Earth Matter volunteers cover a wide range – retired musicians, members of the composting community, ex-executives from the perfume industry, computer genius’s, and even children. Here are 2 testimonials from Aixa and Ivan Lacroix, ages 10 and 12, who came to the Island last Memorial Day. They fell in love with the animals and came back every weekend all summer long.
The following are essays sent to us by Aixa and Ivan about their experiences at Earth Matter.
Ivan Lacroix says;
“In Earth Matter, it is not easy to take care of the animals. Many tasks are always to be completed in order to be able to move on to the next one. Some of the tasks are changing the animals’ food, picking up the chicken eggs, and once in awhile building a new house for the animals. Although these tasks can be arduous satisfaction pays up for the effort you have done. Many people also come to visit and it is also complicated to explain how things work, how animals behave and how the composting works. This can be tiring but it is always fun to be around the animals, and once on a while play with them.”
Aixa Lacroix shares;
“Do you have free time? Take a ferry to Governor’s Island and go visit Earth Matter! In Earth Matter there are different animal shifts. I often take care of the goats, Browser and Pearl. I put them on a leash and walk them around the island, training them not to pull. Everyone asks me if they’re mine and I say no, they’re not mine, they belong to Earth Matter. I explain what Earth Matter is and where it is located. More and more people get interested into Earth Matter. Me and my brother, Iván also take care of the chickens. We feed them and teach other people about them. I tell adults and children their age, how to hold a chicken, and whatever they ask me. I am able to answer almost any question about the chickens at Earth Matter. Often, if a child is having a hard time catching or holding a chicken, I teach them how and I help them.”