To say I'm newly excited about the possibilities of mushrooms would be an understatement! A couple of Saturdays ago, I spent a wonderful day at the home/farm of mycologist and mushroom farmer, Tradd Cotter. The workshop was all about using mushrooms as food, medicine, recycling agents and healers of damaged soils. Who knew? I heard Tradd speak the first time at one of my Master Gardener group meetings. When he finished, our mouths were all hanging open in astonishment. I and others wanted to know more, so I find myself on that Saturday, sitting in a chilly greenhouse on top of a hay bale. During the day, we would learn how to use mushroom spawn in those bales to grow wonderful vegetables without fertilizer or sprays and minimal water. We learned how to recycle kitchen paper products and coffee grounds while growing a tasty crop of Oyster mushrooms at the same time. We learned how growing mushrooms around the garden conditions your soil and attracts earthworms to continue the job. Tradd's excitement is infectious and you can find his short videos on YouTube by doing a name search. For lunch, he and his mate, Olga grilled...you guessed it...Portabella burgers for all of us. Learn about mushrooms. You will be amazed. A good book to start with is Paul Stamets "Mycelium Running". And if you'd like to know more about Tradd and Olga's workshops, go to mushroommountain.com
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