DIY Fungi Cultivation

diy fungi cultivation

DIY Fungi Cultivation

By Frazer Love

In the context of DIY Fungi Cultivation, for many years agriculturalists have understood and respected the benefits fungi play within the ecosystem of a living plant. They aid in fighting disease and drought by assimilating with the root-zone known as the Rhizosphere.

mushroom growing cabinet

Fungi in the Garden:
increases the root’s surface area
secrete enzymes to help break down organic material
aid in the uptake of particular molecules

In addition to being a beneficial symbiote within the Rhizosphere fungi can also aid in CO2 production. Along with fungi being good for plants they have just as many if not more benefits to humans. Edible fungi contain high levels of riboflavin, copper, selenium and niacin along with and ability to boost the body’s immune system.

 petri dish for growing mushrooms

Knowing that fungi present a wide range of pertinent applications to the grower and health conscious individual we must ask ourselves why would the self-described DIY’er like you and I pass up the opportunity to grow yer own fungi…of course we will. Most of us around here are business minded individuals also and we have trouble ignoring an untapped source of income.

 

The best part of all of this is the equipment you may already own or could buy from your local grow shop, Flora ;-), is already the equipment you are familiar with. CEC (Closed Environmental Chambers), environmental controllers, timers, lighting *much less for fungi*, ventilation, purification, media type, and a strict adherence to detail and protocol will all fall within your comfort-zone as you initially get started in fungi cultivation.

 dust shroom clean air for cultivatingg mushrooms

In the coming weeks we will present a beginners guide to fungal cultivation. We will begin with an introduction to specific prerequisites to efficiently prepare your growing environment for the unique demands of your new fungal friends.

sterile mushroom fungi handling

 

About the Author, Frazer Love:
After meeting a fellow UGA student, fully involved in a double major in horticulture and business management, my course in life was etched into stone by my growing mentor, Ryan Trusty. I took my passion to the next level by packing my college apartment with hydro equipment and mushroom cultivation projects. These home projects turned into a desire to make this my life’s work. Since 2005, I’ve worked with various hydroponics shops (Atlantis Hydro & Flora Hydro) were I served and serve respectively as the branch manager. As if working fulltime at a hydro shop wasn’t enough, I started my own CSA. I built Perpetual Harvest from the ground up, literally. This tiny sub-acre urban farm has given me the gift of feeding the stomach and brains of my family and friends. Through my work and writing I look to inspire others in the hopes that gardening brings them as much peace as it has brought me.
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About Erik Biksa 245 Articles
Erik Biksa has been writing about and discussing hydroponics growing, related technologies and cropping methods since 1999 in a variety of professional publications and platforms globally Erik has travelled the world learning and teaching modern growing techniques and technologies and is appreciated by many growers for his informative yet hands on approaches. Presently, he is the Editor at Grozine Hydroponics Mag.