Description of Individual or organization
Texas Worm Ranch founder Heather Rinaldi works hard to help educate the public about a more sustainable way to garden. She has done the research and put in countless hours of physical work. She knows her stuff and she makes a difference in Dallas by offering sustainable products, conducting classes, maintaining an active social media presence and presenting at expos and workshops.
Leadership (Nominee demonstrates leadership through example, knowledge, attitude)
Heather demonstrates leadership by running a business and a home that work to ensure that both are working to make the planet a better place. Heather has more than just a beginner’s knowledge on the topic of sustainable organic gardening. She has so much knowledge that often we have to tell her to make her classes a bit less academic(not everyone loves microbes as much as she does). Her attitude is always positive as she strives to keep going even when obstacles pop up. She works every day to make a difference with every contact she makes.
Environmental Impact (Nominee demonstrates a positive impact on the local environment via policy change, product offering, significant volunteer contribution or other achievement)
Heather's Company, Texas Worm Ranch, encourages landscape companies, homeowners and tree trimmers to bring leaf and wood chip waste to their facility to be converted by the composting worms into vermicompost. She teaches classes on vermicomposting and sells composting worms to others to encourage waste diversion.
Heather’s products offer a sustainable non-poisonous amendment option for Dallas gardeners. She sells them via her website and at local farmers markets. Her products are alive and living they do not harm our waterways. They do not poison the ground or the vegetables that are grown using her products. They are not dangerous for the user to touch or handle. Her products and classes help to make our world a better place.
Community Impact (Nominee demonstrates commitment to DFW green community through involvement with causes, business ventures or organizations)
Heather is an active member of the Texas Organic Gardeners Association. This past year she was a speaker at Earth Day Texas and the Mother Earth News fair. She also worked with the city of Dallas in helping to educate the public regarding vermicomposting as a method to help Dallasites achieve zero waste. Heather hires environmental studies students and interns to encourage their growth and understanding of sustainability. She also maintains an educational Facebook page with almost daily tips to encourage soil health, more eco-friendly urban yard, garden and agricultural practices and waste diversion.
Other reasons for your nomination
Heather runs an amazing local Dallas business that adds real and lasting value to both the people and landscape that use her products. I want others in the Dallas community to learn about her and what she does so that they can benefit from her knowledge and expertise. I hope that by more people getting to know her and her company they will begin to participate in waste diversion which in turn can only help Dallas.
