Laura Smith
Monterey Mushrooms creates its compost over a 20-day period, using secondary and tertiary agricultural products like straw, manure, and other compostable materials. The compost is then pasteurized to eliminate harmful microbes, insects, and competing fungi and bacteria. Monterey treats its compost at 140°F for a minimum of 30 minutes, although different growers may vary their ingredients and treatments. The compost is rich in nitrogen and other organic materials, providing an ideal environment for mushrooms to grow. This process results in a high-quality product that is not only suitable for mushroom growth but also beneficial for vegetable and ornamental gardens, enhancing the soil's water retention and rooting properties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Composition | Wheat straw, stable bedding, sources of nitrogen, and other organic materials |
| Use | Gardening, landscaping, and soil amendment |
| Availability | Sold to individuals and companies; occasionally available for free to the public |
| Pickup hours | Typically Monday to Friday, 8 am to 3 pm |
| Price | $30 for a pickup load, $40 for a 1-ton truckload |
| Salt levels | High |
| Water conservation | Water is recycled by collecting runoff on compost wharf |
| Pasteurization | Compost is pasteurized to ensure cleanliness |
| Steam cleaning | Spent compost is steam cleaned after mushroom harvest |
| Temperature | Internal temperature of compost mounds reaches 145-155 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Sustainability | Mushrooms have a low carbon footprint and require less water and electricity to grow than other foods |
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What You'll Learn
- Monterey Mushrooms uses secondary and tertiary agricultural products like straw and manure to make compost
- The compost is treated at 140°F for 30 minutes to reduce bad microbes like insects and competing fungi
- The compost includes nitrogen and other organic materials to help mushrooms grow strong
- The compost is made over a 20-day period
- The compost is made from regionally available resources, including wheat straw and stable bedding
Monterey Mushrooms uses secondary and tertiary agricultural products like straw and manure to make compost
Monterey Mushrooms is committed to sustainable farming practices. The company uses secondary and tertiary agricultural products like straw and manure to make compost, which is then used to grow mushrooms. This process allows them to recycle water and reduce their carbon footprint.
Monterey Mushrooms sources its straw from stables in Kentucky. The straw is mixed with protein supplements, gypsum, and water, and left outside for six days to biochemically convert this mixture. In the next phase, the compost is combined with vegetable oil and more water and placed into wooden trays where the mushrooms are grown. The compost is pasteurized to ensure it is clean.
After the mushrooms are harvested, the spent compost is steam-cleaned and moved outside in large mounds. The internal temperature of these mounds reaches 145-155 degrees Fahrenheit, killing weed seeds and diseases. This organic compost is then sold to gardeners, landscapers, and companies for use in their gardens and landscaping projects.
Monterey Mushrooms' spent compost is in high demand due to its rich nutrient content, beneficial for vegetable and ornamental gardens. It helps break up red clay soil and improves water retention, making it easier for plants to root. However, due to its high salt content, the compost may need to be further amended or composted before use in certain home projects.
Overall, Monterey Mushrooms' sustainable practices, including their use of secondary and tertiary agricultural products to create compost, contribute to a more environmentally friendly way of growing mushrooms and benefit the wider agricultural community.
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The compost is treated at 140°F for 30 minutes to reduce bad microbes like insects and competing fungi
After the mushrooms are harvested, the spent compost is steam cleaned and moved outside in huge mounds. This is when the compost is treated at 140 °F for 30 minutes to reduce harmful microbes, insects, and competing fungi. This process ensures that the compost is free of weed seeds and diseases before it is reintroduced to the soil. The high temperature also helps to pasteurize the compost, making it clean and safe for future use.
Monterey Mushrooms refers to this treated compost as "black gold" in the garden. It is highly sought after by gardeners and landscapers due to its rich nutrients, which are beneficial for vegetable and ornamental gardens. This compost helps break up red clay soil and improves water retention, making it easier for plants to root and grow.
The process of treating the compost at a high temperature is crucial not only for eliminating unwanted organisms but also for preparing the compost for its next stage of use. This treatment process aligns with Monterey Mushrooms' commitment to sustainability by ensuring that the spent compost can be repurposed for agricultural crops, landscaping, and soil amendment, reducing waste and promoting eco-friendly practices.
It is important to note that while the compost is treated to eliminate harmful microbes, insects, and fungi, it still retains high salt levels. Therefore, for most home gardening projects, it is recommended to further compost or amend the spent mushroom compost before use. This additional composting process helps to leach out excess salts and prepare the compost for effective use in gardens and landscaping projects.
By treating the compost at 140 °F for 30 minutes, Monterey Mushrooms ensures that the compost is not only free of unwanted organisms but also safe and beneficial for the environment and various agricultural applications. This process showcases the company's dedication to sustainability and finding new ways to conserve and reuse resources, contributing to a greener and more eco-conscious approach to farming and gardening.
