Hamptons Afternoon Tea To Include Lesson On How To Make Your Own Using Locally Grown Sources

Does your day start with a cozy cup of tea? Looking to expand your knowledge of the brewing process?

Join the Ecological Culture Initiate (ECI) on Sunday, February 25 for Heritage Gardens Tea at St. Joseph’s Villa in Hampton Bays.

“ECI promotes the consumption of natural, minimally processed foods,” explained Shannon Stimpson, Managing Director, Ecological Culture Initiative. “Our Heritage Gardens Tea Event will highlight the many benefits of consuming locally sourced and foraged teas.”

From 2 to 4 p.m., ECI staff will discuss teas from locally grown or foraged sources, and will also share how to brew teas from these native plants that not only offer unique flavors, but medicinal properties too.

“There will be many teas to sample including Nettle, Pitch Pine, Lavender, Hibiscus and Anise hyssop, just to name a few,” Stimpson shared. “We will have a demonstration and an open discussion regarding their nutritional and medicinal properties.”

And, since it is afternoon tea, there will be some tasty bites served along with the perfectly steeped sips. “Also, some wholesome, organic treats will be offered including pumpkin bread, herbed scones, finger sandwiches and many more,” Stimpson added.

In addition to this workshop, ECI plans to offer many other exciting events at Heritage Garden, such as cultivating Native American, colonial and ethnic plants for food and medicine, composing/building healthy soils for agriculture, storm-water filtration, and carbon sequestration, rain harvest/conservation-based irrigation and rain filtration, restoring endangered native biodiversity and developing botanically themed landscapes that contribute to water conservation, fire resistance, erosion control, wildlife habitat, and attracting beneficial wildlife through the use of native plants for pest control.

ECI is also looking for volunteers to join their Seed Sorting Party at Hampton Bays Public Library on Wednesday, March 7. From 7 to 9 p.m., attendees will help organize seeds for the Good Ground Seed Library – located near the Library Reference desk. Those interested can also bring locally harvested, heirloom, or native seeds to donate.

Admission is $20 for the Heritage Gardens Tea.

ECI is a Hampton Bays-based non-profit whose mission is to “foster an ecology-based evolution of the local community through advocacy, education, and practical assistance” and “restore the best practices of the past and advance the most regenerative design principles of our time.”

St. Joseph’s Villa is located at 81 Lynn Avenue in Hampton Bays. For more information, visit eciny.org.