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
[...] may remember a posting from March 6, 2008 titled: “Let there be Fungi” Our hard work is paying off! The first significant flush of Shitake Mushrooms were picked [...]
My wife and I actually hunt wild mushrooms, including Chanterelles, morels, oyster, chicken mushrooms and more. (In fact, we’d probably be willing to lead a “mushroom walk” sometime in exchange for the opportunity to bring some home for ourselves!)
In terms of cultivation, there are huge opportunities out there for cultivating and encouraging wild mushroom species (and other wild foods). I know Chanterelles can go for over $100.00 per pound. We don’t generally sell the mushrooms we find, but this year I did trade some Chicken mushrooms for a six pack of beer at the Batesville Store!
Lonnie,
I too hunt for all of the mushrooms that you mention above. There is nothing more rewarding than coming home with a basket of wild mushrooms after a day in the woods! We plan to expand our cultivation to include oyster mushrooms, and will likely inoculate some poplar logs this spring.
Leif