Growing Mushrooms at Home
I love mushrooms (I might be alone in this with the rest of my family) but I think they are a wonderful addition to any salad and many different dishes. While it might seem intimidating, it is actually relatively easy to grow several different types of mushrooms at home. It might surprise you but the part of the mushroom we actually eat are the fruiting or reproductive bodies of the fungi. Unlike many plants, mushrooms do not photosynthesize and rely on the substrate or material on which the mushrooms grow for their food. As the substrate decomposes the mushroom can take up the nutrients. Mushrooms can be grown on logs, straw or other sources and the substrate needed will depend on the type of mushroom you grow.
Some of the most common mushrooms to grow at home are the Oyster mushroom and the shiitake mushroom. Oyster mushrooms are delicate with a mild flavor and are rarely seen in grocery stores because they are hard to ship. Their color ranges from tan to pink to white to yellow and they are grown on a tower of straw. The mushrooms will typically start to form on the outside of the tower in approximately a month. Shiitake mushrooms have a smoky flavor and can be found in the store but they are inexpensive to grow. Shiitake mushrooms are grown on hardwood logs and one log could produce mushrooms for up to 3 to 5 years. There are several kits available for sale to help you get started with this endeavor or you could attend a class to make your own.
