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 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 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 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…
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…
Why pasteurize mushroom substrate? Why should you pasteurize bulk substrate for mushroom cultivation? Pasteurization is a process that has been used for hundreds of years to destroy harmful germs in food. It is commonly known for its role in milk and juice production and was invented by the French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur in…
Bulk Substrate is a mildly nutritious material of greater volume that is used for mass mushroom cultivation. Bulk substrates are pasteurized and then usually mixed with a pre-colonized spawn which is made with whole grains such as rye berries or wild bird seed. The spawn then inoculates the bulk substrate. Examples Common bulk substrates (all of…
I See The Mycelium As The Earth’s Natural Internet, A Consciousness With Which We Might Be Able To Communicate. Through Cross-species Interfacing, We May One Day Exchange Information With These Sentient Cellular Networks. Because These Externalized Neurological Nets Sense Any Impression Upon Them, From Footsteps To Falling Tree Branches, They Could Relay Enormous Amounts Of…
