Overview
Certified Organic Fresh Mushroom Compost (COFMC) is generated exclusively from certified organic mushroom farms. It comes with documentation and is approved to be reused for other certified organic farming operations. COFMC is basically the same product as our Fresh Mushroom Compost (FMC), which is Mushroom Compost that has just been removed from the indoor growing beds at a mushroom farm after the mushrooms are harvested. COFMC retains all of its valuable fertility, biologic and organic matter content. The differences between COFMC and standard FMC is the regulated fertility, pest, and fungal management programs the mushroom farmers use or don’t use during the cultivation of the mushrooms. With an average one week lead-time COFMC is available fresh on an order by order basis. COFMC is unscreened and is light enough to be efficiently hauled in larger loads on tractor trailers. It's highest value use is in certified organic growing operations or for anyone who wants to manage their landscape organically.
Questions about our products? Contact Us 1-866-LV-SOILS
Ingredients
COFMC, like standard FMC, is a production growing media compost specifically designed and formulated to optimize commercial mushroom production in a controlled indoor environment. Once the mushrooms are harvested, the compost growing media is removed and then replaced with a new batch for the next crop cycle. Despite some misconceptions, COFMC is NOT depleted and is actually very nutrient and biologically rich, with a high organic matter content. COFMC is unlike any other compost being made. While most composts are made as part of an organic waste recycling process, COFMC is an intentionally designed purpose driven growing media compost, perfected and used for decades. It is made from the standard blend of carefully selected and purchased ingredients that include a majority of hay and straw with smaller proportions of horse manure, poultry litter, corncobs, cottonseed hulls, cocoa bean hulls, lime, gypsum, and is later covered in sphagnum peat moss. After the mushroom farmers are finished growing mushrooms with the compost, local compost consumers are fortunate to only pay a fraction of its original value. COFMC is approved for re-use in other certified organic farms and gardens.
Analytical
COFMC is brown with flecks of grey mycelium, has a soft fibrous texture and is unscreened. Mushroom farming is a continual process with growing beds being filled with new compost as others are emptied on a daily basis. After harvest and prior to COFMC being removed from a growing bed it is steam pasteurized in the mushroom house, and is therefore 99% weed seed free. Despite some misconseptions, COFMC in not depleted in any way and has a high organic matter, a near neutral pH, is a rich source of slow release nutrients and beneficial biology. Analytical data sheets provided upon request.
Benefits
Certified Organic Fresh Mushroom Compost is approved for use in certified organic farming. Applying compost is the best way to build fertile, productive, and healthy soil. The fertility supplied by compost is released slowly, lasting for at least an entire growing season if not several years, providing safe and sustainable organic nutrients. The abundant microorganisms in compost act to enhance the soil’s immune system, helping to fight off and prevent soil diseases. The physical characteristics of the organic matter help build strong soil structure, creating well aggregated and porous, yet sponge-like soil matrix that is more resistant to compaction. This matrix provides for the right balance of moisture and oxygen in the root zone which promotes healthy deep rooting plants. It also improves the moisture holding capacity of light sandy soils while improving infiltration and permeability in heavier clay based soils. Compost also improves the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and can help adjust soil pH.
Benefits at a Glance
- Organic Matter
- Nutrients
- Biology
- Water Holding Capacity
- Improves Soil Structure and Porosity
Applications
Certified Organic Fresh Mushroom Compost is a great choice for amending soils for landscapes, turf, gardens, flowers, fruit, vegetables, and farming. COFMC is also great for topdressing gardens, row and hay crops and turf as well as mulching flower beds, shrubs, trees and also vineyards and orchards.
