The Birth of a Dream

 Late winter and early spring of 2018, was full of changes for me, growth as a person and continuing the journey to become who I am today and who I will continue to grow into. Many years before, I had read an article about Harl Hammer who had founded Vermont Composting Co, first with a team of mules and a wagon around 1998, going around to local farms, grocery stores and restaurants, collecting food waste, manure and animal bedding. He faced many challenges in the years that followed, but eventually it became a thriving business. What inspired me the most was that he had a large flock of chickens who lived off the compost piles and thus didn’t require purchased grains. So he took what was once considered garbage and turned it into not only a usable soil amendment, but also fresh eggs that he could sell. I had been composting with my chickens since around 2009, but just with our own food scraps and garden waste. In 2011 and 2012, I had gotten a 30 yard dumpster load of animal bedding from the Delaware County Fair, which produced a massive amount of compost, plus provided “work” for the chickens to entertain themselves. Since moving in Nov 2014 and starting over from scratch, I had gotten some free mulch hay and other compost materials, but up until then, I had done everything by hand. I knew that if I was to increase the input of compostable materials, I would need a piece of equipment. After much research, we decided to go with a mini skid steer, since we were limited in size due to the set up of the chicken yard and property in totality. Of course we prayed about it, but the price range was too much for me to afford, so my brother offered to help me purchase one. Still, most were out of reach. Until one day, he found a rental company in New Jersey that was selling their older Toro Dingo for a price we could both afford. Granted, when I say afford, it meant dipping into my savings that I had set aside for “marriage / starting a household”. But since that ship wasn’t on the near future horizon, I figured it’d be safe to invest in a piece of equipment that would make farm work easier and might open up the possibility of being able to handle more food waste. 

Besides, that’s how I had usually handled difficult situations in the past - thrust myself into something new! Not the best coping mechanism in hindsight, but alas, that’s how I had gotten through other disappointments, loss and other changes I didn’t like. Not to get off on a rabbit trail, but the same year we had a huge family upheaval, I “adopted” the neighbor’s two chihuahuas and made them my playmates. Though Bo didn’t become my own until my 10th birthday, those little dogs were how I could “escape”. Years later, when my second dog, Boquet, got hit by a car and died, I subsequently got rabbits. And a few months later, when Bo died, I got Muscovy Ducks! See the pattern?  When I passed my “married by 23” goal, I started breeding my own chickens, since hatching chicks was kind of a substitute for having kids of my own! So, it’d only stand to reason, when I didn’t get married to who I thought was “The One”, that I would thrust myself into starting my own business, right? Well, at that time, I didn’t see the pattern as clearly as I do now. 

Regardless of the perhaps misguided attempt at trying to divert my attention away from the disappointment and hurt, the path ahead started to look promising. I chose the name Delhi Community Compost and friends designed a sketch for my logo.

I began advertising on Facebook and Instagram, going to the farmers market, various events, put up signs and handed out business cards. Little by little, I had increased interest. I had a newspaper article written about DCC, and people started contacting me, wanting more information. Yet, being totally business-minded illiterate, I just viewed it as a community service and before I knew it, I was running around town and all over, for FREE! Yet, I loved it, because it gave me purpose and value, and I could feel good about myself, even though my life was nothing like what I had imagined it would be. I spent more money on this “project”, did a few presentations at other places and learned how to interact with people I didn’t know and talk to them about “my passion”. It was in many ways, a dream come true! I didn’t know where it would go from here, and I didn’t have a plan. I trusted that if God had opened up the doors thus far, He’d show me what the next steps would be. 

By the end of 2018, I did a financial summary and realized that if I was to continue this “project”, I needed at least some money coming in and not just money going out! But, still clueless about how to run a business, I checked the going rates of other similar services, yet ignored their recommendations. I set a ridiculously low price for the service, but it was partly because I didn’t want to lose my current “customers”. As 2019 sped on,  I had requests from various events to collect food waste, new household pickups and set up drop off locations in other towns. At the peak, I was traveling at least 60-80 miles a week to pickup food waste, nearly every other weekend was booked with events. Yet I was still losing money, and couldn't keep up with the exploding amount of food waste and compostables, plus I was also working part time at 2-3  jobs! I was burning the candle at both ends, as they say. But being “young and foolish”, I didn’t heed the warning of those older and wiser to slow down. I thought "I can do it all."

