Apprenticeship Program Overview

Earth Matter Mission Statement:

Earth Matter NY seeks to reduce the organic waste misdirected into the garbage stream by encouraging neighbor participation and leadership in composting.

Apprenticeship Program

This course will introduce you to hands-on practical skills to create “Gold Standard” compost for a variety of urban environments (e.g. multi-unit apartment buildings, community gardens, urban agriculture enterprises). You will be exposed to a variety of procedures for small and mid-size operations (> 1 cubic yards, < 5 tons), as well as different composting devices and systems. You will learn to access which systems are suitable for specific urban situations and safely use the correct tools to accomplish this.

Program Objectives
  • Maximize productivity of a variety of mesophilic and thermophilic compost devices
  • Learn time management
  • Create balanced compost recipes
  • Care for animals (e.g. chickens, goats, red wiggler worms, bees)
  • Construct animal systems and incorporate animal manure into the composting process
  • Make soil amendment blends, prepare garden beds using the correct blends, and plant crops for comparative studies
  • Assist building thermophilic food scrap windrows using controlled moisture and aerated static pile methods
  • Collect and analyze compost data sheets and lab reports
  • Make compost teas and apply them to plants
  • Safely use construction tools to build compost-related devices, tools, and projects
/ Program Benefits
●“Art and Science” of Composting Apprenticeship Certificate (140 hours)
●Gain green job skills and increase earning potential in environmental job arena
●Create connections within the NYC greening and composting community
●Advance your knowledge about environmental issues and concerns
●Educational opportunities to co-lead in variety of composting-related topics
Target Audience
Certified Master Composters and community composters (ages 18+) interested in scaling up their community composting operations, acquiring green job skills, and spreading knowledge of composting best practices in New York City and beyond.
Time Commitment
2 days per week for a total of 140 hours

Dates - There are two time cycles of this apprenticeship.

  1. GI Seasonal apprenticeship, mid-May – end of October. During some this time, GI is open for the season and the Compost Learning Center has visitor weekend open hours in addition to weekday sessions.
  2. GI 3-Season apprenticeship, weekdays mid-November – mid-May.During this time, GI is not open to public, however; we do have Friday Work Days and Community Compost Builds.

While it is possible that accepted applicants may overlap from non season-to-season, our apprenticeship cycles start in May and November.

Considerations:

●Our Compost Learning Center is located on Governors Island and the hourly ferry is the only way to commute to GI including 20-minute walk to site.

●Can you commit to a 9 am ferry start?

●Missing the 9 am ferry weakens our program and the community that you are part of.

Apprenticeship Application

Please check which season you are applying for GI Seasonal GI 3-Season

Applicant Information
Last Name: / First: / Date:
Street Address: / Apt/Unit:
City: / State: / Zip:
Phone: / Cell Phone:
Email address:
Availability:
Please check as many as possible. / Saturday / Sunday / Mon / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday
9-2:00 pm shift
You will need to be available for entire shift.
Areas of Interest
Rank the order of interest of the following topics from 1-12, #1 being your top interest
Animal care and husbandry / Making compost / Farming / Education/ workshops / Tracking data
Education at events / Sign making / Social media / Carpentry
Food scrap collection + sorting from GI sources / Not-for-profit organizational experience / Other, please explain: example: photography, etc.______
Experience/Education
Educational background including technical experience:
Relevant experiences to this apprenticeship program(i.e. NYC Compost Project Master Composter Course):
Current employment:
Other Skills
Do you speak any other languages? Yes No
What Language? / If yes, please list language:
Fluent
Semi-Fluent
Basic
Computer Skills– Microsoft Word, Excel, Photoshop?
Any social media experience? (please list if any):
Additional skills you can share:
Personal Information
Why are you interested in an apprenticeship withEarth Matter?
What are the primary skills + area of knowledge you would like to take away?
What specific experience would you like to gain through this apprenticeship?
What are your strengths that you will bring into this apprenticeship? (Examples: carpentry experience, great with children, experience with pets, great teacher, grew up on farm, etc.)
What skills/areas do you need extra assistance with strengthening or would like us to know about you and impact on your performance/commitment to this program? (Examples: I don’t know about worms, fear of heights, no tool experience, etc.)
Any physical limitations or conditions we should know about (asthma, twisted ankle, medications, etc).
Part of the apprenticeship consists of each apprentice taking on a project that will promote leadership in this area. What this project / area of focus will be determined in the first 2 months of the apprenticeship if you are selected. Do you already have a focus that you would like to outline before you begin? We understand you most likely do not know, but tell us areas of interest (example: farm, ASP, animal husbandry, events). We will work with you and have a check in meeting about this focus by the end of the second month.
Describe some other interests/hobbies you have:
Where would you like to be in 1 yr. 2 yrs 5 yrs?
What are your expectations from Earth Matter?
Signature
Signature: / Date:
FOR INTERVIEW PURPOSES ONLY
Availability Time/shift(s) / Notes about this time

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The NYC Compost Project works to rebuild NYC’s soils by providing New Yorkers with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need to produce and use compost locally. The project is funded and managed by the NYC Department of Sanitation's Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling. Find out more at nyc.gov/compostproject.