At Frog Hollow Farm, we believe that healthy trees start from the ground up! That’s why we take composting seriously—not just as a way to recycle farm waste, but as a key part of our orchard’s ecosystem. Our robust compost operation ensures that our trees get the nutrients they need while also supporting a thriving underground network of beneficial fungi.

From Fruit Scraps to Fertile Soil

Each summer, we generate hundreds of pounds of fruit scraps daily. From our packing shed, kitchen, and fruit drying yard, we collect pits, skins, and any damaged fruit that can’t be used elsewhere. These scraps are rich in sugars, providing the perfect fuel for the beneficial bacteria in our compost piles. Just like us, microbes love a sweet treat!

However, a thriving compost pile needs balance. That’s where our winter and spring pruning comes in! The branches we trim are shredded into wood chips, forming a carbon-rich foundation for our compost. We then mix these wood chips with horse bedding from a neighboring farm—a fantastic source of nitrogen. By carefully balancing carbon, nitrogen, and sugars, we create ideal conditions for microbes to work their magic, transforming waste into nutrient-dense compost.

Each year, we spread this compost across the orchard to enrich the soil and support tree health. In 2024 alone, we applied 5,000 tonnes—up to 20 tonnes per acre—boosting nutrients, improving soil structure, and enhancing water retention. 

For 3–5 weeks, we closely monitor our compost, maintaining temperatures between 130–140°F to ensure proper decomposition and pathogen elimination. Moisture levels are carefully regulated throughout the process, fostering the ideal environment for beneficial fungi and bacteria to thrive.

Fungal-Rich Compost: The Secret Ingredient for Orchard Success

Tree health starts from the ground up, and the right compost makes all the difference. Our orchard trees prefer compost that is rich in fungal species, which is why we prioritize woody, carbon-dense materials in our composting process.

Why does this matter? Trees have evolved alongside fungi for millions of years, forming symbiotic relationships that enhance their growth, resilience, and disease resistance. By fostering soil rich in fungal life, we create the ideal conditions for our orchard to thrive.

Here’s how our fungal-rich compost benefits our trees:

• Enhanced Nutrient Cycling: Fungi help break down organic material, making essential nutrients more available to tree roots.
  
• Improved Water Uptake: Mycorrhizal fungi extend root systems, increasing water absorption—especially vital in drought conditions.
  
• Increased Disease Resistance: A tree with a healthy fungal network has a stronger immune system, reducing the need for human intervention.
• Resilience Against Weather Extremes: Trees with abundant carbohydrate reserves, thanks to fungal-assisted nutrient uptake, can better withstand winter storms and seasonal stress. 
  

A Win for Our Farm, Our Trees, and Our Planet

Our composting efforts go far beyond feeding our trees—they cultivate a healthier, more resilient ecosystem from the ground up. By enriching soil structure, enhancing water retention, and sequestering carbon, our compost helps mitigate climate challenges while sustaining the orchard for generations to come. We’ve seen its impact firsthand: when heavy rain storms hit Northern California in 2023, many farms experienced severe flooding. But our living soil, rich in organic matter and microbial life, absorbed and dispersed the water like a sponge, protecting our trees and preserving our harvest. 

At Frog Hollow, we see our compost operation as a win-win-win: for our farm, for our trees, and for the environment. By nurturing the life in our soil, we’re ensuring a future where our trees can thrive naturally, with minimal intervention. So the next time you bite into one of our legendary fruits, know that it’s not just our farmers who made it possible—it’s also thanks to the thriving network of microbes working beneath our feet!