Growing Oyster Mushrooms on Garden Waste

The aim was to provide an answer to one simple question: Is it possible to grow edible mushrooms on garden waste?

Now, the results are in – And the short answer is yes.

Beyond Coffee collected and tested three different structures – from fine to coarse – of garden waste. The results show that it is possible to cultivate edible oyster mushrooms from the garden waste; however, the yields are lower than what you can expect from the conventional alternatives.

The project concludes that garden waste is a possible future substrate for mushroom cultivation.

Further testing needs to be done to increase the yields of the substrate, for it to be a viable alternative to conventional substrates. The hypothesis is that yields can increase if the moisture level is regulated better, the particle size of the substrate is reduced and the amount of substrate per bag is increased.

As part of the partnership project, the mushrooms where tested for their content of heavy metals. All levels are below the EU thresholds for human adults to consume. 

Please contact us if you wish to hear more about the project or wish to collaborate to scale up the solution.