The Most Important Compost You're Probably Not Using

John from www.growingyour... goes on a field trip to Nature's Way Resources in Conroe, Texas to share with you the most important compost you need to use in your vegetable garden that you probably never heard about.
In this episode, you will learn about fungal dominated compost and how it is made. You will discover how it is made at a world-class composting facility. You will also discover how you can make it yourself at home.
You will discover many tips and tricks that can be helpful for making your own compost, as well as the best type of compost you should buy if you will be purchasing compost
You will discover why it's more important to grind rather than chip woodchips and how making leaf mold compost can be another source of fungal sourced compost.
You will discover some of the best soil mixes that you can get at Nature's Way Resources on Conroe, Texas.
Finally, John will interview soil scientist, John Ferguson to learn more about Nature's Way Resources and the Importance of Fungal Dominated soils.
Jump to the following parts of this episode:
03:09 Plants Maintained Organically
05:07 Free Plastic Pots So You Can Grow a Garden
07:21 How Fungal Dominated Compost is Made from Tree/Shrub Waste
13:35 Why Grinding is Better than Chipping
15:25 First Step of Fungal Dominated Compost
17:21 Special Step in Making Fungal Dominated Compost
20:21 Fungal Dominated Compost Pile, Testing, and Information
26:06 Leaf Mold Compost - Balanced Fungal and Bacterial Compost
30:00 My favorite Soil Blend at Nature's Way Resources
35:10 Interview Starts
35:28 Why did you start Nature's Way Resources?
38:35 Which is better Windrow Compost or Static Pile Compost?
40:47 How long does it take to make windrow compost vs static pile compost?
41:33 How do you know if you're buying a good compost?
43:33 Why is fungal dominant compost so important?
45:09 Why don't more companies make fungal dominated compost?
45:50 What percentage of fungal soil do you need?
46:56 Why is leaf mold compost beneficial?
48:53 Any Final Comments about Fungal Dominated Soil?
49:30 Why are trace minerals important for human health and soil health?
52:09 How can someone learn more and contact Nature's Way Resources?
52:46 Will you help people start a composting business?
After watching this episode, you will learn about the most important compost you need to use in your vegetable garden and how to make it. You will also learn many tips and tricks along the way that can help you improve as a gardener and steward of the earth.
Referenced Episodes:
Best Compost in Texas (Nature's Way Resources)
• Best Organic Compost i...
SuperSize your Garden with Woodchips and Rock Dust
• SuperSize Your Vegetab...
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Learn more about Nature's Way Resources:
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Teaming with Microbes Book
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Teaming with Fungi Book
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Please note: the above links support a non-profit animal shelter that rescues cats and dogs.

[@growingyourgreens]

Jump to the following parts of this episode: 03:09 Plants Maintained Organically 05:07 Free Plastic Pots So You Can Grow a Garden 07:21 How Fungal Dominated Compost is Made from Tree/Shrub Waste 13:35 Why Grinding is Better than Chipping 15:25 First Step of Fungal Dominated Compost 17:21 Special Step in Making Fungal Dominated Compost 20:21 Fungal Dominated Compost Pile, Testing, and Information 26:06 Leaf Mold Compost - Balanced Fungal and Bacterial Compost 30:00 My favorite Soil Blend at Nature's Way Resources 35:10 Interview Starts 35:28 Why did you start Nature's Way Resources? 38:35 Which is better Windrow Compost or Static Pile Compost? 40:47 How long does it take to make windrow compost vs static pile compost? 41:33 How do you know if you're buying a good compost? 43:33 Why is fungal dominant compost so important? 45:09 Why don't more companies make fungal dominated compost? 45:50 What percentage of fungal soil do you need? 46:56 Why is leaf mold compost beneficial? 48:53 Any Final Comments about Fungal Dominated Soil? 49:30 Why are trace minerals important for human health and soil health? 52:09 How can someone learn more and contact Nature's Way Resources? 52:46 Will you help people start a composting business?

[@ALAPINO]

"You're" and you should pin this comment.

[@chefgiovanni]

John, another great video. Would like you to visit my ranch garden some day ( once I get one ).

