975: Healthy Plants Start in the Soil with Shota Austin

About this episode

The episode discusses the importance of healthy soil for successful gardening, featuring insights on composting and soil biology from Shota Austin.

A Rosie On The House Replay In this episode explores the foundation of successful gardening: healthy soil. Farmer Greg is joined by Shota Austin from Tank’s Green Stuff to discuss composting, soil biology, and how gardeners in dry climates can transform lifeless dirt into thriving soil ecosystems. They explain how compost introduces life into depleted soils, why organic practices support soil microbiology, and how mulch, compost, and planting mixes work together to build resilient garden beds. The conversation also highlights practical strategies for gardeners, including dechlorinating water, choosing soil inputs wisely, and avoiding common soil-building mistakes. Shota Austin is with Tanks Green Stuff in Tucson AZ. Shota has been in the agriculture industry for the last two decades. Working with livestock, goats, sheep, cattle, chickens, cotton, alfalfa, nursery crops, orchards and vegetable production. As a former U of A Compost Cat, Shota has been working with compost since 2013 and now works as sales and marketing director for Tanks Green Stuff, where he oversees all aspects of the business, including production quality control. Product development, sales, marketing, social…

People in this episode

Host: Greg Peterson

Guest: Shota Austin

Topics covered

• soil health
• composting
• soil biology
• gardening in dry climates
• organic practices
• soil-building strategies

Keywords

• healthy soil
• composting
• soil microbiology
• organic fertilizers
• gardening strategies
• desert soil
• mulch
• planting mixes

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tank’s Green Stuff, Arizona Compost Council

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