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The compost includes nitrogen and other organic materials to help mushrooms grow strong
Monterey Mushrooms' spent compost is made up of wheat straw, stable bedding, sources of nitrogen, and other organic materials based on the regional resources available. The nitrogen and other organic materials in the compost help mushrooms grow strong. After the spawning period, a spongy layer of peat moss and lime is applied to the top of the mushroom bed. This layer acts as a water reservoir for the spawn, providing the mushrooms with the water they need to grow.
Monterey Mushrooms sources its bedding straw from stables in Kentucky, which is then mixed with protein supplements, gypsum, and water. This mixture is left outside for six days to be "biochemically" converted and readied for the next stage. In phase two, the compost is mixed with vegetable oil and more water and put into the wooden trays where the mushrooms are grown.
The compost is also pasteurized to ensure cleanliness. After the mushrooms are harvested, the spent compost is steam-cleaned and moved outside in huge mounds with internal temperatures reaching 145-155 degrees Fahrenheit. This organic spent compost is highly valued by gardeners as it contains nutrients beneficial for vegetable and ornamental gardens. It helps break up red clay soil and improves water retention, making it easier for plants to root.
Monterey Mushrooms sells its spent compost to individuals, landscapers, and companies, finding use in gardening, landscaping, and row crop farming projects. The spent compost is also contracted to companies that repurpose it for other agricultural crops or landscaping purposes. However, due to its high salt levels, it may need to be further composted or amended for certain home projects.
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The compost is made over a 20-day period
Monterey Mushrooms produces compost over a 20-day period. This compost is used to grow mushrooms and is made from various materials, including wheat straw, stable bedding, sources of nitrogen, and other organic materials based on the available regional resources. The process begins with the bedding straw from stables in Kentucky, which is mixed with protein supplements, gypsum, and water. This mixture is left outside for six days to biochemically convert and prepare for the next phase.
In the second phase, the compost is combined with vegetable oil and additional water and placed into wooden trays where the mushrooms will grow. Pasteurization is also applied to ensure cleanliness. After the mushrooms are harvested, the spent compost is steam-cleaned and moved outdoors in large, steaming mounds, reaching internal temperatures of 145-155 degrees Fahrenheit. This natural process renders the compost free of weed seeds and diseases, making it safe for reuse in landscaping and crop farming.
Monterey Mushrooms' sustainable practices include recycling water by collecting runoff on their compost wharf. The sloped design of the wharf diverts water to catch basins for reuse during composting. The spent compost, also known as "black gold" to gardeners, is highly valued for its ability to improve soil quality, break up red clay soil, and enhance water retention, making it easier for plants to root.
The company generates approximately 120,000 yards of spent compost annually, which is sold to individuals, landscapers, and companies for use in gardening, landscaping, and crop farming. This compost is especially beneficial for areas with nutrient-poor native soil. However, due to its high salt levels, it may require additional composting or amendment before use in certain home projects.
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The compost is made from regionally available resources, including wheat straw and stable bedding
Monterey Mushrooms is committed to sustainable farming practices. The company's spent mushroom compost, or "black gold" as gardeners call it, is made from regionally available resources, including wheat straw and stable bedding. This compost is created by collecting runoff on specially sloped compost wharves, allowing the water to be reused throughout the composting process.
The process of creating compost begins with bedding straw sourced from stables in Kentucky. This straw is mixed with protein supplements, gypsum, and water, and left outside for six days to be biochemically converted. In the second phase, the compost is mixed with vegetable oil and more water and placed into the wooden trays where mushrooms are grown. After the mushrooms are harvested, the spent compost is steam-cleaned and moved outside in large mounds that reach internal temperatures of 145-155 degrees Fahrenheit.
The spent compost is then sold to individuals, landscapers, and companies for use in gardening, landscaping, and row crop farming projects. This compost is high in salt, so it must be further composted or amended before use in most home projects. It is recommended that users let the compost sit for two weeks to leach out some of the salts before use.
Monterey Mushrooms' spent compost is made from natural and organic materials, including wheat straw and stable bedding, and is an excellent resource for amending soil and improving water retention. The company's commitment to sustainability is evident in its ability to recycle and repurpose resources, reducing waste and promoting environmental stewardship.
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Frequently asked questions
The ingredients include wheat straw, stable bedding, sources of nitrogen, and other organic materials based on the regional resources available.
It takes around 20 days to make mushroom compost.
Mushroom compost is typically treated at 140°F for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Spent mushroom compost is used for home gardens, lawns, and areas with nutrient-poor native soil.
Pasteurization is done to reduce or eliminate harmful microbes such as insects, competing fungi, and bacteria.
