An in-depth exploration of organic mushroom cultivation practices, groundbreaking research and myriad ways to incorporate mushrooms into your life
What would it take to grow mushrooms in space? How can mushroom cultivation help us manage, or at least make use of, invasive species such as kudzu and water hyacinth and thereby reduce dependence on herbicides? Is it possible to develop a low-cost and easy-to-implement mushroom-growing kit that would provide high-quality edible protein and bioremediation in the wake of a natural disaster? How can we advance our understanding of morel cultivation so that growers stand a better chance of success?
For more than twenty years, mycology expert Tradd Cotter has been pondering these questions and conducting trials in search of the answers. In Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation, Cotter not only offers readers an in-depth exploration of best organic mushroom cultivation practices; he shares the results of his groundbreaking research and offers myriad ways to apply your cultivation skills and further incorporate mushrooms into your life ― whether your goal is to help your community clean up industrial pollution or simply to settle down at the end of the day with a cold Reishi-infused homebrew ale.
Inside, you’ll find:
- The Fundamentals of Mushroom Cultivation
- Innovative Applications and Projects Using Fungi
- Basic Laboratory Construction, Equipment, and Procedures
- Starting Cultures and Spawn Generation
- Detailed descriptions of over 25 different genus
The book first guides readers through an in-depth exploration of indoor and outdoor cultivation. Covered skills range from integrating wood-chip beds spawned with king stropharia into your garden and building a “trenched raft” of hardwood logs plugged with shiitake spawn to producing oysters indoors on spent coffee grounds in a 4×4 space or on pasteurized sawdust in vertical plastic columns. For those who aspire to the self-sufficiency gained by generating and expanding spawn rather than purchasing it, Cotter offers in-depth coverage of lab techniques, including low-cost alternatives that make use of existing infrastructure and materials.
Cotter also reports his groundbreaking research cultivating morels both indoors and out, “training” mycelium to respond to specific contaminants, and perpetuating spawn on cardboard without the use of electricity. Readers will discover information on making tinctures, powders, and mushroom-infused honey; making an antibacterial mushroom cutting board; and growing mushrooms on your old denim jeans.
Geared toward readers who want to grow mushrooms without the use of pesticides, Cotter takes “organic” one step further by introducing an entirely new way of thinking ― one that looks at the potential to grow mushrooms on just about anything, just about anywhere, and by anyone.
About the Author:
Tradd Cotter is a microbiologist, professional mycologist, and retired landscape designer who has been cultivating mushrooms both commercially and experimentally for more than thirty years. He is the author of the best-selling book Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation (2014) and has won numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Clemson University Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the EPA GRO-U Fellowship Award, and the Gary Lincoff Award. His ongoing research projects include bacterial interactions with fungi, mycopesticides, novel antibiotic discovery, and the isolation of native mycorrhizal species for bioregional-specific inoculants for plants. In 2022, Tradd sold Mushroom Mountain, which he founded in 1996, to pursue his interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy and to focus on research in the medical field. Tradd currently is co-owner of Blue Portal, a mycologically-focused company specializing in psychedelic therapy and cultivation, medicinal innovations, and industrial applications for fungi.
