A Getaway

People always ask if I have a getaway spot – somewhere I go when I need to step out of the rhythm of the farm, the distillery, the tasting room. The answer is yes – but it’s probably not what you’d expect.

I’m a birdwatcher, which means I’m usually looking for quiet, natural places, the kind that don’t ask much and give a lot in return. Around here, that place is the Long Pond Greenbelt.

It’s a trail system that begins not far from us and winds all the way to Sag Harbor, through oak swamps, kettle holes, and old forest. Some sections cut through subdivisions, but once you’re in it, you’re in it. It’s as close to away as you can get without leaving town.

The Greenbelt holds the geology that makes Long Island unique – low key, beautiful, and deeply grounding.

But There’s a Flip Side

It’s not all serene. Ticks are a real issue here, and that’s part of being a nature lover in the Hamptons – you’ve got to be mindful.

We’re also watching the forests change. Diseased pines, beech leaf issues, and the impact of invasive species have altered some of the trails out east, especially around Montauk. Some areas now feel almost like a wasteland.

We live in an area that used to be a natural beech forest, and we’re doing what we can to protect what’s left. That means pulling irrigation, limiting water, and trying not to interfere too much. Overwatering is a huge issue out here – people just don’t know. But it matters.

Inside Tip 🪄

If you go walking in the Long Pond Greenbelt, go early and dress for ticks. It’s not glamorous, but it’s real. And if you make it deep enough into the woods, you’ll hear something that’s sometimes rare around here: silence.

Contact

🌐 Long Pond Greenbelt

About

This card was written by Marilee Foster, a sixth-generation farmer, artist, and author, deeply connected to the soil and the environs of Sagaponack, New York. She runs Marilee’s Farmstand and co-owns Foster Farm and the Sagaponack Farm Distillery with her brother Dean.

Images

Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt / Facebook