How did Food Systems develop?

How did food systems develop? Food systems first emerged with the beginning of civilization, when agriculture enabled permanent settlements. Now humans could grow more crops and raise more animals than they needed to feed they own families. The ability to produce a surplus changed human culture; instead of constantly moving to find new sources of…

Local Food Systems

Local Food Systems

What are Local Food Systems? (And why do we love them?) More and more people (aka Locavores) join the local foods movement. What exactly does local food mean and what are the advantages of “supporting your local farmer”? Everyone eats. Therefore, everyone needs food. (Duh!) If you don’t happen to be a self-sufficient farmer, living off…

How do Mushrooms Reproduce?

How do Mushrooms Reproduce?

How do Mushrooms reproduce? As I have mentioned in an earlier post (see The Mushroom Life Cycle), when trying to cultivate mushrooms, it is important to know about their life stages and how mushrooms reproduce. You can use this knowledge not only to provide the best conditions to grow your mushrooms, but also to improve and…

The Mushroom Life Cycle

The Mushroom Life Cycle

The kingdom Fungi consists of several groups (phyla) of which each has its own unique life cycle. Edible mushrooms (e.g. Oysters, Shiitake, Reishi) belong to the group Basidiomycota. If you want to start the cultivation of these mushrooms at home, it is important to know about the mushroom life cycle. This will help you to…

Mushrooms and Manure

Mushrooms and Manure

Mushrooms and Manure Manure is organic matter, which can be used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. It is mostly derived from animal feces and has been used for centuries as it provides many benefits. Adding organic matter to soil improves soil structure, increases the water-holding capacity, improves drainage, provides a source of micronutrients, reduces wind…

Coconut Coir

Coconut Coir Coconut Coir is the coarse fibers from a coconut husk. Coir fibers are found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut. The individual fiber cells are narrow and hollow, with thick walls made of cellulose. They are pale when immature, but later become hardened and yellowed as a…

Blue Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus var. columbinus)

Blue Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus var. columbinus)

The Blue Oyster Mushroom As a biology teacher, I have an interest in all things natural, and have recently come to really appreciate the mighty mushroom with its many facets. As I’ve been researching on mushrooms and their beneficial values as gourmet and medicinal foods, I found myself wanting to share my findings with whoever…