The Three Most Important Items for Mushroom Production 'Compost, Compost, Compost!'

 Pieter's famous saying:

The three most important facts for a high yield are:

• Compost • Compost • Compost

Pieter checking the compost at the wharf of the Leaver farm in Campbellville, Ontario Canada (now Monaghan Mushrooms).

It was April 10, 1995 when Pieter did a two-day seminar for them.

May I add one more Mushroom Editorial Review...

Written in 1989 by Tom Gannon and published in CAMPBELL'S NEWSLETTER:

Remember when you were in school, how there would be a teacher who would make you learn a certain subject almost in spite of yourself? 

Usually they were not the easiest or favorite teacher at the time, but when you look back, they were the ones who taught you a course that was important to you later.

Oftentimes they were more strict, maintained a higher level of discipline, piled on the home work, and were quite demanding in the learning and practicing of the basics of the course.

They had a style and method of communicating the subject matter that made learning challenging and interesting.

They were always well prepared, and had a great deal of knowledge and experience in teaching the material.

I was told at graduation that the commencement activity was not the end but the beginning of a learning process that would last for life.

Hardly did I belief that I would meet a teacher when I was in my fifties who could teach me so much about a subject I had been working with for nearly 20 years.

Mr. Pieter Vedder has for over 5 years brought to our company (Campbell Soup's Mushroom Division) a training program like no other company has had before. 

Not only the subject matter on the basics and beyond of growing mushrooms, but a new type of technology to go with it. 

Pieter reviewed farm operations and aided them in identifying and correcting problem areas.

He helped them in design and engineering of two new mushroom operations and carried the CAMSCO image to the mushroom industry on a National and International level.

He provided us with our present mushroom strain, found the basic solution to the Hillsboro virus problem and kept us up to date on mushroom publications from all over the world.

Pieter was always at his best in the classroom situation.

After being a part of several of his training courses I recall a number of topics that have helped us attain the present level of quality and production.

Can anyone forget the three most important items for mushroom production "Compost, compost, compost!" or the early sessions on lower temperature pasteurizations, no steaming peat moss, and using spent lime?

It took a long time to simplify compost formulas and utilize higher levels of chicken litter.

How about the classes we had on the biological range for conditioning compost, recycled compost water, and method of pre–wetting?

His discussions of easily degradable carbohydrates and their relation to selectivity are now well known to many of us.

I hope we'll always remember how he emphasized the importance oof hygiene and sanitation in control of disease and insects! 

Special sessions on Phase I–II provided an opportunity to share seasonal information that has resulted in more consistent production and quality. The sessions on the "case to harvest" areas have helped us to perfect methods of CAC'ing and deep scratching.

Pieter was always a strong advocate of maintaining the basics of mushroom growing. 

He taught us what we need to strive for. 

If we use the information he has given us we can continue to improve our operations and be more consistent.

In closing I can say, I not only met a very special teacher, but also a special friend.

We spent many hours together in the classroom, traveling on the farms, in motels, airports, and such.

We exchanged many ideas, shared numerous experiences and talked of our lives in general.

I wish him the very best in his new position, and look forward to his future contact with CAMSCO!

God Bless, Best Wishes, Thank You!

Pieter indeed was an excellent teacher; even in a non–native language...

The above is from our book: modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting

Some Mushroom Growers Wisdom

The three most important facts for a high yield are:

• Compost • Compost • Compost            P.J.C. Vedder

Using part of one of the FOREWORDS in our book: modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting

Allow me to introduce you to the author; Pieter J.C. Vedder. He is a consummate educator. Not only a very knowledgeable technical advisor, he has seen and worked with the most sophisticated modern processes and techniques, but just as important, he has observed and consulted with some of the most rudimentary no frills operations with the minimum level of machinery or mechanical controls of basic process.

In the late 1980s we opened up Campbell's access to the industry. We had unused capacity of spawn and supplement plants, so we set about to pursue these two basic ingredients for sale, to most other commercial mushroom farms. One of our competitive strengths was, to offer growers's training sessions on the road, to areas where we could draw from large and small clusters of growers. We held mostly one, and also two–day growing seminars. Many sites became annual renewals. Pieter, together with his wife Mariette, was a significant draw. Frequent sites were Kennett Square and Temple, Pennsylvania; West Chicago, Illinois; Ontario (above photo) and British Colombia in Canada; Santa Cruz, California; Waco, Texas and tours to 3 towns in Ireland and a two–day Growing Seminar at Tewkesbury Park, in the U.K.

I trust you will find their publication useful. Having an interest in mushroom growing already makes you a friend.

Jack A. McDaniel, Macungie, Pennsylvania/USA, May 2020

Related links:

modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting | previous post by me

modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting in University Textbooks together with Mushroom Cultivator | previous post by me

Editiorial Review from CEO Campbell Soup: You Brought a World-Renowned Professionalism to our Operations when they Sorely Needed Expertise | previous post by me

Editorial Review: P.J.C. Vedder's Modern Mushroom Growing - The Content is so Clear and Comprehensive | photo of Pieter making compost by hand in 1962