I Grew Mushrooms In My Own Home Office

I Grew Mushrooms In My Own Home Office CROPS New Crops The first time I tasted the Shiitake mushrooms that I grew in my home office I wanted more Fortunately according to the instructions with my mushroom-growing kit I may get my wish in a couple weeks when another crop emerges I learned of Gourmet Mushroom Products a few years ago when I wrote an article about their kit for growing morel mushrooms outdoors with kitchen scraps Vol 37 Issue 3 This time I contacted James Malachowski about indoor kits that can be grown year ’round - even in winter in Minnesota He offers kits with different varieties - Sonoma Brown Oyster Blue Oyster King Oyster Lion’s Mane and Shiitake I ordered the Shiitake kit $30 60 including postage on March 23 and it arrived 4 days later from California It obviously had something started on the outside of the pressed oak sawdust log and I wondered if it would smell moldy But Malachowski had assured me it was seeded in a sterile lab and could be placed on a counter or anywhere inside with the optimum temperature up to 70 degrees Mushrooms started growing out from one side within 3 days and after a week I ate my first mess of mushrooms sautéed over pasta They were delicious I’d never purchased or eaten Shiitake mushrooms before but people who eat them like to grow their own because they taste better fresh Malachowski says The cost is comparable or a little higher than buying the mushrooms at a store One log can produce 16 to 24 oz of mushrooms After harvesting the first big mushrooms 3 1/2 in diameter I had another small picking and then nothing According to the directions I am letting it dry up and rest for a couple of weeks and then will restart the process Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gourmet Mushroom Products P O Box 515 Graton Calif 95444 ph 707 829-7301; www gmushrooms org

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