Posted by Leif Riddervold on March 6th, 2008

Here at Bundoran Farm we are taking steps to diversify our agricultural base. In order to determine the best products to raise on the farm, we need to establish which crops or livestock will do well in our climate, and can be raised sustainably from both an environmental and economic perspective. This begins with considerable research and visits to other farms. Then we experiment on a small scale. One of the products that we have determined could be a good fit for Bundoran Farm is Shiitake Mushrooms.

Shiitake’s are native to areas of East Asia with a similar climate to central Virginia. In fact Albemarle County provides ideal conditions for Shiitake mushrooms, with warm humid summers and generally mild winters.

Last week we engaged one of our Founding Stewards, Grady Lewis, to help us inoculate over 100 oak logs with Shiitake mycelium. It was quite a lot of work, but also great fun. It is quite rewarding to look at the logs at the end of the week and realize that in six months or so they will be sprouting loads of delicious and nutritious mushrooms! Once the logs complete the spawn run stage (initial period of time when fungus colonizes logs), they can be stored in a shady area. Grady and Diane Lewis are building a home on a wooded site ideal for growing a few mushrooms, and will certainly enjoy picking some fresh Shiitake’s from there back yard logs.

In future posts, we will let you know about other alternative agricultural ventures that we initiate.

Leif Riddervold
Natural Resources Manager

Filed under: Agriculture, Bundoran Farm Events and Occasions, Education and Inspiration, Nature/Environment