# 975: Healthy Plants Start in the Soil with Shota Austin

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-urban-farm-podcast-with-greg-peterson-1101746/975-healthy-plants-start-in-the-soil-with-shota-austin.md
Podcast: [The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-urban-farm-podcast-with-greg-peterson-1101746)
Published: 2026-03-17T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.urbanfarm.org/973
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/7559c89e-4efe-4607-8f5b-3ca65e9488f9.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-urban-farm-podcast-with-greg-peterson-1101746/episodes/975-healthy-plants-start-in-the-soil-with-shota-austin
Duration seconds: 2142

## Resource

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 media, and customer service. Shota is also a founding member of the newly formed Arizona Compost Council. Key Topics & Entities Tank’s Green Stuff Arizona Compost Council Compost and soil microbiology Desert soil and low organic matter Organic fertilizers vs chemical fertilizers NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) Mulch and soil moisture retention Raised bed soil mixes Coco coir as a peat moss alternative Dechlorinating municipal water Soil biology and plant health Organic compost production from landscape waste Manure risks in garden beds Local soil products for arid climates Key Question…

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