It All Starts in Spring
Spring is a busy time in nature. The trees and flowers help remind us that Winter is indeed over. This Winter has been one to remember. With temperatures well below zero and tons of snow, it was a good Winter for reading and learning from the warm comfort of inside the house. And although Spring tends to be temperamental, especially in these days where the effects of climate change are becoming more and more evident, it’s a good time to start becoming active in our human endeavors.
The thing I enjoy most about growing mushrooms is the end-to-end process. Just like the joy one gets from raising a tomato plant from seed, the process of growing mycelium and cultivating mushrooms is extremely rewarding. A neighbor of mine had so many questions the other day when I was dropping off some freshly harvested lion’s mane mushrooms. It’s understandable. Of all the produce one might encounter at a farmer’s market or grocery store, mushrooms are some of the more mysterious items. Apples and bananas grow on trees, lettuce and cabbage grow out of the ground, etc., and many of us have had gardens and have experienced growing some of the food we see in the store. Yet we experience mushrooms a little differently.
It’s not uncommon to see several different species of mushrooms growing in your yard. But not a lot of people grow mushrooms themselves. Ready-to-Fruit mushroom kits are becoming more popular and mushroom logs can often be found for sale. But commercial mushroom production is largely a mystery, even to those who enjoy cooking and eating gourmet mushrooms!
The truth is, there are many different techniques for cultivating mushrooms. What is even more amazing is that it is an evolving science! Lion’s mane mushrooms, for example, have only been commercially grown for about 40 years! Some mushrooms form delicate relationships of cooperation with other species, especially trees, that can make them difficult, if not impossible, to grow commercially. Conversely, button mushrooms have been cultivated in Europe for hundreds of years.
In an effort to explain the mystery of mushroom production, I’ve decided to share my process this Spring as we get things going here at Mahoning Valley Mushrooms. I think this knowledge is super valuable to everyone. Whether you want to learn to grow your own mushrooms, enjoy eating them, or just want better insight about the fascinating world of fungi, stay tuned to learn more about everything that goes into growing mushrooms.