[@organicgrow4440]

Learn Organic Gardening at GrowingYourGreens, thanks so much John very kind of you with this quick jump timers. Excellent video knowledge on more gardening tips.

[@williammackin9941]

Learn Organic Gardening at GrowingYourGreens I

[@lolvivo8783]

Hey thanks... I loved when you measured the quality of compost by its amount of biological activity. I am from India and cow dung from the native species is considered perfect soil. It too has the quality of fresh earthly smell and healthy biology going on. But I wanted you to comment and compare it with others. Besides I had been in such farms where the yeild multiplied 20x using this traditional method. But they grow only cow fodder. They sell its milk which has more than 5000 components. The milk helps brain growth and overall health. Besides they consume "ghee" traditional way to staggering amounts without being a bit obese. They are all vegetarians. I wish you could do some research there. The location is in India. Thanks.

[@tallunique]

Starting at 45:00, I found this episode so encouraging, in that an actual soil scientist who understands the 'soil web' started a recycling and compost business in the Houston area. It is so imperative that we advert usable material and feed ourselves with food grown in quality composted soils. The emotion from John, the host, at the end, I believe comes from a place of deep love of building soil and growing food. It was quite remarkable to watch such a thing.

[@vsmani5]

John, what you do is a service to humankind and when you are emotional we could clearly understand how genuine is your preaching for a good food & health. Thanks a lot for all your effort & help.

[@codyhunt3]

Easily one of my top five fav gyg videos. I don't care how long they are when you're sharing quality information from folks in the biz.

[@mccardieclan1755]

Lots of great information!! Thank YOU, John!!! for taking the time to visit Nature's Way Resources. Plus sharing the need for fungal/bacterial dominated compost and the importance of healthy soil !! #ROCKYourGardenGreens! #passionforLIFE

[@gregorytoddsmith9744]

I really dig that you are passionate and emotional about people. You teach and go out and show us what is possible. Thank you John !

[@KristinBennett]

I love you talking about the pots!! I scored last year when a landscaping company parked right outside my house, and so I asked and they sure delivered!! They gave me a bunch they had and ALSO came back and dropped off a bunch more!! I have about 3 medium sized blueberry bushes, one apple tree, and others have annuals...love it! I'm glad I'm not crazy for using them!

[@danposani6411]

Long time viewer, first comment... thought this was the video that I needed to say something about. I started following to learn how to grow my own food, and ended up wanting to learn more about compost. I think composting is even more important than growing food and should be learned first. This video says it all and I am so excited to see it! Thank you JK!

[@captlynhall]

John, I just found this video and am so excited. I live and garden in League City, and although it will be about an hour and a half drive up to Conroe, I can't wait to pay Nature's Way Resources a visit. It is so nice to see someone who knows the science and is passionate about his business. Thanks so much for your videos.

[@kmw328]

Best Gardening video I've seen in awhile.

[@PENFOLD1962]

All goes back to "YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW", and "You get back what you put in!" You put crap in you're going to get crap out. John you are a "TOP BLOKE", you do all this for us... I for one can't thank you enough👍😆👍

[@sebstream8440]

Awesome content. Many Thanks to you and your Nature's Way guest for filming and sharing this info.

[@berrisbogle]

I promise you this video open my eyes to everything am doing in my garden I was doing all of this before I was this video... I didn't know all this information till I watch this video that I was doing amazing job in my garden so try thank you for helping me to see that am doing a good job and I will keep doing so.

[@markcampolo577]

You guys are so awesome ! Thank you for sharing all your experience , time, and talent spent on this subject !!!

[@bethneuling3120]

I don't care how long the videos get! I'll always stick with ya :) There's information and value in every moment and it breaks my heart how your passion for it shines.

[@bobbrawley2612]

Viewed this long winded video twice already .. it a good one

[@pedromq7807]

I speed up to x1.75 even, when i need I slow down

[@lisawintler-cox1641]

I watch his videos 2x or more often, and I feel guilty for speeding the feed up, but I'm glad I'm not alone. It's incredibly hard to speak off the cuff like they do, and they do a magnificent job. Hardly an ummm or uhhh to be heard. I'm just impatient I guess.

