In this video we show you how to make premium compost for your garden using recycled mushroom blocks. It's a great way to build hi-quality soil in just 6 months by diverting all types of organic matter from the waste stream. We are joined by Megan Lowder from Efficient Earthling at Gardopia Gardens in San Antonio.
Mushroom blocks are made from sawdust and grains and organic matter that make a great amendment to soil and compost. They are what many mushroom farms use to cultivate culinary mushrooms on. After they fruit a few times and are considered spent, they can be used in many ways as we demonstrate in this video.
Follow along in the video, in 6 easy steps you will be feeding the entire soil web and the plants in your garden, healthy compost. Make sure to watch through the end. Megan gives tips on the compost food chain and how to diagnose your soil for good health and take care of all the insects that gives our soil life and healthy plants.
If you are in Austin, you can sign up to get recycled mushroom blocks for your garden.
If you are not from Austin, find a mushroom farm in your area.
STEPS:
After choosing a shady spot for your compost pile, break up one recycled mushroom block. (Brown)
Add layer of fruit and vegetable compost from kitchen or pulp from a juice bar. (Green)
Add layer coffee grounds from your local coffee shop. (Green)
Add eggshells. They add calcium and potassium minerals to the soil.
Add brown matter such as leaves, grass clippings, or straw. (Brown)
Repeat layers until you have a nice pile that can be turned.
Turn every two weeks and water if your compost starts to get dry. Six months later you will have black gold to feed your plants!
RELATED videos in the series:
Part 1: How Fungi Benefits the Soil
Part 2: Grow Mushrooms on Wood Chips in The Garden
Part 3: Grow Mushrooms in a Straw Bale
Part 4: Grow Mushrooms in Containers
Part 5: Grow Mushrooms on Logs
Part 6: Grow Mushrooms using Trench Composting Method