The Ecological Culture Initiative, Hampton Bays was awarded a very well-deserved Snail of Approval award by Slow Food East End.
The mission of ECI is to advocate and educate the community in sustainable food production, wellness, and environmental stewardship. They do this through numerous programs including a garden, donating proceeds to St. Rosalies, a seed library at the Hampton Bays library, and a zero waste and composting program to name a few.
In recognition of their work and alignment with the Slow Food values of good, clean, and fair food for all, the Ecological Culture Initiative: ECI was presented with a Snail of Approval Award at Earth Day on April 22nd, 2023, an event they hosted and co-sponsored with SFEE. (link earth day blog here )
Accepting the award was Sr. Kerry Handal, a sister of St. Josephs for over 4 decades who advocated for ECI to establish the gardens and beehives there and works to focus attention on LI’s sustainability issues and solutions. Also accepting was Tony Romano who has led many ECI initiatives such as a successful community composting program which is a model he is hoping can be widely shared and implemented in other Long Island communities.
Snail of Approval Awards has long been a tradition for Slow Food, an international organization in over 160 countries. Snail Awards have typically been awarded to restaurants but Slow Food East End, the largest USA chapter has also decided to award local farms too. Our eco and biosystem depends on local farms that tend healthy soils, they are the source of our best foods. Snail Award winners must be businesses that are structured on principles that Slow Food believes are essential to receive recognition and honor the values of good, clean, and fair food for all.
To learn more visit them at 5793 Sound Ave, Riverhead, NY, United States, New York
ECI joins Ty Llwyd Farms Riverhead, Sang Lee Farms, Peconic; Green Thumb, Watermill; Deep Roots, Southold; Jamesport Farmstead, Jamesport; Amber waves, Amagansett; 8 hands farm, Cutchogue and Quail Hill Farm, Amagansett, as local East End farms having earned the Snail of Approval.
Visit our Snail of Approval page for more information on local restaurants, farms, and food producers who meet these standards and have previously been awarded our coveted Snail of Approval.
