John Ferguson

Topic: There are significant water challenges taking place throughout the state of Texas, including the Gulf Coast area. Landscaping taps nearly half of the demand for water. However, the effective application of modern soil science can drastically curb this demand. Increasing a soil's organic matter by a mere three percent allows an acre of that soil to store about 120,000 gallons of water within its top eighteen inches. Overall, individuals who integrate basic soil fundamentals into their landscaping experience better results with lower total installation and maintenance costs.

About the Speaker: John Ferguson has been a long-time supporter of the Water Efficiency Network and we are pleased to have him as this month's speaker. Mr. Ferguson has over 40 years of business experience. He founded and owns Natural Waste Solutions, Inc., dba Nature's Way Resources, a Houston based composting, mulch, and recycling company that specializes in high-quality compost, mulch, and soil mixes. He holds an M.S. degree in Physics and Geology and is a licensed Soil Scientist in Texas. He has won many awards in horticulture and environmental issues. He represents the composting/recycling industry on the Houston-Galveston Area Council for solid waste for over 17 years. His personal garden has been featured in several gardening books, "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine, and his business has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal for the quality and value of the products. His company won the Houston Chronicle's Ultimate Award for the finest quality compost in the Houston region and he won a Keep Houston Beautiful - Mayors Proud Partner Award for Environmental Education.