CASSOPOLIS — Capt. Samuel Felt Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented Nancy Essex with its conservation award Monday afternoon at Cass District Library.
“I do two things at my company,” said Essex, who will present a program to the DAR in August.
“One is vermicomposting, or composting your household garbage using worms and an indoor container. The result is a wonderful fertilizer kind of soil that promotes a healthier use of the soil than to dump chemicals on it.”
Flowerfield Enterprises founder Mary Appelhof’s advanced studies in biology led to her fascination with worms and their potential for recycling organic waste.
Appelhof developed a worm composting system and marketed worms on a commercial scale along with her specially designed composting bins. She promoted her environment-friendly process with the 1982 book, “Worms Eat My Garbage,” which since its original publication by Flowerfield Enterprises, has been widely distributed nationally and internationally.
“I acquired the business when she passed in 2005,” Essex said.
“Since then, we started another part of the business where we take high-quality compost, put it in water and aerate it, which makes the compost quality go way further. We apply (compost tea) to people’s yards, fields and greenhouses to reduce the need for chemicals.”
The DAR also honored Essex’s son, Dane Terrill, sales and marketing director.