Business Details
Organic Gardening Kits & Supplies for Home Growers
Back to the Roots was founded with a mission to reconnect families and children with the origins of their food through accessible, sustainable gardening. Established in Oakland, CA, the company evolved from a college experiment growing mushrooms on coffee grounds into a nationally recognized brand offering award-winning organic gardening products. Our co-founders, Nikhil Arora and Alejandro Velez, abandoned corporate careers to pioneer urban farming, creating user-friendly grow kits, heirloom seeds, and peat-free soils that empower anyone to cultivate fresh ingredients at home.With products available in over 10,000 stores nationwide, we prioritize eco-conscious practices and community engagement through initiatives like #GrowOneGiveOne, which donates gardening kits to schools. Our team combines agricultural expertise with educational innovation to make gardening approachable for all skill levels, backed by direct customer support and a commitment to transparency.
Services
Mushroom Grow Kits
Organic Soils
Seed Starting Mixes
Hydroponic Systems
Kids Gardening Kits
Raised Bed Soil
Compost Products
Terrarium Kits
Herb Planters
Aquaponics Ecosystems
Highlights and features
- 15+ years pioneering urban gardening solutions
- Award-winning organic mushroom grow kits and soils
- Sustainable, peat-free, and compostable product lines
- Expert gardening support via phone and email
- #GrowOneGiveOne program donates kits to schools
What people say
Easy to plant
Delicious mushrooms
Love this product
Great for kids
Quick growth
Services
Organic Mushroom Grow Kit
Our mushroom grow kits use organic substrates for home cultivation. Perfect for beginners, they require minimal space and produce edible mushrooms in weeks. Kits include all necessary materials and instructions.
Organic Soils
Peat-free, nutrient-rich soils for container and raised bed gardening. Formulated to retain moisture while preventing compaction. Available in bulk and retail sizes for all garden scales.
Hydroponic Grow Kit
Self-sustaining hydroponic systems combine fish and plant cultivation. Ideal for teaching ecosystems and growing herbs or vegetables indoors year-round without soil.
Kids Grow Kits
STEM-approved kits designed to engage children with hands-on plant science. Includes terrariums and simple grow systems that demonstrate plant life cycles safely and visually.
Seed Starting Mix
Specialty blends for germinating seeds and nurturing young plants. Contains organic amendments to promote strong root development and disease resistance in early growth stages.
People
Nikhil Arora
Co-Founder
Co-founded Back to the Roots after discovering mushroom cultivation on coffee grounds. Transformed a college project into a national gardening brand focused on sustainability and education.
Alejandro Velez
Co-Founder
Started urban farming journey with Nikhil Arora in Oakland. Advocates for accessible gardening solutions that connect people with food sources through innovative product development.
Questions
What gardening products does Back to the Roots offer?
We provide mushroom grow kits, organic soils, hydroponic systems, seed starters, and educational gardening kits for all skill levels.
Are your products suitable for beginners?
Yes! Our kits include step-by-step instructions and require no prior gardening experience to achieve successful growth.
Do you ship nationwide?
We offer nationwide shipping across the United States and Canada through our website and retail partners.
What is the #GrowOneGiveOne program?
For every product purchased, we donate a gardening kit and curriculum to elementary schools to promote hands-on food education.
Can I return unused gardening kits?
Unopened products may be returned within 30 days. Live cultures and perishable items have different return policies.
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Reviews (5)
Anna Hoglund
Dec 14, 2021
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Excellent customer service! My order was missing an item and the CEO replied to me and corrected the issue within a day. I am very satisfied and cannot wait to gift my family with these products.
Lee Cody Jones
Nov 08, 2021
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Very easy self grow mushroom kit. After one day of soaking, all it takes is two mist sessions per day and watch them bloom
Elizabeth Falkenberg
Oct 10, 2021
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We bought this for a school project and when we opened the box mushroom we’re already growing out of holes in the bag. Who knows where the moisture came from and where it has been sitting before I bought it. I… was told that it was normal but when I buy a kit to grow mushrooms I don’t expect for them to be already growing out of the bag from holes that came from unknown origins.
Heather Foran
Sep 10, 2021
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Great fun to grow and harvest their mushrooms . I have tried the pink oyster mushrooms and they are beautiful. I also have the fish tank love it. Great customer service!
Britt Ainy
Jul 23, 2021
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We had so much fun and can’t wait to see our microgreens sprout! Awesome lesson and activity for my 5yr old
