Volunteer

Earth Matter volunteers are people who are passionate about composting and sustainable practices and are willing to get their hands a little (or maybe even a lot) dirty. Read below about a variety of types volunteer opportunities, and see which one is right for you.

To become a part of Earth Matter's volunteer force, fill out our membership registration form and check the box "Would like to be a volunteer," then you will receive email when we need volunteers at events and for specific tasks. You can also browse our events page, browse our blog or visit or "Like" the Earth Matter FaceBook page to find out about specific opportunities as they come up. To volunteer for a specific opportunity,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Here are descriptions of some of our typical ongoing volunteer opportunities:

Volunteer Opportunities on Governors Island (Governors Island)

Governors Island is open to the public every Friday Saturday and Sunday, from the weekend after Memorial Day through Columbus Day weekend. Volunteer for a 4-hour shift at our Compost Learning Center, or a 2-hour resource recovery shift or a 4-hour tabling shift at one or more Governors Island events this season. Volunteers receive a free Earth Matter T-shirt or button.

Compost Learning Center Staff (Governors Island):

Qualifications: Some compost experience needed such as composting at home for one year or more, or completion of a Master Composter certification course.
Activities: Greet visitors, hand out free literature, present composting vessels and styles. Co-lead daily composting workshops (Making Your Own Worm Bin, How to Make a Compost Pile, etc.). Help with light construction such as sign making and compost bin construction. Ride the trike to pick up compost at public source separation stations around the island. Tend Earth Matter plantings. Many other opportunities. Time commitment: as little as 2 to 4 hours, or on a regular basis. Fulfills Master Composter volunteer hours requirement for certification.

Composter/Vermicomposter (Governors Island):

Qualifications: Just a willingness to work hard and desire to learn a lot about the secrets of processing food waste into black gold for increased soil health.
Activities: Process food waste in thermophilic (hot) windrows, bin systems, and tend the vermiculture bins (worm livestock). Fulfills Master Composter volunteer hours requirement for certification.

Events: Tabling (Governors Island):

Qualifications: Must have basic knowledge of composting or be willing to learn quickly. Must be willing to get your hands a little (or maybe a lot) dirty.
Activities: Staff the Earth Matter table at a variety of exciting events held on the island. Demonstrate how to make a worm bin and how to sift compost, field questions on vermiculture (worm composting) and composting. offer troubleshooting tips, hand out free stickers and literature. Fulfills Master Composter volunteer hours requirement for certification.

Events: Resource Recovery Ambassador (Governors Island):

Qualifications: None prior, but must attend our 15-minute presentation about recycling specific to Governors Island on the day of the event. Must be willing to get your hands a little (or maybe a lot) dirty.
Actives: Volunteer at an event hosted on the Island. Free entry to the event and, when possible, event "goodies" will be distributed. Spend a two-hour shift at a source-separation collection station where you will assist guests in sorting out their compostables, recyclables and trash. Hand out free stickers and resource recovery literature.

Secret Garden: Compost Processing (Bushwick):

Qualifications: Just a willingness to work hard and desire to learn a lot about the secrets of processing food waste into black gold.

Activities: Volunteers work at the nature preserve at Bushwick in Brooklyn, NY, with the farm manager, to process food in a thermophilic (hot) 6-bin system in 4-hour shifts. Fulfills Master Composter volunteer hours requirement for certification.

Website (Location TBD):

Help maintain website content: input membership forms, check to ensure that links remain correct, some light CMS management from time to time to update content other than blogs.

Documentarians/Publicists for Harbor School Interns Program (Governors Island):

The Program: Currently in-progess internship of four Harbor School students working towards an island-wide strategy of increasing resource recovery.

Activities: We need assistance with documenting this program through video and photos and with creating presentations. The internship runs from January to December 2011.