Two and a half years ago Cris L., 54, was cruising around the island of Alameda, California when a voice called out to him.

Eva, a manager of the Bay Area Makerfarm, an outdoor workspace and urban farm, encouraged Cris to explore the space. After a year and a half of volunteering, interest turned to passion when Cris became the Animal Care Manager. He “fell in love at first sight” as he had never seen chickens, ducks and pigs up close before despite being raised in the Midwest.

“It became home away from home where I could leave the real world and the troubles of my city life.”

As a disabled veteran coping with depression, anxiety and PTSD, Cris fought to move forward, turning to tending to the animals and understanding their idiosyncrasies.

Cris’ introduction to the Makerfarm was years in the making. Three days after he graduated high school in 1987, Cris shipped off to join the army as a laboratory specialist and medic for forward combat support.

Things were going well until a herniated hamstring resulted in complications involving a blown out nerve and pinched artery in his leg making activity longer than 30 minutes and balancing difficult. Cris was discharged in 1995.

In 2000 an apartment fire in Oakland left Cris, his wife and four kids without a home. A slew of moves from Florida, to Minnesota, and eventually back to the Bay Area, led the family to the Alameda Point Collaborative where they secured housing in 2008.

The collaborative offers permanent housing and employment for individuals and families to gain stability while planning for the future.

After 15 years on the island with his children now grown adults, Cris seeks spaces “to find peace”. This often occurs on the home’s back patio under a tree planted when the family first moved in. While serene and lush with foliage, the Makerfarm is where Cris shines.

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Cris L., 54, poses for a photo beneath his favorite tree that helps him “find inner and outer peace” at his

Cris lunges to catch Dom the chicken during feeding hours at the Makerfarm. He knows many animals by name and calls out to them saying hello and mimicking their noises as he checks for eggs and performs routine tasks. Dom is a favorite chicken to banter with as they like to peck and cluck at Cris.

Cris pets his cat Parkour while taking a smoke break on the back patio of his home. Cris employs the same level of care and compassion for his two cats at home as the animals on the farm.

Cris feeds goats Sage, left, and Bluebell, right, hay for their evening meal. When it comes to eating, the goats don’t bite and gently use their lips to feel for the food. Sage is also known as “Wingman” for hopping up on Cris’ mobility scooter.

Clockwise, Cris prepares to feed goats Sage, Bluebell, Daisy and Rye a snack. The males often butt heads to show dominance and Rye likes to take little bites out of each fruit to prevent the others from stealing them. Cris has devised an order and methods to make sure each goat gets their fair share.

Cris gently reaches into a hen house to search for and collect eggs after greeting the chickens. He maneuvers his hand under their fluff and moves slowly not to disturb them.

Sage nibbles on greenery during “goat freedom day” at the Makerfarm while Cris looks on. The activity involves freeing the goats from their pen to graze inside the farm and supervising them as they meander among different areas.

Cris rides his scooter and looks out at the farm as he heads towards the goat pen. After overcoming homelessness, and physical and mental health issues, Cris thrives.