Widow’s Hole Preserve, Greenport, NY

I recently helped to plant dune grass along the shoreline of Window’s Hole in Greenport.  The grass will help preserve the beach in storms.  The project is sponsored by the Peconic Land Trust, based in Southampton, NY and serving the Twin Forks of Long Island.

Widow’s Hole Preserve lies on top of an old marine Esso station that used to serve the fishing fleet in Greenport decades ago.  It was abandoned, and finally donated to the nonprofit in lieu of cleaning up the old underground tanks. They are probably better off left undisturbed.

Widow’s Hole is a wonderful place to walk and view part of Peconic Bay, Shelter Island, Greenport and the neighboring oyster farm.  The volunteer work was satisfying physically and spiritually. I loved the idea of planting grass that one day I would see waving in the breeze.  It felt good to restore shoreline habitat.  But I liked most of all the spirituality that accompanied the planting, and the wonderful feeling of wholeness and connection in surveying the finished work and bay.