. 

Kelp farmer Danielle Hopson Begun spoke for a multi-generation collective of Indigenous women who are enrolled members of the Shinnecock Indian Nation.  These women have made great strides since planting their first kelp crop a few years ago.   They are leveraging historic roots and their traditional relationship with the sea and with seaweed to capture carbon and nitrogen that has poisoned Shinnecock Bay and beyond. These farmers are also laying the groundwork for more green jobs on the East End.

All afternoon there were demos with exuberant experts sharing their wisdom and passion for the work they do.   Chris Kelly, Promise Land Apiaries, tends bee hives at the Villa and across the East End. His discussions about bees and honey never cease to thrill especially when it includes a hands-on peak into the hive and taste of honeycombs.

Tony Romano of ECI was joined by ReWild advocates Nancy de Pas and Mary Morgan, a founder of Slow Food East End who is also a passionate composter determined to combat food waste that ends up in landfills.  All discussed how to optimize food scraps to create black gold to amend and heal soils –  the single easiest way for any individual to beneficially impact the environment. 

Many vendors had table-side demos including planting tips by FoodLab and bee projects by Golden Acres Organics, oyster shucking tips by Peconic Gold Oysters, and cooking demos by Cornell Cooperative Local F.I.S.H. program showing easy recipe ideas.   Farmers and growers set up stands offering advice and many goodies for sale from baby blue eggs and shoo-fly pies from 1760 Homestead Farm to incredible tulips grown at North Fork Flower Farm,  Mattituck Mushrooms, and much more.  

There were delicious eats to enjoy from Grace and Grit and we poured wines from Long Island Wine Country vineyards.   We smiled and we laughed. We thanked Mother Earth for everything (even the cool and gray weather)  and the chance to connect with our community.  

The rejuvenation of our fertile waters and lands depends on many stewards.  The original local farmers, The Shinnecock Nation,  have tended the soils of the Good Ground of the East End for ten thousand years. Slow Food East End proudly hosted Earth Day to honor all who have, do, and will continue to act as stewards and nourish our planet.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, donated to us to help support our programs including school and community gardens, Flour Power, and hosting events to help us all learn more about sustainable practices on the East End.  

A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

SFEE is grateful to our generous sponsors – Farm Credit East, Elite/PBS Tents & Events, and Sisters of St. Joseph and the Long Island Wine Country for helping make our event possible.