[@damedesmontagnes]

Your knowledge and passion are inspiring. Thanks for the information.

[@kindlia]

Thanks so much for this. I just got 10 loads of chips delivered to my AZ property and this will be a tremendous help in how I approach composting them. Also, I met you at an event with Jake about 6 yrs ago. Be well.

[@feathergrass77]

I learned so much from this video! It's a long one, but well worth every minute! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I'm planning a trip down there from Nebraska to start my new raised beds off right. 😊

[@jamesponder7211]

Thanks for long videos where you take the time to educate us about a more organic style of gardening

[@g.l.8127]

Hey John I've been following you for a while I have to say this was one of the most awesome and informative videos you've produced changing my mind about a lot of things understanding what good soil is thanks

[@lisakelley6403]

Excellent video John! One of the best I've seen! I live about 90 minutes from Conroe...you can be I'll be making a trip down to Nature's Way asap! Thanks so much for all you do!

[@visualexplorer1]

Thanks for another very informative youtube! This is the kind of "news" I thrive on.

[@vickiwhite725]

WOWOWOWOW. This man, John knows his stuff!!!!! Thank you both 💟

[@Coconutoilcrazy]

This is by far the best video I have watched, not only the best of John but the best on the net, it teared me up tp! Now to get some knox gelatin and knock out the tenditis.

[@Krisssy808]

This is a very important topic. Thank you so much, John! :)

[@akrealestatebroker]

Love Jeff Lowenfels' books as well as his articles in the Anchorage Daily News. Highly recommend reading and studying them. 42 degrees today...heat wave!

[@shihtzusrule9115]

"Strawberries like a fungal-dominated environment". I had a little section of tree trunk or limb just sitting upright by my sidewalk for 3 or 4 years or more and some weird cream-colored and truffle-looking fungus started growing on it as the stump broke down. Then a year or two later wild strawberries started growing in the ground next to the wood. No wild strawberries anywhere else in my yard and I've had that yard for 20+ years. I couldn't figure out where they came from. Now I know. They're there for the fungus in the soil next to the tree section/stump.

[@backyardbarefootgardener5927]

An abundance of GREAT information John! Thank you for sharing your passion and spreading the knowledge.

[@dustman96]

Some of the best content I've seen from you in a while. Let's bring it back and get real.

[@kaysarverart]

I am so happy to know that this place is close for me as I am in Houston. Thanks so much, John, for putting this video together. I had no idea about this place. I do compost and grow my own food... well, some of my own food, and am happy to know I can get some good fungal based compost to add to the experience!

[@vinnettepope8255]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful educational video and tips on gardening with compost.

[@gloriewinnike3673]

Vinnette Pope by

[@powervoc2]

Fantastic video. I've used John's products before and they are stellar. Thanks for the continued education.

[@wonderwomanenlightenment641]

I wish I listened to you before I bought some. The compost I bought had glass in it, plastics and cigarettes butts. Thank you for all your work on this

[@eileenfb1948]

So very interesting. Thank you - we all need good health.

[@Julie-bp1zf]

I enjoy watching your videos :) It's cool that you mix in a little bit of life philpsophy and you seem like someone who is trying to live your life in a way that lets you stay true to yourself. That's always inspiring!

[@sarabarbosa4693]

I'm happy that I live in Dallas and not that far to get their compost, so happy that you brought it to my attention on the differences. Because it can be confusing.

[@kenbellchambers4577]

