CONFLICT AT THE RURAL URBAN INTERFACE - MUSHROOM FARMS AND COMPOSTINGIN A SUBURBANIZING ENVIRONMENT/

Major complaints, nuisance suits, and vandalism threaten the ability o f farms in suburbanizing areas to survive as development occurs around them. This is a particular concern in one county in southeastern Penn sylvania, an area of rapid population growth but also the nation's mos t productive mushroom producing area. This study examines mushroom gro wers' indications that on-farm composting is a major source of complai nts from nonfarming neighbors. The study found that the size of the fa rm and the number of homes nearby were significantly more important fa ctors than composting in explaining which mushroom farms receive compl aints.