Earth Hour & Matthew’s Garden
Gloria Frazee with Uma Magi
Earth Hour, East Hampton & Matthew’s Garden
Inspiring New Generations of Environmental Stewards in Matthew Lester Memorial Garden at the Town of East Hampton Farm Museum
There’s a history of our community coming together for Earth Hour, which is the global initiative that builds awareness of our role in environmental health by encouraging people to turn off unnecessary lighting for one hour. This year, Earth Hour is Saturday, March 22, 8.30–9.30pm.
Here’s the story…
Young Matthew Lester loved all creatures. In 2010, when he was only ten years old, Matthew introduced Earth Hour to the Town Board, which issued a proclamation in observance of Earth Hour. Many small acts make a big difference.
When he was in high school, Matthew dreamed of creating a garden to protect bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Once again, he took action, presenting his plan for a pollinator garden at the East Hampton Historical Farm Museum. The Town Board approved.
Unfortunately, Matthew didn’t live to see his project finished. In honor of his vision, the community, including his family and the Scouts, came together to plant Matthew’s Garden in 2017.
For years, Matthew’s parents cared for the garden. As they aged, this labor of love became increasingly arduous. In 2024, his mother Dana asked for help from local environmental groups.
Fortunately, ReWild Long Island / South Fork with its Summer Program for High School Students was able to help. To kill the abundant weeds, we pulled out invasive plants, put down layers of cardboard, and shoveled lots of compost donated by the Town of East Hampton. The summer interns channeled Matthew’s vision by holding their end-of-summer commendation ceremony at Matthew’s Garden, attended by Matthew’s family and friends as well as Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez. As part of the ceremony, the interns planted seeds that will provide habitat for pollinators in the coming years.
ReWild Long Island’s commitment to Matthew’s Garden has grown this year with a Community Garden grant to install irrigation and provide native plants to finish revitalizing Matthew’s Garden and plant a demonstration garden to show home gardeners can help pollinators in a small plot without deer fencing. Planting day, to which the community is invited, is on May 21, 2025 at 3pm. Dana and Summer Program interns will also host workshops on pollinator gardening this summer.
Please join ReWild Long Island, Matthew’s family and friends along with the Town and Village of East Hampton, as we observe Earth Hour and celebrate our connections with each other and our precious environment.
Learn more about Earth Hour and how your lighting decisions can benefit our families, pollinators and environment at ReWildLongIsland.org/events
Letter by Matthew Lester
shared by his mother, Dana and read by Uncle Fred at ReWild 2024 Commendation Ceremony
January 1st, 2017
To My Family, Friends ,Fellow Scout Members & East Hampton Farm Museum Members,
As many of you know by now, my Eagle project has been approved by the Boy Scout Council & the East Hampton Town Board.
In the spring of 2017, I will be planting a 40'x40' pollinator garden at the East Hampton Historical Farm Museum, located at the northwest corner of Cedar St. and North Main St. My hope is that it will become a source of nutrition for bees, butterflies & hummingbirds, and in turn, us as well. Without these essential pollinators, humanity will not be able to survive.
I greatly Thank You All for your support in my endeavor.
Sincerely,
Matthew Lester
Dana Lester’s Letter
shared at ReWild 2024 Commendation Ceremony
Fall, 2024
As most of you know, Matthew was not able to see his project completed. He sadly took his own life 2 weeks after this letter was compiled. His boy scout troop and his family vowed to complete the project in his memory. On June 8th, 2017 on what would have been his 18th birthday, his family started the planting. We had many volunteers who worked very hard that summer and in October 2017 we had a beautiful dedication ceremony. The garden flourished for a few years with a few dedicated volunteers. This year the garden needed an overhaul & with the help of ReWild & their wonderful volunteers, plus EHHS students, members of Matthew's family & East Hampton Farm Museum volunteers, we've made the garden beautiful again. Thank you to everyone who has helped along the way.
With Much Gratitude,
Dana Lester