I have a few decades of experience making compost both on the home garden level, and on a small industrial scale. One thing that I found important is keeping the piles properly stacked. This means that the sides of the windrow or pile should be as close to vertical as possible. By using hand methods, it is easy to get a stack to within fifteen or twenty degrees of vertical. This puts the weight of the pile pushing in a downwards direction, which keeps the stack in place, without spreading or drifting, and, equally important, the heap has minimum surface area. A heap that is not stacked well is excessively wasteful. Sun, wind and weather, birds and animals all take their toll, and wastage will be very serious. Sun, especially, evaporates not only water, but the very humus itself, so all of my heaps are completely covered by a thick mulch, which again, preserves a very large proportion of waste by evaporation and attrition from weather. Currently, I am managing an area of forest to control the forest fuel overburden to prevent forest fires. The diversity of feedstock is amazing, and the compost turns into 90% pure worm castings in just over one year. The heaps generally are around three tonnes each, and they are hand turned two or three times. The heaps amounting to fifteen to twenty tonnes per annum are inoculated with my personal household waste stream and much chemical-free organically rich waste water. The domestic waste from one person, amazingly, is sufficient to inoculate twenty tonnes of forest debris. I use an electric chaff cutter to process the organic materials which consist of dead palm fronds, tree fern fronds, tree fern trunks, branches, bark, leaves, annual weeds, unwanted vines, rotten wood, and occasional animal wastes such as manure or road kills. I use sawdust for covering and odour suppression in my compost toilet, and I also use woodchips at the rate of about one or two tonnes per annum. My garden wastes also provided high nitrogen feedstock. Thanks for a great presentation.

[@arrhazes8198]

I don't get it. What did you inoculate it with?

[@kenbellchambers4577]

@@arrhazes8198 Household waste such as rinse water from food containers, and especially urine and kitchen scraps are all things which kick-start a compost pile. The greater the diversity of nitrogenous wastes, the greater the likelihood of excellent broad-spectrum inoculation. Inoculants are basically anything that will easily putrefy, as these item are rich in decomposition bacteria and fungi. Inoculation is not essential if you use a broad spectrum of feedstock. Because the soil is full of them, the addition of commercial inoculants is totally unnecessary, except under very unusual conditions, such as using only one source of feedstock such as composting only sawdust, or only hay, etc.

[@BaseballDiamondJim]

A real pleasure to hear something unique.

[@originaldranksta6740]

Thank you for this video John.. and also the video from 3 years ago! i live only 10 minutes from Natures way and was doing research for my spring garden when i discovered your video! thank you for this and i will be getting soil for my new raised beds this spring. I really appreciate what you do! thanks!

[@originaldranksta6740]

@d 4 years later and doing wonderful! I top with his compost every other year and everything grows fantastic! Quality soil for sure!

[@PrincessShaBooBoo]

I love your passion. I learned a lot today and I enjoy the longer videos!! 😊 I’m going to dry my eyes now. 😅

[@backwoodbasics9383]

Thank you John(s) for this wealth of information. Yes, every city should have such a facility. Here in northern Minnesota we may need to tack on another year, however. I use chopped leaves as a carbon source in our automatic rotating composters. Although it gets hot and breaks down fast, I believe it also promotes fungal growth in the beds once it is added.

[@susannehenry3684]

I live in Houston. So excited to learn about this company. I will make a trip soon.

[@user-be4yc2vr5c]

We share alot of the same philosophies. Thanks for your videos as always bud.

[@therealbdbeatz]

Great video! Thank you both for the information/Knowledge

[@martygraw1550]

Which products can those of us, in LA who are outside of Nature's Way's product distribution area use that are available at Lowes, Home Depot, etc that are most compatible with their products? The video is excellent, but regional, and I understand that. It does give us ideas of materials to combine and maybe achieve similar results, but wish we could actually buy the product. Thank you for providing a very informative video and most of all, thank you, John Ferguson for your contribution to all of us with gardening.

[@christophermanabat1934]

I make my own fungal compost by sifting out the wood chips from bagged compost sold at big box stores. I then make it damp and put bricks to smash it down and hold in moisture. I forget about it for 8 months and when I go back, all the wood is gone and it’s just rich, black and fine compost. Very spongy feeling that’s smooth like fine clay but doesn’t clump. I sometimes mix dry leaves with it and it seems to help it breakdown faster. So I suggest sifting your bagged compost and breakdown the wood and use the rich compost you sifted to amend your beds. Till the wood chips are ready.

[@reneethomson3202]

Thank you for being so passionate about the soil. It’s so important for our children. Their tiny bodies are taking in so much toxins. Just buying frozen microwave foods for your children is so harmful. But it’s a fast paced world. I wish parents would slow down and think about the children’s health. Thank you again.

