The Pitch
A compost collection company that employs graduates of local high school farm programs to connect neighborhoods, local businesses and residents to urban farms by way of their compostable trash. Schmelly’s creates healthier soil in New Orleans while reducing pollution caused by landfills and trucking.
Nicola Krebill
The Entrepreneur
Nicola Krebill (Founder)
Nicola Krebill is the founder of Schmelly’s and has spent the past 11 years working on food and farm resource assessment and logistics for underserved and marginalized communities in Orleans & St. Bernard parishes. Formerly employed at New Orleans Food & Farm Network (NOFFN) as the director of City Farms, a free garden builds program to support backyard food growers and neighborhood organizations. While at NOFFN, City Farms piloted a program to survey the viability of neighborhood compost hubs, organized much like community gardens, to improve soil microbiological health, water & nutrient retention, and reduce pollution by trucking & landfills. Nicola founded & co-facilitates New Orleans Community Kitchen Collective, a street-level free food & meal distribution program, currently serves on the board of directors of Grow Dat Youth Farm, and coordinates composting operations at Hollygrove Market & Farm.