Growing Your Own Mushrooms

By Karen Stephenson

Growing your own mushrooms is an idea most people don't entertain as they think it's too much work. Not only is growing mushrooms an easy process, but it involves one of the most interesting uses for old coffee grounds.

Anyone who loves coffee and is a fan of mushrooms will see how simple combining the two loves are. The first step is to go online or find a local store that sells inoculated mushroom plugs. You'll also need a good sized glass jar or bucket. Ensure the container you use is clean and sterilize (boiling in hot water for five minutes will do the trick). When you make a pot of coffee, place the grounds in the container of choice-and keep the grounds moist.

Once the grounds have a depth of about four inches, push one of the mushroom plugs into the grounds. Every time there's another pot of coffee, place the grounds in the container and add another plug. Always keep the coffee grounds very moist. In a matter of days, you should see mushroom growth. Keep adding new grounds and plugs until there is no more space in the container. If you discover mould on the grounds, remove it so it won't affect the mushrooms.

Another method of growing mushrooms at home is with mushroom logs. These logs are inoculated with mushroom spawn. This means that wooden plugs covered with mycelium have been injected into the log. Logs are shipped to the consumer who soaks it in cold water for 24 hours. The log then needs to be placed in a dark, moist place at room temperature. Within a week, mushrooms can be harvested. The log is reusable as long as the mycelium is not damaged. Mushroom logs can be an excellent educational tool for the home or in schools to educate children about mushrooms. This particular method is considered a no-fail means of growing mushrooms.

Mushroom Nutrition Facts

Mushrooms are very good for us because: they contain zero fat; have few calories; are low in carbohydrates and sodium; and are cholesterol-free. Fresh mushrooms also contain both soluble and insoluble fibre.

Four to five medium-sized mushrooms makes a valuable daily contribution of several vitamins and minerals such as:

• Riboflavin (B2) (24%)
• Niacin (B3) (18%)
• Thiamine (B1) (5%)
• Pantothenic Acid (B5) (15%)
• B6 (5%)
• Folate (4%)
• Copper (16%)
• Selenium (13%)
• Potassium (9%)
• Phosphorus (9%)
• Iron (3%)
• Zinc (3%)
• Magnesium (2%)

Why not start your own mushroom farm? It's fun to do and even more fun to watch as the mushrooms grow, and eating fresh mushrooms has an incredible amount of nutrition that helps keep your body healthy!