- Author: Betty Homer
I recently attended a 4-hour workshop on homegrown/backyard mushroom cultivation organized by Biofuel Oasis in Berkeley, California. Patty and Ray Lanier of Mushroom Maestros located in both Oakland and in Lake County, California, were the featured speakers of this seminar.
The workshop began with a Powerpoint presentation on a brief history and folklore of the mushroom, the life cycle of a mushroom, and how mushrooms play a part in our ecological system. After the Powerpoint presentation, Patty and Ray led the group through some hands-on projects, which is the focus of this blog entry.
I was surprised to learn how easy it was/is to cultivate some varieties of mushrooms at home, specifically, the oyster mushroom and wine cap mushroom (king stropharia). Below are instructions on how to cultivate oyster mushrooms at home. Cultivating wine cap mushrooms is even easier and will be discussed in one of my upcoming blog entries.
Oyster Mushroom
Oyster mushrooms are aggressive and eager to grow.
Materials needed:
1. Large pot (e.g., a canning pot)
2. Large colander
3. Large mesh bag (e.g, an onion bag from the supermarket)
4. 1 bag of mushroom innoculent (can be bought on-line)
5. 1 cylindrical plastic bag (e.g., the plastic bags that newspapers come in or a large plastic bread bag)
6. 1 bag/jar of mushroom grain spawn (can be purchased easily on-line)
Step 1: Pasteurize (not sterilize) clean wheat straw (note: not hay, but straw) which you can purchase inexpensively from a well-stocked feed store, in 150 - 180 F degree heat for 45 - 60 minutes. It may help to place the wheat straw in a mesh bag like an onion bag, to keep the straw together.
Step 2: After you have pasteurized the straw, let it dry by placing it in a colander.
Step 3: Sterilize all work surfaces, tools, your hands, etc., with rubbing alcohol. Empty the mesh bag of its straw contents and spread the straw (straw should be warm to the touch) onto a sterilized surface so that so that the straw layer is 2-3 inches thick.
Step 4: Take handfuls of the mushroom grain spawn and toss it onto the straw until the grains dot the surface of the straw. Work the grain spawn into the straw.
Step 5: Stuff the straw into your cylindrical plastic bag, compressing the straw enough so that the bag is firmly (but not overly) packed. Tie the bag off.
Step 6: Take a nail or a sharp pair of scissors and pierce the bag, making random 1-inch cuts all over the bag, but not to the point where the straw begins to fall out. This is to aerate the bag while keeping a moist environment for the spawn. Wipe the bag down with alcohol to keep it sterile.
Step 7: Place the bag in a shady area indoors (i.e., does not receive direct sunlight) in an area where the temperature is kept between 60 – 75 degrees. Keep the bag moist but not damp, by spraying with a spray bottle filled with water. You should see signs of oyster mushrooms in 2 weeks (the log will turn white), at which time, you can either keep the bag indoors or locate it in a shady part of your yard, protected from the wind and sun and heat. When the caps of mushrooms flatten out, it is time to harvest. Don't wait too long, as the mushrooms can grow past its prime in just 1 day.
For more information on either Biofuel Oasis or Mushroom Maestros, please see www.biofueloasis.com and http://www.mushroommaestros.com/, respectively.
- Author: Mike Gunther
Summer sun shining
Flowers bloom skies clear blue
Autumn approaches
- Author: Betsy Buxton
According to all the garden catalogs that come my way, it’s time to “replant, repot, rejunenate “the front yard. According to those same catalogs, it will cost merely a gazillion dollars for the plants, bulbs, corms, and tubers to accomplish this transformation; and don’t forget about the soil amendments, and fertilizers the folks also want to sell you. Yeah right, I have that kind of money to use as walking round cash! Don’t you?
This year, the front yard lost all the glorious shade that came from the late, great green ash tree that stood for 20 plus years. It’s been interesting to watch the various shrubs and bushes getting acclimated to more sun, less shade. The oleanders made the transition beautifully, but of course, have you ever seen an oleander suffer from the sun? They are now rather happy campers in the hot afternoon sun, bowing gracefully in the Suisun City gale that passes for gentle winds.
The buddleia in the ground near the front door went from full leaf to rather skimpy foliage, but made a roaring comeback – full of blossoms and hummingbirds. The buddleia in the pot, however, is still trying to find a way back from “roasted”, but is managing to hold on until cooler weather when it goes into the ground itself by the side yard gate. It gets water and encouraging words for the efforts!
