Just Harvested My First Shiitake Mushrooms!

I always thought that growing mushrooms was smelly business.

There used to be a local mushroom farm down the road and when the wind shifted, the unpleasant smell of manure filled the air.  For that reason, I never considered growing mushrooms.

But just 2 weeks ago, I bought a shiitake mushroom kit because it was so easy and convenient.  It had a block with mushroom spores placed in a clear plastic bag.  All I had to do was snip holes in the plastic to allow air circulation, and that was it.

There was no putrid smell, and the mushrooms grew rapidly.  In just 10 days, I harvested a huge bag of beautiful mushrooms.

I sautéed them in butter and garlic, and they were the best mushrooms I’d ever eaten!  You can order these mushroom kits at FarWestFungi.com.

I’m taking the plunge and trying a more involved growing environment that uses fresh cut hardwood branches and ¼” mushroom spore plugs.  Wish me luck!