[@FairyFrequency]

Big like from the Fairy Frequency channel! Wishing you a beautiful evening filled with positive energy and healing light x) 🦋

[@nuahtransit5858]

Great episode , thx for sharing as always 👍

[@sandraperez7331]

Thank you for your passion and dedication to helping people live healthy (and happier). This video covered a vitally important topic and the information / bits of wisdom are invaluable. I watched to the end. One piece of feedback is that the words “you guys” is a distraction. Thanks again.

[@garyparrish9297]

Really enjoyed this video!!! Thankyou for the time it took!

[@GerardGibney3]

Jon, woodchip mulch delivers the BEST results bar none. Allying with the myco's mycelia is the optimal way to harness the power of nature and grow the absolute best organic vegetables fruits and plants overall. Thanks for the info!

[@pedromq7807]

Thanks John

[@stephrager7555]

I live in Dallas... looks like I'll be making a trip down there next week. :-) thank you!

[@replicant70]

Brilliant video John. Thank you.

[@naomimurphy9299]

Totally awesome!!!

[@trafferz]

4 - 6 weeks vs 1.5 years to make good compost. Wow. such a difference.

[@baircichlids5350]

Great videos all the time thanks. I use it"your info" in my back to edden garden all the time

[@aaronbasset6411]

Thank you !

[@BM-cz5uz]

Thank you! This was definitely an eye opener. I want to ask if there is any resource I can look up to find out what type of soil I need for the different plants I am growing. Thanks in advance!

[@HappybyChoice]

Great info!

[@jillandjoe100]

Loved this video, new gardner in Spring. I have a very small yard/garden. Can't use 1/2 yard, are there bags available.

[@vettedwarrior7054]

John Very good Episode!

[@hc2013]

Would there be any benefit to pushing compressed air into a compost pile? I was thinking of putting together a 4 foot long 4" diameter pipe, drilling holes all over it, filling it with pea gravel, and then hooking it up to my air compressor and pushing 3-4 psi compressed air into the center of my pile to speed decomposition.

[@drrota]

Great vid! Is there a place to purchase fungal spore material online - to 'seed' your own compost/mulch pile? - Any idea what 'strain' (if there is such a thing) of fungi that is the most beneficial? (or some heterogeneous mix of strains?) Lastly - Hats off to you on this video - I could tell you were suffering through this one - Someone needed to step in and bring you a tall glass of water! Thanks for all the enthusiasm and dedication to help the rest of us get what we need to get the job done! Stay green, and stay cool!

[@gewgulkansuhckitt9086]

Spores are everywhere in the air and in the soil. If you create the right environment for fungus, they will come. That being said, if I find a piece of wood under a tree or out in the woods somewhere that has an interesting fungus on it, I add it to my composting wood and woodchips. Basically wood in compost or as the only compost tends to promote fungal action.

[@MrNoucfeanor]

I live in Dallas, and I plan on driving down there next weekend.

[@MetalBum]

Very interesting stuff!!

[@prettypothos4me290]

Really enjoyed this!

[@happydavid13]

Really enjoyed this video and appreciate your passion.

[@dorothyokwuonu6202]

John thanks for all your efforts to keep us well informed. Pls where is the location of this company, I am in Houston . Thanks

[@garyparrish9297]

A link to the book he wrote would be nice, as well as the book he mentioned?

[@autumnwhispers2me]

Wish we had a place like this locally. Great video.

[@JeannetteA.333]

Hi, we love your videos!!! I live in Northern New Jersey what place in NJ do you recommend for me to go buy compost and native mulch. I'm exhausted of trying everything in Home depot and Lowes wasting my money and time and not seeing results. THANKS.... desperately seeking fungus and microbs!

[@michaelmangos555]

Great video. Thank you

[@anniegaddis5240]

Added his book to my Amazon Book Wishlist!

[@forthewagesofsinisdeath4967]

Ok, where can I get a good plant grinder to make my own compost? What should I use?

[@tRiPsOvAdAmO0n]

Freaking fantastic episode! Love it... 🤓🤘🏼

[@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14]

This is essentially humus, as opposed to compost. I am fortunate to have a good portion of my yard where I have several inches of this that I can dig out and mix into my raised beds. Up at my dawn redwood preserve, there is a spot a few hundred feet square, where tulip poplars and surface springs have given me a layer of this almost three feet deep. It's literally, black gold.

