How to Grow Mushrooms from Scratch

#HowToGrowMushroomsFromScratch #NetGalley #Sustainable

A very good guide to start harvesting mushrooms. The book blends theory and practices by adding step by step tutorials. The bonus part are the delicious recipes.

This book is AMAZING...provided you have a saw, logs, a yard, and space to grow mushrooms...or so I thought until I got to the section of container growing and then I realized, this book is awesome for everyone who wants to grow fungal friends! Sadly my beloved woodears are not suitable for patio growth, but shitakes are so that makes me happy. In all honestly this book is a little too hardcore for me, but I still really enjoyed reading it and absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants to grow their own mushrooms, it is am immensely valuable resource. Now, if only I could find a way to grow black trumpet mushrooms!

This book explains how to grow 19 varieties of mushrooms, like button, several types of oyster, reishi, lion's mane, and more. The authors started by explaining how to grow mushrooms outside on logs or on straw bales. They explained what mushrooms do best with each method. They provided step-by-step instructions and photographs on how to use grain or plug spawn and logs or straw bales.

They also talked about how to grow mushrooms indoors on mushroom kits, use straw pellets, grow truffles in woodlands, grow mushrooms outdoors on a bed of hardwood chips or on freshly-made tree stumps (still in the ground). They talked about growing mushrooms on your patio in containers with companion plants or creating mushroom greenhouses. They discussed how to prevent or deal with various pests or diseases that might trouble your mushrooms. They explained how even amateurs can grow spore to spawn to propagate mushrooms.

They talked about 8 mushrooms that have known medicinal uses. They also included several recipes each for the most common mushroom types. The recipes were for things like breaded mushrooms, mushroom sauces, or powdering dried mushrooms for use as a tea. They also talked about selling your mushrooms at a farmer's market. Overall, this book was very informative, but I was left feeling overwhelmed by the process. It sounds more labor intensive than I'd thought.

I enjoy growing my own herbs, vegetables, and flowers from seed and try to add new plants every year. I was excited when I saw this book because I enjoy mushrooms, I buy mushrooms but I never considered growing my own. This is a very informative and detailed guide that covers all aspects of growing mushrooms outdoors or inside.
I had no idea that I could grow mushrooms in tree stumps and since I am having some trees removed this book gave me a purpose for those stumps! The authors also cover growing in logs, in wood chips, in straw bales or even in containers. After reading How To Grow Mushrooms from Scratch, I feel that I am well prepared to try and grow mushrooms. There is a wealth of helpful information and I appreciated the guidance on what types of diseases and/or pests could be an issue and how best to avoid or treat them.
Breaded Shiitake Mushrooms with Herb Sauce, Filled Crepes with Oyster Mushrooms and Chickpea Tomato Stew with King Oyster Mushrooms are just a few of the amazing recipes that are also included.
This is the first book I have read on mushroom growing and it is so comprehensive that I think it will be a go-to favorite. I do plan to follow up with some of the recommended readings that are provided, which is another nice feature. The pictures are phenomenal as the volume of information at times seemed a bit daunting, but the illustrations provided clarity for some of the concepts and stages that confused me. I can't wait to see if I can successfully grow mushrooms. I am most definitely a beginner and if you have ever been totally lost after reading a supposed beginners guide, you will know what I mean when I say this book is definitely an A-Z guide for an inexperienced grower.
I received an e ARC from The Experiment through NetGalley.

A very good guide to growing, cultivating and finding mushrooms. I found the recipes useful and enjoyed learning more about the world of mushroom growing. This I highly recommend for anyone interested in growing mushrooms or anyone curious about learning the different types of mushrooms.