Cr’Oyster Mushrooms
This week we meet Andrew Dickinson, the man behind the Cr’Oyster mushroom – just one of the many projects he is involved with that #makecroydongreat
How long have you been growing Cr’Oyster mushrooms for, and how did the idea come about? I’ve been growing oyster mushrooms on waste coffee grounds since Summer 2013. As a keen allotmenteer and gardener, I appreciate the value of our soil and keeping it nourished. Every day I’d buy a filter coffee and the previous puck of waste grounds would go in the bin. I knew the grounds were a resource, so asked my café and others to save them for me. At first I composted them and added to the soil. A while later I thought there must be more that can be done with the waste coffee. A search on the net and I’d found a company in San Francisco making ‘grow your own’ oyster mushroom kits. I then found a company in Devon offering courses on growing oyster mushrooms on waste coffee grounds. I booked on the course, learnt the basics and went from there. The Croydon Oyster or Cr’Oyster mushroom came from there….
Who buys Cr’Oyster mushrooms and where can we sample them in Croydon? Currently, Parklife Café in Lloyd Park is where the public can taste them in various dishes. I then sell them to individuals who basically ask me for some and when the crop is ready the transaction happens.
Following the launch in February, can you tell us more about Croydon ReUse and what it does? Croydon ReUse incorporates Croydon Urban Mushrooms. The ReUse side is run by my wife and it is there to take quality items out of the waste stream and mend, repair and put on sale. The main focus is furniture items. One waste stream that never ends — much like coffee grounds — are wooden pallets and in partnership with others, sixteen pieces of furniture were made for a commission by Parklife Café made from waste pallets. So if you go to the café and sit at a table or bench or put a drink on the coffee table that was all made by Croydon ReUse. Commissions have been earned on the back of this order.
Croydon ReUse is also committed to sharing skills that are dying out in our society. The wonderful skill of sewing or using a sewing machine, knitting or crocheting. Using woodworking skills, growing oyster mushrooms on waste coffee can all be learnt at the site from the workshops that we will offer. The workshops are for everyone and not aimed at one particular group. It is all about sharing skills in our community, creating community and having some fun.
Is this the first community project you’ve been involved in? It’s one of many community projects that I’m involved in. Current plans are bringing a local food growing project to life using some wonderful borough assets. There is also a food processing project using locally grown food; the Give and Take event (where people donate unwanted items); Croydon Environmental Fair; Croydon Summer of Love Festival and Community apple pressing.
Do you have plans for anything else? I’m in discussions to create a media/culture centre. I’m looking for a facility to do food for the homeless using waste food from supermarkets and restaurants. There’s loads to do and make happen. I’m also a Croydon Radio presenter, but live shows have gone off air for the moment. I also write for the Croydon Citizen and started the ‘I Would Make Croydon Better By’ campaign in which they published the 52 suggestions put forward into a book. And I want to revive the arts and crafts fair that I used to do.
What advice would you give to people who are concerned about the environment and want to make changes, but are not sure where to start?Get in touch with me.
Where are we most likely to find you in Croydon at the weekend? In the garden or allotment.
