History of Wormjava:

Founder/Chief Worm Wrangler Bio:

Sunnye Dreyfus came up with the idea for Wormjava in her hometown of Houston, TX. She was employed at the University of Texas Health Science Center as the first Coordinator for Sustainable Programs under the supervision of John Porretto, VP of Finance and Administration. Playing on the perceived “ick” factor of earthworms, she initiated a vermicomposting project (composting with worms) in the School of Public Health on Halloween Day, 2001. She promoted the collection of food waste on all 11 floors of the school through refrigerator postings and e-mails. In return, participants received free “worm tea” for their plants. To her delight (and surprise), stories of Lazarus-like plant resurrections soon followed. She brought the worm tea to several local events and after being asked, “How much for the worm juice?” time after time, she finally realized that she had serendipitously stumbled upon a market.

Through all the gnats, fruit flies, rotting food, and soggy newspaper, Sunnye’s respect for the work of the little red wiggler is unwavering. Whenever she is asked “So Sunnye, what do you do?” She replies: “So glad you asked! I am a cultivator of worms; a purveyor of their poop; and a self-appointed liaison looking for any opportunity to connect the fabulous lives of worms to the fabulous lives of humans!”

Wormjava LLC was founded in February of 2006. Sunnye is a self-proclaimed “bootstrapper”, starting the business with only a penny…literally. Sunnye completed her MS in Ecological Teaching and Learning through the Audubon Expedition Institute and Lesley University and is focused on exploring the question: How do I educate through my business, Wormjava? She believes that all businesspersons are educators whether they realize it or not. For more insight on Sunnye’s exploration of this question click here.