ECI Newsletter- November 2026

It's affirming to experience our earth’s generosity with so many riches. As of last week the ECI Heritage Garden provided St Rosalie’s Food Pantry with more than 1800 pounds of fresh produce for the 2026 season, a new harvest record. With sweet potatoes still in the ground, we’ll be adding to that! For perspective, according to the USDA, in a standard balanced diet a ton of fresh produce yields 2666 to 4000 meals.

We’re grateful for the volunteer community within ECI and the busy productive year we’re sharing. While Nature handed us ideal conditions, garden volunteers stepped up with a big boost in energy and enthusiasm and we’re fortunate that our ranks grew significantly! As Maribeth explains in the Garden Report, the spirit of volunteerism is infectious.

Beyond the garden beds, our record setting honey harvest and the return of the Hampton Bays Farmers Market were highlights. ECI’s volunteers mixed with neighbors and friends, celebrating at Party in the Garden at St. Joseph Villa that featured fare from Lighthouse and Whales Tale and live music by Rachelle Rossi. ECI also held a Summer Arts & Crafts Market in the garden where artists and designers shared great work from Hampton Bays' thriving creative community. We hope these become annual summer events! Most recently, ECI volunteers fielded a team in the Inlet 2 Inlet beach cleanup, raising $500 and collecting 80 pounds of trash from our beaches.  You can follow us and see pictures from these events on Facebook and Instagram @ecocultureinit.

There’s a wistful note in the air while we prepare for the end of the harvest season, but there’s still much to be done! Fall/Winter projects are already underway, all in the hands of our volunteer crew:

• Continue ECI’s outreach to the Hampton Bays community and schools

• Prepare for the Seed Library program with the Hampton Bays Library

• Expand irrigation to accommodate new beds in 2027

• Rebuild and increase the capacity of our compost bins

• Perform greenhouse maintenance in time for seedlings and spring planting

• Construct a new storage shed to protect and maintain ECI’s equipment

• Renovate the eco-shack with a new roof and increased work space

• Organize the Winter Market on Sunday, December 6th at the Firehouse on Ponquogue Avenue

• Plan ECI’s Winter Solstice farm-to-table dinner for members and volunteers.

• Build on the farmers market experience to grow next year's vendor lineup and increase awareness

• Continue to grow ECI communications, update the new website and social media efforts to keep our community informed

All of these efforts, events and programs bear a cost and participation from our local community is key to our success. Please consider becoming an ECI member. Click here to sign up or renew your membership today. Your donations sustain ECI’s efforts and as a completely volunteer organization, we welcome community

involvement.

Thank you.

Charlie Curran

President, ECI Board

ECI Good Ground