Time For ECI’s Organic Farm To Table Fall Dinner

There’s nothing like gathering with family and friends after the busy summer season to enjoy a fun fall community meal.

On Monday, September 23, the Ecological Culture Initiative (ECI) will host an “Organic Farm-to-Table Fall Equinox Dinner at the historic St. Joseph Villa, 81 Lynn Avenue, Hampton Bays.

The dinner, which runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., will be organic and vegetarian (with vegan options), prepared by Chef Robyn Diederiks, who grew up in Montauk — the land of fresh seafood and good surf. Taking her mother’s passion for cooking and her father’s dedication for success, she created Robyn’s Kitchen, a personal chef service for the East End.

All food for the dinner will be provided by ECI and all milk, cheese, and vegetables used in the meal will be locally sourced. There will be water, kombucha, and wine glasses available, and guests are welcome to bring a beverage of their choosing. The dinner is $45 with a limit of 45 guests (ECI members only). Fortunately, membership is only $10 a year and in addition to ECI dinners, includes gardening workshops at the Good Ground Heritage Garden.

Speaking of gardening, ECI is also looking for enthusiastic and energetic individuals interested in learning permaculture techniques and small-scale, bio-intensive, organic farming practice. Work in the Good Ground Heritage Garden at St. Joseph Villa is mostly outdoors, in the sun, and sometimes in the rain (applicants must not be allergic to bee stings). Duties: include soil, compost, and garden bed preparation; planting; weeding; watering; and harvesting of vegetables and herbs; coordination of drop-off of produce to local food pantries; and assistance in beehive inspections and management. Some tasks include heavy lifting and digging.

Intrigued? Join ECI and see what’s growing (and cooking), visit eciny.org.