Thanks to the LaCroix family for volunteering and writing about us for The Broadsheet Daily!
Article written by Caroline Press, photos provided by Gabriela Strejilevich de Loma.
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A little-known corner of Governors Island is a fertile spot near Picnic Point where Earth Matter NY Inc, in partnership with the Trust for Governors Island, operates a Compost Learning Center.
The non-profit organization is dedicated to rescuing organic waste from the garbage stream in order to turn it into compost, and their healthy soils initiative supports composting and sustainable gardening at community gardens. During the summer season on Governors Island the public and school visiting groups attend free hands-on workshops on waste reduction and composting techniques, using food scraps collected from events, food vendors and resource recovery stations throughout the island.
Aixa and Ivan Lacroix
The Earth Matter site is also home to a family of chickens, rabbits, goats and worm nurseries, often tended by a motley crew of volunteers. Last month’s Volunteers of the Month were brother and sister Aixa and Ivan Lacroix, ages 10 and 12, who fell in love with the animals and visited them every weekend last summer. Finding a haven from urban life at the composting outpost, Ivan wrote in an essay, “At Earth Matter, it is not easy to take care of the animals. . . . Some of the tasks are changing the animals’ food, picking up the chicken eggs, and once in a while building a new house for the animals. Although these tasks can be arduous satisfaction pays up for the effort you have done.” Aixa adds with enthusiasm, “Do you have free time? Take a ferry to Governor’s Island and go visit Earth Matter! I often take care of the goats, Browser and Pearl . . . and I am able to answer almost any question about the chickens.”
(Photos courtesy of Gabriela Strejilevich de Loma)