We're pleased to share this photo essay from Stephanie Bradley.
Stephanie started her writing/producing career in sports television at TBS and TNT in Atlanta, GA. She later freelanced for ESPN and the International Broadcast Center. Throughout her sports tv career, she covered 5 Olympics and 3 Paralympics. She has also written and produced for Discovery Channel’s “Animal Planet” and “Science Channel.” She now owns Running Herd Productions with the mission to empower, inspire, educate, and entertain through powerful storytelling! Her love for nature and “all creatures great and small” are often the focus of her stories.
Got a Ag/Forest/Water Quality story to share - let us know - [email protected]
(all photos, except where noted are from the author)
Stephanie started her writing/producing career in sports television at TBS and TNT in Atlanta, GA. She later freelanced for ESPN and the International Broadcast Center. Throughout her sports tv career, she covered 5 Olympics and 3 Paralympics. She has also written and produced for Discovery Channel’s “Animal Planet” and “Science Channel.” She now owns Running Herd Productions with the mission to empower, inspire, educate, and entertain through powerful storytelling! Her love for nature and “all creatures great and small” are often the focus of her stories.
Got a Ag/Forest/Water Quality story to share - let us know - [email protected]
(all photos, except where noted are from the author)
Have you ever wanted to grow mushrooms? I’m a gardener wanna be. I attempt fruit and vegetable plants like cucumbers, squash, and lettuce, but I seem to do a better job at growing weeds than these edible delights. I keep trying tho! Recently I decided to add mushrooms to my garden! They have always intrigued me. I signed up for a mushroom workshop with Michael Judd of Ecologia Design, author of “Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist” and “For the Love of PawPaws."
Michael's passion for mushrooms runs very deep…deep into the nutrient rich soil fungi help create for the whole ecosystem as they break down fallen trees, dead leaves, and plants. Michael has worked side by side with mycelium to create his own sustainable haven in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains just outside of Frederick, Maryland.
"I pretty much only work with things that thrive with neglect and do well easily. And I love them, they’re tasty!.” Michael standing in one of his established food forests on his Long Creek Homestead sharing his love of mushrooms and how they, along with Mother Nature and her inhabitants do most of the work! Harvesting is his only job!
Not only does Michael and his family benefit all year round from the flourishing food forests, so do the insects, pollinators, lizards, birds and other wildlife. Even a herd of 25 deer live on the premises, and all the creatures (including the humans) coexist happily!!!
Not only does Michael and his family benefit all year round from the flourishing food forests, so do the insects, pollinators, lizards, birds and other wildlife. Even a herd of 25 deer live on the premises, and all the creatures (including the humans) coexist happily!!!
Paw Paw trees, another love of Michael’s, reap the benefits from mycelium...
…along with a canopy of beautiful male Willow trees who enjoy the nutrient rich soil!
When cultivating mushrooms, the roots or mycelium are started on saw dust, straw, grain, or wooden plugs. Choosing what type of fungi mycelium will help you choose the best medium to grow on. Michael chose PoHu Oyster mushrooms for the class…Oyster mushrooms love trees like Willow and Tulip Poplar. (If you’re a Shitaki fan, they love Oak trees and hard Maples.)
When cultivating mushrooms, the roots or mycelium are started on saw dust, straw, grain, or wooden plugs. Choosing what type of fungi mycelium will help you choose the best medium to grow on. Michael chose PoHu Oyster mushrooms for the class…Oyster mushrooms love trees like Willow and Tulip Poplar. (If you’re a Shitaki fan, they love Oak trees and hard Maples.)
Michael inspecting one of his inoculated logs.
Mushroom wood needs to be fresh from healthy trees…not from a dead tree or old firewood. If someone is cutting down a hardwood (or trimming large healthy branches) in your neighborhood, ask for the wood! A good size is around 40 inches in length and 4 inch diameter … and that can feed the fungi for years!
Mushroom wood needs to be fresh from healthy trees…not from a dead tree or old firewood. If someone is cutting down a hardwood (or trimming large healthy branches) in your neighborhood, ask for the wood! A good size is around 40 inches in length and 4 inch diameter … and that can feed the fungi for years!
Michael provided Tulip Poplar for the class and showed us how to drill the holes for our spawn.
Mushroom spawn are mediums (birch wood plugs for us) that have been inoculated with mycelium…they are “kindling to get the mycelium going.”
Mushroom spawn are mediums (birch wood plugs for us) that have been inoculated with mycelium…they are “kindling to get the mycelium going.”
Our plug spawns were inoculated with the PoHu Oyster mycelium. We kept them in the shade so they wouldn’t dry out.
Then we created the condo for our spawns!
First, we drilled 1 inch holes in a diamond pattern all around the log….
Then…whac-a-mole!!!! But we GENTLY hammered the spawn plugs in! If the bark goes, the log will dry out…and no mushrooms!
Next a little added protection. We heated wax in a small pot. Parafin wax/beeswax/cheese wax…all work well. We made sure the melted wax was VERY hot to help it adhere to the log.
Then a little dab will do it! Right on the spawn to reduce moisture loss and keep bugs and contamination out.
And last but not least, we tagged our logs to remind us WHEN we plugged it and with WHAT mushroom!
A variety of Michael's spawning mushrooms…in a perfect spot...just a few feet from his creek…nice air flow, mostly shade with a little sun, and moisture from the creek.
My spawning tulip poplar log…hanging out on 2 dead branches about 2 inches from the ground for good air flow…and me hoping the moisture from the ground (and a little rain) will keep my spawns happy!
Now I must be patient! When the log gets white at the end, I know my PoHu spawn have colonized it. It’ll take about about a year before they fruit, and if I picked the right spot, I will hopefully get 2 harvests a year for up to 2-8 years! FINGERS CROSSED!
This mushroom course with Michael was more than I could have imagined…not only did I learn about fungi and their importance for all ecosystems, I got a glimpse into a masterclass on permaculture and growing food in harmony with nature.
Michael's homestead has such a vibrant energy…a synergy… a space where all creatures benefit. It just makes my heart sing!
But wait! There’s more!
Now I must be patient! When the log gets white at the end, I know my PoHu spawn have colonized it. It’ll take about about a year before they fruit, and if I picked the right spot, I will hopefully get 2 harvests a year for up to 2-8 years! FINGERS CROSSED!
This mushroom course with Michael was more than I could have imagined…not only did I learn about fungi and their importance for all ecosystems, I got a glimpse into a masterclass on permaculture and growing food in harmony with nature.
Michael's homestead has such a vibrant energy…a synergy… a space where all creatures benefit. It just makes my heart sing!
But wait! There’s more!
This is Michael’s living quarters, a spectacular straw house he designed and built for his family!
This photo courtesy of Michael Judd
If you would like to dig more into growing gourmet mushrooms, Michael has a wonderful mini course on his website. He is offering 25% off for Montgomery Countryside Alliance readers…just click on this link and it will take you directly there!
To learn more about growing and caring for PawPaw trees, check out this course! He is also offering 25% off this one as well! Just click on this link!
To learn more about growing and caring for PawPaw trees, check out this course! He is also offering 25% off this one as well! Just click on this link!