[@sfdogman1969]

Thanks brother... Love your passion..

[@SIVOTECHNigeriaLimited]

I love your passion bother... Keep up the great work... Hopefully we can team up in the near future

[@brandillysmom]

John, I noticed the same thing that that you talked about in this video when I would do yard clean up and uncover layers of leaves to uncover the network of stuff and rich looking, good smelling fluffy dirt. You’re right, it’s not the same as the compost that I’d get from the box stores, but I previously thought compost is compost. I live in Los Angeles and I sure wish that the type of place featured in your video was local. With that said, a lot of the trees in the surrounding neighborhoods where I live shed huge amounts of leaves in Autum. I realize that this black gold takes time to produce, but I want to give sort of a jump start. If I gathered piles of these leaves into my backyard, would be a good idea to dump some bags of Nature’s way, other Leaf mold compost or mold innoculant into the pile, then sprinkle the pile with water occasionally? Or is that completely unnecessary?

[@danphillips5763]

John, I have a question about how they deal with Jumping Worms at Nature's Way. Because they are making anaerobic fungi dominated compost, that seems like an environment that could allow Jumping Worms to thrive. Especially when they finish the compost near a forest, how do they keep these worms out of the forest? Or do they simply not have jumping worms?

[@333jahlink]

great info thanks!

[@hosoiarchives4858]

Is there anything like this in the Seattle area?

[@KrazyKajun602]

I have a static piles 5 yrs old that I started using

[@MirMeharullah]

love your work sir

[@TheMississauga333]

good tips

[@bp3sfishingchannel518]

Great Video!

[@Balthisar]

What grinder does he use john!!??

[@FrankEdavidson]

How do those linear measures work i.e. yard of mulch?

[@veefriend4201]

Would it be beneficial to cover compost pile with a tarp to avoid leaching?

[@sweetvuvuzela4634]

Vee Friend yes controlling water is good as you can loose the nutrients

[@michaelbaker1999]

This is Veronica and I wish everyone made a public composting place and put the empty flower pots and even wood pallet s . Free to public in the city to recycling keep out of city dumps

[@anniegaddis5240]

I have woodchip piles at 1, 2, and 3 years old. I don't turn them. After 3 years I USE it. But in the meantime they DO grow an abundance of weeds. Is there something I can use to usher in the fungi? Or SOMETHING to keep the weeds down?

[@npgjnrcc4707]

Annie Gaddis tarps. both

[@anniegaddis5240]

Good idea. Problem with monsoon winds though. Maybe if I tie the corners down to rebar or something. Gonna try it. Thanks!

[@anniegaddis5240]

Carpet! That's an idea! Think those may hold down better that tarps because our winds may not blow them off as easily. Thanks!

[@kinwong3729]

Thanks for the great video. Can someone tell me what John Ferguson said that he added to his orange juice at 50:10 to treat his tendonitis?

[@theman3640]

I think he said 'Knox Gelatine" which is a brand of gelatine.

[@andielliott2306]

Hmmm...used to live in Conroe, Texas. Pretty place.

[@dennisshields7246]

At 13:22 you say it goes to a grinding machine to cut and break it down. Wow, what is sawdust?

[@vsmani5]

As John mentioned, the cellulose is present in green materials when grounded compared to Sawdust having no life.

[@KristinBennett]

If we want to add fungal compost to soil, we mix it, will that not kill the fungi? Super curious...

[@robbychen8936]

What are differences between Fungal Dominated Compost and Hugelkultur? Aside from it's compost vs raised bed.

[@lisalisa5461]

Great video as usual

[@teemann8050]

John imo is a Korean natural farming technique, it's a great input for people who don't have time or space for wood chips to break down

[@gewgulkansuhckitt9086]

Here's a link for those wondering what the heck tee mann is talking about. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_natural_farming Interestingly enough, I'm composting some of my weeds in a barrel about half full of water which I have inoculated with excess kombucha scoby I needed to throw away. I didn't realize the Koreans had already done something similar.