(To be Continued…)

The Turning Point

 I recently joined a text group with several of my friends who are writing, mostly fanfiction stuff. I’ve never been good at writing fictional stuff, but prefer writing from my life experiences. But I tried again and actually wrote a pretty good fiction story. But it got me thinking, and I remembered my blog “Abundant Life in Christ” I’d started a little over a year ago. I never actually finished writing what I intended, but I currently have a little more time on my hands and my creative writing juices are flowing again. 

The last time I wrote on this blog, I wrote about “Becoming a Butterfly”. Let’s just say, a lot has happened in a year, so hopefully this will turn into several blog posts. Let’s go back to where I left off. 

As I previously stated, “the greatest disappointments in life can actually be the greatest blessings in disguise.” The following story happened shortly before my “great disappointment of 2018”. As you know from my previous writings, I considered myself shy most of my life, and even as I started to become a butterfly and “come out of my shell”, I still disliked speaking in front of a group. Yet, I had started collecting food waste from a local school and in correspondence with the coordinator of this program, she invited me to speak to her class of students. I didn’t hesitate to reply, “Yes, I’d like to do that!” 

Panic then struck afterwards. What had I signed myself up for? I hadn’t ever given a presentation to a class of students, let alone ones I didn’t know! Would I get stage fright and not be able to deliver? 

But then I remembered, “I am a new creature in Christ. Old things have passed away, behold, new things have come.”

In preparation, I made my first PowerPoint presentation, wrote down everything I needed to say on a paper, so I would hopefully remember what to say. 

Then, the day came, January 4th. It started snowing on the way to the school, the roads were turning white and halfway there, at least an inch covered the road. Doubts started to flood my mind, Maybe they cancelled school today or they’re leaving early. Maybe I should just turn around and go home. This is crazy anyways, and the snow will give me an excuse to cancel. 

But I kept driving and pulled into the school parking lot. My heart pounding with adrenaline from the drive there and anticipation of the presentation, I walked up to the front door. Doors locked. Maybe I should just leave now. Last chance. I then saw the button to push to page the office. A voice answered, “Hello?” 

I shakily responded, “Hi, I’m Maria Schermerhorn and I’m here for Dawn’s class.” 

“Yes, come right in.” 

I opened the big, heavy door and walked inside. I didn’t know which way to turn. A voice from the right called out, “Over here. Dawn is on her way.”

Just then, a tall lady with short cropped hair said, “Hi Maria! So nice to meet you. Follow me to the classroom.” 

I followed, my body tensing and chin quivering with anticipation. The classroom was still empty, as I had arrived early. My hands shaking, I logged into the Office Online website and opened my PowerPoint Presentation. In my nervousness, I started talking with the teacher to try to keep my mind off the fact of what was about to take place. One by one, the students filed in and took their seats. After they had all arrived, Dawn introduced me briefly as the “chicken lady who’s been taking our food scraps”. I glanced down at my “cheat sheet” paper so I’d know what to say first. I stumbled over the first few words, but somehow managed to make enough coherent sentences that I could let the video I had chosen do the rest of the talking. 

As the video began, I took a deep breath and let out a sigh. Phew! I’ve made it this far! Hopefully, I can finish. 

Watching the 10 minute video, started to relax me and my untapped passion for education about food waste began to take over my insecurities. By the time the video ended, I forgot to look at my “cheat sheet” again, and the words just flowed out. I flipped between slides, added things I hadn’t thought about before, and before I knew it, I had reached the end of the presentation. Instead of fear and anxiousness, I sense of exhilaration and accomplishment flooded my being. You know, although nervous at first, I actually kind of enjoyed that! It wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be.

 I smiled and looked at the students, some of whom were paying attention and others nearly falling asleep. I asked, “Any questions?”

Of course, one student asked the infamous question, “How many chickens do you have?”

I laughed, “Too many too count. Not that I can’t count them, but I don’t have the time to at night and they move too fast during the day.”

Then, other questions were asked and I answered. But there was one, which became a turning point in my life. 

“Do you ever see this collecting food waste and composting with chickens becoming more than it is now? What are your dreams?” 

I don’t remember my exact response, but this question got me thinking in the days, weeks and months that followed.  Yes, I had dreamed of having my own composting business like Vermont Composting Co., but I was not that type of person to take that risk. I doubt anyone locally would be interested. It would probably fail. And even if I could, there’d be too many obstacles to overcome. How would I even start? I don’t know anything about starting a business. 

I left that classroom inspired and curious if it would be possible. But I didn’t really start exploring what could be, until a month or so later, after I had gotten the “no” from the one I thought I was going to marry. Yet, somehow, in spite of that great heartbreak, I found myself thinking, I really won’t know if it’ll work or not, unless I try. And thus began a journey that would impact so many areas of my life, as I knew it then.