About Us
We, Lorie and Jeff Sonnenburg, live and operate a worm farm in Massey, Ontario, Canada.
In 2004 Jeff was wanting to raise and sell nighcrawlers as another side job. We live in a region of Ontario that is full of trees,lakes and rivers. Our area is a beautiful place to use as a recreational playground. My husband has worked hard through the years doing several jobs with 2 to 3 jobs on the go all the time to make ends meet. He is friendly and very ambitious. At this moment he is a cleaner for the school board in our area, raises gelbvieh cattle, milks cows occasionally at a dairy farm, Worm farming and his wife demands plenty of family time as father in all “extra spare” time.
Both of us are very busy these past few years. During this time we have found out that our youngest boy Dylan has been diagnosed with Severe Autism. This has been our hardest struggle yet as we love both our Children so much and want the best of life for both of them. Our first boy was born in 2000, the millenium. His name is Dagan. He has had his fair share of heartaches with our struggles with Autism as well. His drive to be a good brother is awsome. He never fails at wanting to give Dylan or his parents a helping hand when needed. I have learned lots from Dagan that’s for sure. Dylan shows great Determination at trying to understand the work that gets thrown at him and I surely believe that his strength will help him to accomplish great leaps. All that he is capable of overcomming and possibly a little bit more. He shows me how the little things in life are all worth gainning and accomplishing. I never noticed before as much as I do now how many blessings we truly are given in life. Our gift of Life alone, being that first blessing.
Hopefully sharing some of our story may inspire happiness or strength in someone elses life. One thing I have learned from all of this is that letting others help you is alright, don’t pass up the blessings of another when you need a helping hand. Never give up, things can always get better. When you feel everything in your life is the worst it can be, it isn’t really. Things really could be a lot worse.There is always love and faith to hold on to, never let it go. Sometimes it takes a while but everything gets better and will work it’s way out!
Living is precious and love is inseparable. When the going gets tough,even if you get down for a little while, the tough get going even harder. Don’t get me wrong though, there are always little bumps in the road that can and will hold us down for a while here and there.
My birthday is April 22, which is earth day. I find that so awesome and I feel so priviledged to say it is on my birthday. I have always loved nature and the outdoors. Horses and horse back riding are my passion next to my love and time with my family. Growing up on a farm, I have always wanted to help the earth in some way. One wish I would love to come true, is that everyone be able to indulge in and enjoy the beauty of nature in the natural outdoors. Just as we were meant to.
Lorie Sonnenburg
Winter picture driving up to our Farm 2008
Joey Reynolds
#1. May 3rd, 2008, at 10:42 PM.
Jeff, As per our discussion as the challenges you have had convincing others who lack the understanding of how this concept works, I wanted to extend my applause and support to your efforts.
As a researcher working with a collection of Universities across the country, as you and I have discussed, I am very interested in the progress you are making and in time as my University students I mentor come up to speed and contribute to this concept, I think it fair to say that in time one or more of my collegeus or myself will help to endorse your efforts. Although most of my previous science has been in other country ( Third World ) and with alternative energy concepts, we have turned to the Vermi Composting as all Universities are doing.
Naturally the ignorance or lack of willingness of people to try to enhance social programs by way of what you are doing is very discouraging.
Fortunately I work with a collection of Universities and cannot for the life of me understand that others would not share the interest in making our landfills more efficient. My hope is that, in time, as our research progress to pass along endorsements from the various organizations and Universities I represent. As I mentioned, my work extend mostly into alternative energy and technological design, but this Vermi compost has now occupied my attention, my associates attention and all purely at a scientific level. It is unfortunate that others don’t seem to want to embrace what is a harmless but incredibly effective means of dealing with the reduction of what we as humans place into landfills.
I will do all in my power to work with my associates to help others understand that this is not just a flirting experiment but in time will become a science.
Maybe one day, with such apprehension to programs like this people may very well see how much it will cost for them to eliminate their garbage, or the premiums they might pay to have it picked up at their curb side. When, really, if they were part of the solution today they might help avoid that in the future.
Again, any help I can give from my associations with the Universities I deal with across North America if only to educate the people who are ignorant of the potential this method of composting provides would be a pleasure.
I will also talk to the faculty of the various universities to see if they can assist in and support your efforts in the future.
Best of luck and I look forward as do my colleagues to a long and prosperous scientific project with your co-operation.
You have my support and others as well. This is something to build on and hopefully those that don’t quite understand the “harmless” aspect of Vermi compost can at least be educated and hopefully participate in the long run.
On a side note, should anyone in your area require a brief education as to what they are concerned about, I would be more than happy to talk to them directly.