Harbor School interns install our ID sign

internsidsignweb5.12 Teresa Rivera, Darion Roberto, and Jonathan Lopez assisted us in securing our 8' x 8' Center identification sign designed by Boxcutter Inc. into 2' deep footings. It was their first time mixing cement with pebbles.Teresa said it was a lot like mixing the grout that she made while helping out at home with installing bathroom tiles. Our interns are also selling dozens of eggs each week. They collect the eggs, wash and box them up, and bring the cartons to the Harbor School for delivery.

Goldman Sachs workday on GI

teamwebgoldman sachs4.20.12 030 animalfencing teamwebgoldman sachs4.20.12 028 Governors Island Alliance arranged for 30 volunteers from New Jersey and the financial district to come out and help us get ready for our summer season starting on May 26. Volunteers pointed out to me that the only skyscraper that you can see from our Compost Learning Center looking out accross the Hudson River to New Jersey is the Goldman Sach's office building! Our dauntless volunteers achieved everything on our wish list for te day! The key items we needed done were digging post holes for rigid fence panel posts for the new kid goats' paddock area, and assemblying our giant ID sign that will be a beacon for visitors who bicycle riders cruising around the perimeter of Picnic Point.

Sifting smiles from glee-Green Thumb Growing Together

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10 citywide garden groups, and PS 126?MAT Garden teacher Hau-yu Chu and students (Lower East Side), pictured above. Earth Matter's joined hands with Bushwich Campus Farm at the 28th annual Green Thumb Grow Together Conference at Hostos Community College in the Bronx. New York Harbor School and Bushwick Campus farm interns co led our workshop. Maggie Cheney (Bushwich Farm Manager), Charlie Bayrer, and Marisa DeDominicis designed this 3' x 2' sifter, to fit over a compost bin, a garden bed, OR have 2 people work together to shake it out! Which position fits YOUR sifting needs? You decide - by a flick of the wing nut - tighten the nut to have the legs positioned straight out, or in downward dog. COMING SOON! free downloadable plans on how to construct this sifter for your very own.

bees are buzzin', chicks are cheeping ,kids are drilling away


	Ilyse Kazar	Darion Roberto	Jonathan Lopez

Preparations at the Compost Learning Center for the Governor's Island season starting May 26 is in full swing. We are fencing in an areas to bring out a new beehive. Starting in June, the public can join us in our bee hive inspections, (NYC beekeeping meet up), every first Sunday of the month, 11 am, to see how the honeybees are doing, foraging on Governors Island, and commuting over the Buttermilk channel to Brooklyn Heights and Red Hook, seeking pollen and nectar.

15 new Earth Matter chicks were born on the first day of spring! We purchased five the chicks are unidentified breeds of bantams. These all have fur on their legs which leads us to believe that we have some Cochins?

Our New York Harbor School interns are working hard on assembling 2 pairs of 9' high doors for our hoop house. We need to complete and install these doors, and then we will bring back the flock of 22 chickens and 15 pullets( girl baby chickens).

Jonathan Lopez.

"Amber Waves of Grain"

Hollis Hillhouse, Mark Barna (in photo), Maya Ito, Benjamin March and Marisa DeDominicis turned in the chick weeded soil, infused with Earth Matter black gold, to initiate the sowing of spring wheat and barley. These grains, as well as oats and hops, will demonstrate staples of the American diet to Governors Island visitors this summer. After these "waves of grains" are cut and used to make beer by local craftsmen (event date this summer-TBA), we will feed these "spent" grains to our chickens, who go "Coo, Coo" over them. grains3.16.12 012.jpghollisforkingweb

Goodale Farm kids Earth Matter

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Hal Goodale, fifth generation farmer, (photo center) thought "he could help us out" when we shouted out for a loan of 2 kid goats to intern at the Compost Learning Center. The kids will chow down on pruned branches and weeds. We will reap their "berries", (a nitrogren rich poop) which are "green" ingredients that we will use in making our compost along with visitor food scraps.

Goodale Farm, located in Riverhead, is a beautiful educational setting, only 1 1/2 hours from NYC. Hal welcomes visitors and groups of all ages. Goodale Farms sells goat, cow, chicken and pig products at the Manhattan farmer's market on Carmine Street and 6th Ave on Mondays. For more info contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Our two kids will be "almost" weaned by Governors Island's opening day on May 26, but we can use your help with some tail end bottle feeding!

No Kidding

queensfarmhighschool3.11 007.jpggoatweb Earth Matter will have 2 young kids this season on Governors Island. We are very excited to expand our borders at the Compost Learning Center. Goats are primarily "browsers". We will put the kids out to pasture to enjoy the chickory and dandilion greens and pruned tree limbs, in the adjacent field. These goats will give us another nitrogen rich ingredient to add to our "mix". Come on by, starting on May 26th, and help us halter train the kids, and stroll around the Island to visit greener pastures and seek new adventures. Thank you for everyone who came out to Jimmy's 43 on March 18th, and/or helped out in so many ways, big and small, to rally for our fundraiser Eat Like a Chicken. We surpassed our goals, earmarked to purchase some necessary items to prepare for the newest additions to the Earth Matter family.

Eat Like a Chicken Fundraiser Sunday March 18, 1 -4 pm

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Come one, come all! Be one of the first to hear our late breaking news! It is sure to bring a lot of hen cackle to our flock. Some fun activities featured at our fundraiser will be crowed out by our chicken master of ceremonies Bucky Buckaw! In addition to his ukelele playing, and listening to other musical surprises, you can participate in our chick pinata filled with yummy fruit and nut caramelly tidbits, taste many delicious homemade treats, a demo table of how to make Earth Matter gold standard compost. . . Preview Earth Matter's Chicken Composting on Governors Island Book -a work in progress by Maya Ito and HollisHillhouse. Peruse our raffle table to see what amazing gifts you can walk out with by just purchasing a $5 raffle ticket : original Earth Matter purses, handmade woolen and cotton bicycle ear warmers and gorgeous neck warmers, just to name a few. So quit yer squawkin' and come on over to our sunny side up event that will be a cock sure good time.

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