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Getting Dirty with Buttheadz Living Soil

An Interview with Erick Englehart of Buttheadz Living Soil

Tell us about yourself and the Buttheadz Soil Company

I am Erick Englehart. I was born in Tochigi, Japan, and raised in Jackson, Missouri. I have been a cannabis enthusiast my entire life. I have seen how cannabis medicine has helped folks with so many things, from cancer to a soldier with PTS. That is why growing weed is a passion for me.

The Buttheadz Soil Company is made up of my partners Vince Schrum, Jeff Limbaugh, and me. Our company mission is to provide sustainable soils to benefit our environment and make growing easier and fun for everyone by giving them everything they need in the bag from the start.

Buttheadz isn’t your typical soil company. It is founded by cannabis growers, formulated for cannabis growers. That is why we formulated our Famous Buttheadz Living Soil, made from coco coir and our custom-aged compost recipe. Our Buttheadz Living Soil is a recipe for success with any grower, newbie or veteran.
Buttzheadz Living Soil Organic COmpost
Buttzheadz Living Soil Organic COmpost

What is living soil? Why does it matter to the way we grow?

When I talk about living soil, I don’t think of it as just dirt in a container. I think of it as a city of organisms. Healthy soil contains organic matter, nutrients, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and other microorganisms that all interact with each other. They’re breaking down organic materials, cycling nutrients, and helping create an environment where the plant’s roots can thrive.
We want to give growers a foundation where the cannabis is working together with the soil to help assist in nutrient uptake and root growth.

How long does it take to create a mature living soil ecosystem?

Biology takes time. A living soil ecosystem can take months or even years to develop into a mature system. That’s one reason we decided to handle a lot of that process ourselves.

We compost our materials for up to three years, not trying to rush that process. We want to give those organic materials the time they need to develop into mature compost that can become part of a healthy growing medium.

What role do microorganisms play in living soil?

They’re a huge part of the equation. Bacteria and fungi help break down organic materials into forms that plants can use. Mycorrhizal fungi can interact with plant roots and support nutrient and water uptake. Nematodes and protozoa are also important parts of the soil food web.

It’s not about one particular microorganism being the magic ingredient. It’s about the relationships between all the organisms. You have organisms breaking down organic matter, other organisms feeding on those microorganisms, and nutrients being cycled and processed through the system. It’s a living ecosystem that’s constantly changing, feeding and protecting the plant’s root system.

What makes the Buttheadz Living Soil different?

We’ve developed a patented process for processing coco coir. We separate the pith from the coir and remove much of that sponge-like material that holds water. So, coco fiber provides high air porosity, and it also provides a fluffy home for the roots to thrive in.

The goal is to create a growing medium that provides airflow and drainage while still supporting a healthy root environment. Because of the structure of our processed coco, we don’t need to rely on perlite to create that air space.

Second, we mix in our premium compost that we processed for over three years to produce the maximum nutrient value and microbial value for our customers. Then we combine that processed coco with our premium aged compost, and it makes Buttheadz Living Soil unlike any other. That’s where everything starts coming together.

Why is air porosity so important to the root zone?

Roots need more than water. They need oxygen too. A lot of people naturally think about keeping their plants watered, but the root zone also needs to breathe.

We want to create an environment where water can move through the medium while air can also move through it. That helps create a better environment for root development. For me, everything starts with the roots. If you can build a healthy root environment, you’re giving the plant a much better foundation to grow from.

Tell us about the compost that goes into Buttheadz Living Soil.

Our compost is a magical part.

We use recycled agricultural materials, including trash, along with dairy and poultry waste. We carefully mix those materials using a specialized recipe we’ve developed and tested over the years. Then we give that material time, a lot of time, to process and create a premium compost.

Our compost is aged for up to three years. That’s important because we’re not simply taking raw materials and putting them into a bag. We’re allowing the composting process to develop the organic material and biological activity we’re looking for. This slowly releases the right amount of nutrition for your plant. This way, your soil does most of the work for you and makes your growing experience even better.

We’re taking agricultural waste and turning it into something valuable for growers.

What does sustainability mean to you beyond simply using recycled materials?

I think it’s about changing the way we look at organic waste. Why not try composting?

We live in a world where it’s easy to use something once and throw it away. Why throw something away that can be reused? Something grows, something gets harvested, organic material breaks down, and those nutrients can become part of the next cycle. I think we need to get back to our roots. Take waste, compost it, put it into soil, grow plants, reuse that soil, and continue that cycle.

If you could leave growers with one thought about Buttheadz Living Soil, what would it be?

Get dirty. Don’t be afraid to get your hands in the soil. Learn what’s happening underneath your plants and learn about your root zone. Learn about the microorganisms and the role they play. Because once you start understanding the soil, you start looking at the entire plant differently.

At Buttheadz, we believe great soil is more than just dirt; this stuff is alive. It’s an ecosystem. It’s the foundation of an ecosystem beneath every great grow.

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