Bio

Randy Ritchie is one of the founders of Malibu Compost, the makers of the first certified Biodynamic compost in the United States. He started his career as a landscape designer and builder, which took him to Benziger Winery 15 years ago in a search for good “organic” compost for a client who was creating a farm in Malibu. What he found was much greater...Biodynamic compost.

That journey to Sonoma led him to sell his landscape design firm to start making compost. In another twist of fate, while trying to figure out what to do with all that compost, he met Colum Riley, his co-founder. Colum was raised at Camphill Village Kimberton Hills in Pennsylvania. The two met just after Colum graduated from Loyola Marymount with an MBA in sustainable business, and right before he was to move back to Boston. They wrote a business plan, raised money, and started their company, Malibu Compost. Today Malibu Compost makes Biodynamic compost on BU Farms in Northern California and in Oregon. Their compost, potting soil, turf mix, and compost teas are nationally distributed and are sold in over 700 retailers nationwide. Randy consults on a variety of mid to large-scale landscape and agricultural projects, while also serving as the head of sales and marketing. He teaches organic gardening classes and workshops in nurseries and garden clubs all over the United Sates. He has been a keynote speaker at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, Cannacon in Seattle, and at the US Composting Council in Los Angeles.

Randy met the love of his life over soil, has an adult daughter who is married and successful (the best kind of daughter), and loves surfing and rescuing animals, including BU the Dairy Cow, who Malibu Compost rescued and became their SpokesCow. He loves to garden, teach, write, meditate, and be at the forefront of The True Organic Revolution. He feels lucky and blessed everyday....