ECI Launches Organic Gardening Classes

This summer, Ecological Culture Initiative, a Hampton Bays-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is presenting a series of in-depth classes at the Lodge at Squiretown Park that cover all the basic skills and knowledge needed to grow your own bio-intensive vegetable garden from the ground up.

“You are what you eat, and knowing how to grow at least some portion of your own food is essential to understanding how to maintain your health in a culture of processed and chemical-laden foods,” noted Marc Fasanella, ECI Founder & Education Director. “This course teaches you how to lay out your garden designs, how to maintain healthy soils, and how to harvest and store organic foods throughout the year.”

The Friday evening classes will explore a wide range of subjects, including permaculture design and application, soil analysis and amendments, compost preparation, plant propagation, rain harvesting and irrigation, organic pest and disease management, edible natives, pollinators, seed saving, and winterization.

ECI has separated the program into four distinct modules of eight classes each. Those who attend all 32 classes will be awarded a certificate in organic gardening, presented by the Ecological Culture Initiative. The course will be a mix of both classroom instruction and fieldwork.

Soil Science, Plant Health & Rain Harvest will run from Friday, May 26 through July 14 and be presented again from Friday, July 21 through Friday, September 8. Native Plants, Pollinators & Food Forests will be held Friday, May 26 through Friday, July 14 and again Friday, September 15 through Friday, November 3, and Harvesting, Seed Saving & Winterizing will be presented Friday, September 15 through Friday, November 3.

Rachel Stephens and Marc Fasanella will lead the informative classes, with additional guest lecturers lending their expertise throughout the series.

The Lodge at Squiretown Park is located at 62 Red Creek Road in Hampton Bays. For more information, visit eciny.org.