Learn to Compost!

About the Speakers

Daniela Ochoa Gonzalez Graduated from Cornell University with a Master of Public Policy in environmental policy in 2009. Her focus for the past seven years has been Zero Waste policies and behavioral change at the local level. She worked briefly for the University of Texas at Austin’s as their first zero waste coordinator, and previously worked at City of Austin resource recovery department with their Home Composting Rebate Program. She has also performed waste assessments for four of the independent school districts in Central Texas and served on the Zero Waste Advisory Commission for the City of Austin. She is a Master Gardener and Compost Specialist by the Texas A&M agrilife extension since 2012.   Shortly after graduation, Daniela won a Clinton Global Initiative award to implement  her master thesis, an incentive mechanism which exchanged recyclables for local produce, in her home town Morelia, Mexico in 2010. All her family is active and enthusiastic about reducing food waste, especially her dog.

Jared McNabb is a conventional commercial landscaper, turned sustainable soil builder and food waste recycler. He is the founder and operator of the Houston based vermicomposting business, Mighty Worm LLC. They have partnered with Whole Foods & Shredding-On-The-Go to process 3500 lbs of waste per month and converting it into a highly active & nutrient dense biological fertilizer. Learn more about Jared and his local business at www.themightyworm.com

John Ferguson has over 40 years of business experience. He founded and owns Natural Waste Solutions, Inc., dba Nature’s Way Resources, a Houston based composting, mulch and recycling company that specialize in high quality compost, mulch, and soil mixes. He holds an MS degree in Physics and Geology and is a licensed Soil Scientist in Texas. He has won many awards in horticulture and environmental issues. He represents the composting/recycling industry on the Houston-Galveston Area Council for solid waste for over 17 years. His personal garden has been featured in several gardening books, “Better Homes and Gardens” magazine and his business has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal for the quality and value of the products. His company won the Houston Chronicle’s Ultimate Award for the finest quality compost in the Houston region and he won a Keep Houston Beautiful – Mayors Proud Partner Award for Environmental Education. He is co-author of the book “Organics Management for Professionals” on modern sustainable methods in horticulture, agriculture, landscaping, and turf management by University Of Texas Press. He is also a regular contributor to the gardening e-newsletter “Lazy Gardener and Friends”.

Event Description

Join us for a morning seminar on composting for homeowners, businesses and schools. You will learn
some practical knowledge about how to start a composting system for yourself and your community,
but also learn about some of the amazing data showing the potential for organic recycling to change the way
we manage our waste systems, our agriculture, water conservation and more. Don't miss it!

This event is free and open to the public. Delicious food and beverages will be available for purchase at A Moveable Feast.