These days we can buy mushrooms in all shapes and sizes, foraging for them in fields and forest or even having a go at cultivating them ourselves.
But there’s more to fungi than just eating them, says biologist and mushroom expert Merlin Sheldrake.
There are fungi that can alter the weather, some that can survive in deep space, while others can thrive amidst nuclear radiation, he writes in his acclaimed book, Entangled Life. Nearly all life on earth relies on fungi to exist and survive, he has discovered.
“For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by fungi and the transformations they provoke. As a teenager I dealt with my bafflement by finding ways to involve myself with fungi. I picked mushrooms and grew mushrooms in my bedroom. Whether in forests, labs or kitchens, fungi have changed my understanding of how life happens.”
How easy is it to grow mushrooms in your garden?
“Many species will grow in gardens without any assistance,” he says. “Some might appear on rotting logs or fence posts, or as brackets on trees. Others might sprout from lawns.
“There are a number of species that can be cultivated for those who want to play a more active role. A number of delicious mushroom species can be bought as dowel plugs and drilled into logs, including shiitake, lion’s mane and oyster mushrooms. Some, like king stropharia, can be established in wood chip beds.”
Why are they so important to the environment?
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