Meet Our Interns!
EarthDance has had the pleasure of taking on two interns this year to help us out with our Alumni Relations and Accounting. I sat down with them to find out a little more about them and introduce them to you:
Matice Morris: Accounting and Administrative Intern
Matice graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from University of Missouri St. Louis in May 2011, and her Masters of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois-Chicago in May 2012. Even before hearing of the intern opportunity with EarthDance through the UMSL alumni mailing list, Matice was interested in organic, healthy products. She says, “I use a lot of organic products in my hair and skin…I prefer some organic products as opposed to processed man-made products because before the chemicals were added, nature worked for hundreds of years so it must be doing something right. Plus, the benefits show in the health of my skin and hair and who doesn’t like to look good?” Already in her two months of interning with EarthDance, Matice has learned many new things such as picking spinach leaves one by one or harvesting watermelon radishes. As the accounting intern, she sees firsthand the finances that go into and come out of farming. “I would like to be knowledgeable in many fields of accounting, so by working at EarthDance, I hope to gain more knowledge in accounting in the field of farming.”
Even though her degrees are in business, Matice also has an interest in the arts: “I’m passionate about creativity and I think it is vital to my being. I love to design, go to art shows, spoken word (poetry) shows, and live music shows. On top of that, I love to write.” She is currently writing a book about her struggle growing up with a stutter. Her other interests include working out, running half marathons, eating good food, traveling, and dancing.
Janette Barber: Alumni Communications Intern
Janette graduated from Maryville University in May 2011 with a degree in Environmental Studies. She is currently preparing for nursing school. Janette discovered EarthDance through an internet search looking for field work. She volunteered this summer at the farm, and inquired about opportunities in the office over the winter, as she wanted to stay involved with EarthDance. Janette is interested in knowing where her food is coming from, how it was grown and who grew it. “EarthDance has opened my eyes to the labor intensive practices of sustainable farming.”
Janette hopes that working with EarthDance will cultivate lasting relationships with like-minded people. She has enjoyed talking with EarthDance alums, getting the sense of the inspiration EarthDance has imparted on those who have gone through the apprenticeship program. So much so, she is considering her own apprenticeship with EarthDance in the future!
Other interests include gardening, fiber art, women’s health, and rodents. Janette spends most of her free time spinning yarn and knitting.
Welcome aboard, Matice and Janette!