The other succulents in their cozy pots that are placed around are thriving and growing like weeds, which is why some of their offspring will be at the plant exchange next weekend thanks to new Master Gardener Elizabeth! The new Heucheras that were on the front porch in the shade have taken their temporary places in pots at the edge of the early afternoon semi-shade and the afternoon pure sun. They got set there to find out just how well that spot would suit them. Hurray! They are doing very nicely and I think that area will be their “forever” home.
The only plant that is not really happy with the loss of tree shade is my 17 year-old “star” magnolia which is really missing the shade and the wind break the old tree provided. However, when the new “black tulip” magnolia gets larger than the twig it is, I hope it will provide some relief for its cousin.
There are so many plants I would like to get and put out there, but we are still living with the wreckage from the old tree. Concrete walkway parts are tilted and the driveway badly cracked thanks to the invasive roots of that ash tree; that, along with a (? maybe more?) break in the main lawn irrigation are subjects for many grousings and speculation and just plain hard work. I’ve put it all off till later, but yes, I will do it.
Right now, the “new plant” budget is just big enough for some Dutch Iris (both yellow hybrid and deep blue hybrid) and 8 varieties of Muscari or Grape Hyacinths. Originally planted around the ash tree, the bulbs there “took the hit” when the ash stump was ground out. For over 35 years, wherever I have lived, there have been Dutch iris and Muscari planted around the front yard. The only difference between back then and now are the roots left by darn ash tree that have to be hacked at, ripped out, and planted around. But it will be done! (Right, Bruce? Bruce, can you hear me?)
See you on the 12th at the Master Gardener office for the plant exchange. I KNOW that there is a plant or plants with your name on them for you to take home and enjoy!
- Author: Sharon L. Rico
I find when touring the gardens of family and friends, that their gardens are usually a mirror of their personality. Our niece has her vegetables planted in neat rows next to a hanging blue teardrop ornamental globe. A friend has an unusual succulent collection planted in boots, shells and birdhouses. Our cousin has faces decorating her garden. There are smiling faces on fences and face containers holding assorted flowering plants. As much as I love and appreciate plants in their landscapes, I’m drawn to their unique whimsical garden art.
Six years ago at the San Jose Master Gardener Conference, Felder Rushing was a speaker. He is an interesting character, full of life, and quite whimsical himself. He impressed the audience with his knowledge of plants and painted pictures for everyone with his words. Being a horticulture professor he knew his plants well, and his ability to engage his audience was his forte. When purchasing his book Tough Plants for California Gardens and having him autograph it, his advice was “have fun making your garden smile”.
Felder Rushing has written many books which are great resources for Master Gardeners. He has recently written a book that will be published in January, titled Bottle Trees and other Whimsical Glass Art for the Garden. I’m looking forward to reading this latest publication as it will contain the 3000 year history of bottle trees, insights and quotes about having fun in the garden along with information and photos of a glass forest in Germany.
Several other great books by Felder Rushing are Scarecrows: Making Harvest Figures and other Yard Folks, Garden Hearts and Slow Gardening: A no Stress philosophy for all senses and seasons. He feels creative expression is central to the gardening experience and recommends that gardeners follow their own bliss. So this summer I added a dark blue glass flower to a raised container planted with a dwarf plumbago. When I see it glistening in the early morning sunlight, I think of the bliss my little garden brings to my heart.
- Author: Trisha Rose
Drying plants for wreaths and arrangements is something I think about a little too late. Although I do have a group I harvest each year, I need to expand my selection.
Limonium perezii, commonly known as Sea Lavender is one of my tried and true garden perennials that can be counted on year after year to put on a show. I harvest the fresh flowers for arrangements from spring through fall, but I especially like to use these flowers for wreaths in the fall. A word of caution though, they fall apart pretty easily so be kind to yourself and keep them for outdoor wreaths.
Eryngium planum, aka Sea Holly and various Papaver spp. or Poppies have striking seed pods. They make interesting sculptural dried arrangements once you harvest the seeds for next year's plants.
Sedum spectabile or Stonecrop has already formed quite a mass of green flower heads that are just beginning to turn to a rosy bloom. As we move into fall the rose will change to a rusty mauve. Harvest the stems at this point, hang them upside down in a dry airy place for a month or so to completely dry.
Yarrow, botanically known as Achillea millefolium is a little more fragile but will also dry if hung upside down in a dry airy place.
I have room for more color in the garden next year so I would like to add some annuals that dry well such as Strawflower, Baby's Breath, Yellow Ageratum (Lonas inodora), Globe Amaranth, Helipterum and some Chamomile. I will start checking for seed packets late next winter.
