Fungal fruits

FORAGING FOR EDIBLE MUSHROOMS CAN BE A DICEY AFFAIR — BUT WHY TAKE CHANCES WHEN IT’S SO EASY TO GROW YOUR OWN?

Chloe Thomson

Mushrooms are a world — or should that be a kingdom? — unto themselves. Neither plant nor animal, they belong to the weird and wonderful realm of fungi. It’s estimated there are at least 10,000 species of mushrooms, around a fifth of them edible or suitable for medicinal use; others are hallucinogenic and some even bioluminescent. Where each species comes from or how it was discovered to be edible would be a thesis paper in itself, but here’s a snapshot of mushroom history. Archaeological evidence shows that hallucinogenic mushrooms were used in cultural and spiritual ceremonies as early as 10,000 BCE by the ancient Greeks, Mayans and even Vikings. There’s also evidence the popular Asian staple shiitake (Lentinula edodes) was cultivated in China and Japan as early as 600 CE.…

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Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, 15.5

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