"I would love to bring my class here on a fieldtrip! I've been interested in mushroom growing for a long time. Reading books is not a nearly as helpful as seeing you. I hope I have a great garden this year."
"I loved detail in the demonstrations - actually did each step. Great food! Nice to have handouts on each topic to reduce note taking - Thanks"
"Awesome as expected"
"Appreciated variety of growing methods reviewed. Greenhouse classroom wonderful + food delicious. Whole experience was a delight. Thank you for so generously sharing your knowledge. :)"
"This whole concept is very exciting. Thanks Tradd, for the fun and interesting presentation"
One of the easiest and most rewarding ways to grow mushrooms is to start a log garden. Many species of delicious mushrooms use wood as their food source. All you need to start is a drill, a drill bit, hammer, and a little bit of melted wax.
First, the wood has to be freshly cut (usually within 2 months is okay ) oak, maple, sweet gum, poplar, or other deciduous softwoods. Pines, cedars, firs, and other conifers will not work with the exception of Cauliflower Mushrooms.
Second, you need to order plug spawn of the species that is best for your wood type. Our spawn page lists the best wood to use and special techniques for every strain.
Logs and stumps can be drilled, the holes filled with wooden plugs that are colonized with the fungus of your choice. After the plugs are in, you can wax the surface to seal them in and protect them from drying out. Once plugged, all you have to do is wait! When the mushroom’s root system has threaded itself throughout the log or stump, it will want to start fruiting. Fruiting can be seasonal, depending on temperature, and last several years. All Mushroom Mountain spawn comes with instructions. Good Luck!
Learn how to grow mushrooms on logs in your backyard.
Cultivate mushrooms on recycled stumps
Wood Chip Beds
Recycling wood chips by mushroom cultivation is one of the best things you can do for your garden. Wood requires a great deal of nitrogen to break down, which deprives plants from essential supplements. Adding mushroom spawn to your mulch and wood chips can greatly improve your garden’s yields! Mushroom Mountain has several species to choose from to get you started.
First, try calling around to locate some fresh chips. Local tree and utility companies are constantly trying to get rid of their daily trimmings to free up space on their shredders. By befriending local industries who toss perfectly recyclable material, you can create some great allies and do your immediate environment some good.
Wood chips mixed with sawdust spawn can be placed in filtered light to shady areas throughout the environment. It takes some time for the mushrooms to make a home there, but keep checking the area when the season is right for fruiting.
Cereal straws are excellent for fruiting several types of edible mushrooms. The straw is first chopped, then soaked in hot water to pasteurize it. Once drained, it can be mixed with mushroom spawn and placed into any type of fruiting container. Mushrooms need to breathe, so be sure not to suffocate the straw and spawn mixture. Straw-grown mushrooms can fruit rather quickly, usually in a few weeks, so keep your eye on them!
Other Techniques
Try these alternative methods of propagating wild mushrooms that you collect in the wild. They re easy to do at home or in a classsroom. No spawn is required.
Blewit BurritoTM Learn how to cultivate mushrooms using the
stem base, and recycled cardboard.
Blewit BombTM
Learn a new way to introduce a mushroom
culture to your compost pile.
