Meet our volunteers
AJ COLLIER
AJ is the owner and spirit behind Rowanwood Farm. After serving years as a vet tech, former wildlife rehabilitator, curator of 2 nature centers, and recipient of a National Conservation Award, AJ decided to pursue her lifelong passion of raising llamas and educating the public about these wonderful animals. AJ’s goal is to educate and bring awareness to these wonderful creatures and the importance of animal rescue. You’ll meet AJ at the farm, on our llama hikes and at our events and programs.
SUE
Sue started volunteering at the farm after a llamazing group hike with "the girls." She pitches in at llama events, hikes, and school tours -- and is no stranger to mucking out stalls! Sue is a singer at heart, underneath all the hay and sweatshirts. She loves camping, hikes, Siberian Huskies, the Adirondacks, and grooming miss Maple! Such glamorous floof! She feels extremely blessed by the spirit, generosity, and connections at Rowanwood Farm.
DEBBIE
Debbie has been volunteering on the farm and with our llama hikes. Currently a school teacher, in her past she worked with many animals in the Zoology field, and as an outdoor educator. Having a true love of nature and animals, as well as appreciating the importance of kindness, she feels fortunate to have joined our circle.
ASHLEY
Ashley has been volunteering with our llama hikes and helping out around the farm. She is currently in school hoping to pursue special effects makeup. Ashley enjoys art, psychology and true crime. She’s always had a passion of caring for animals and hopes to make a positive impact in the community.
JANET
Janet has been busy at the farm on multiple fronts helping with not only llama hikes and events, but also with our graphics and programs. She shares her love and knowledge of folk-craft, woodland skills & global spiritual traditions as a Volunteer at Rowanwood Farm. She hopes everyone can learn something new here and better connect with Nature & learn about other cultural traditions.
GRANDMOTHER NANCY
Grandmother Nancy Andry is of Algonquin and French heritage and has followed the Red Road since childhood. She sought out elders willing to teach, and found early mentors in a Lakota author and a Lakota medicine man. Later, an Ojibwa medicine woman adopted her, followed by a Mi’kmaq grandmother. Community elders gave Grandmother Nancy permission to pour lodges since 1991, plus she served as a ministry facilitator for a Native Women’s circle in federal prison for 17 years.
A Sundancer and a Sacred Pipe carrier, Grandmother Nancy is acknowledged as an Elder and Grandmother in her communities in Canada where she was given instruction to bring out and share certain teachings, including an Algonquin water song prayer. An educational film was made about the water song, which premiered at The Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary (NYC): www.singthewatersong.com
She is a well-known storyteller, sharing many different First Nations legends in schools, health facilities and on the powwow circuit. Formerly a staff member of Joined Nations of Connecticut (an organization for Native heritage youth), she has been a guest speaker at many events:
World Gathering of Elders (Austria), international webinar series (Shanti Mission, Australia), Southern Intertribal Water Protector Coalition (KY), Women & Water (WI), The Center for Earth Ethics (NYC, NY), Unitarian Universalist Congregation (Westport, CT), Chapel at Croton Falls (NY), Eagle-Condor Conference (IL), Ramapough Munsee Nation Split Rock- Sweetwater Prayer Camp (NJ), Visioning B.E.A.R. Circle Intertribal Coalition (MA), Interfaith Light & Power (Rio Grand River, NM), Davalon Farm (Ontario, Canada), Buttonhook Forest Benefit (Chappaqua, NY), Water Ceremonies (St. Croix, USV), SeaFest (Boston, MA), MEA:Modern Elders Association (NE Chapter), TedX-NYC: Water Bodies (NYC, NY), International Panel of Holistic Veterinarians (online series), Petro-industries conference (Calgary, Canada), Muktinath Holistic Center (CT), Rowanwood Farm (CT), Sticks & Stones Farm (CT), and at various additional centers & private seminars throughout the US. Grandmother Nancy also owned and operated an equestrian business until retirement, and now incorporates Horse Medicine in some of her lectures. Her ongoing mission is to be a bridge builder and raise awareness about First Nations histories and cultures, the global water crisis, and the plight of murdered and missing Indigenous women, men and children (MMIW).
SIERRA
Sierra North offers monthly drum circles and shamanic/nature teachings at Rowanwood Farm. Sierra has been practicing holistic healing for over 20 years and is a master healer in many modalities. She is the owner of Muktinath Holistic Center in Monroe, CT where you can find an array of spiritual classes, energy healing, meditation, spiritual retreats and more.
Registration for all of Sierra’s classes for all of her locations is directly on her website, Muktinath Holistic Center.
