1. Taryn Hubbard Environmental Research Spring 2010 Jason Hamilton

2.  Food and Medicine production Non-timber forest product Exciting biological process Nutrition—Protein, Vitamin B Medicinal—Benefits to immune system Business opportunity  Beneficial decomposition Mycoremediation: “Use of fungi to degrade or remove toxins from the environment.” 1 Mycoforestry: Restoration, mycorrhizal relationships Natural composters, pesticides, and fungicides

3.  How does it work?  Location Outdoors Indoors  Substrate Straw, log, sawdust  Spawn Mushroom starter culture—mycelia & grain/sawdust  Ideal growing conditions Warm, humid, moderately lit

4.  Oyster  Shiitake  Maitake (Hen of the Woods) ‏  Wine Cap/King Stropharia  Reishi  Portabello, Button, Crimini  Morel  Lion’s Mane  Chicken of the Woods  Turkey Tail  Straw mushroom

5.  Shiitakes: freshly cut logs, 3-8” in diamater  Ideal bark: in between thin & thick, developing ridges  Hardwood—Oak is best!  70-77˚F, 80-85% Humidity  Natural shade & canopy cover— mix of deciduous & evergreen forest  Clean forest floor, little to no slope

6.  Spring or fall Will fruit faster if spring  Drilling pattern  Plug or sawdust spawn  Cover with wax Prevents infiltration Holds water  Stacking formation: “Crib”  “Forcing” logs Soak in water to “awaken” mycelia  Different varieties  different time frames Reishi & Maitake: 2+ years!

8.  Must replicate ideal conditions in an indoor setting  Oysters: Temperature = 60-70˚F Humidity 80% inoculation 90% spreading 100% fruiting Light Air flow  Species dependent

9.  Sterilize substrate Boil chopped straw(170 º for 1-2 hours) ‏ Carbon to Nitrogen ratio = 20:1  Layer sterile bag – substrate & spawn Spawn: Grain or sawdust  Seal bag 10-20 quarter-sized holes for fruiting  Hang bag to maximize fruiting area

11.  Difficult to replicate an ideal environment Humidity & air flow  Infestations Fungus gnats Green mold Outdoor insects & animals  King stropharia bed  Time and Size

12.  Benefits Supply of healthy mushrooms Safety Delicious! Learn to build, create, and manage a space Business potential  Forest fertility Growth & Decomposition  Community connections Teachers, local cultivators

13. Future Fungi Goals Mushroom marketing & business Collaboration with EcoVillage, New Roots Charter School, and other community connections Spawn production Fungi in the forest Fungi in the community garden Mycoremediation Mycology course Wild mushrooms

14. Thank you!  1 Paul Stamets Mycelium Running  Penn State University Cultivation of Oyster Mushrooms  Mary Ellen Kozak & Joe Krawczyk Growing Shiitake Mushrooms in a Continental Climate