Exotic Mushrooms

A detailed and comprehensive guide for growing and using gourmet and medicinal mushrooms commercially or at home. “Absolutely the best book in the world on how to grow diverse and delicious mushrooms.”—David Arora, author of Mushrooms Demystified With precise growth parameters for thirty-one mushroom species, this bible of mushroom cultivation includes gardening tips, state-of-the-art production techniques, realistic advice for laboratory and growing room construction, tasty mushroom recipes, and an invaluable troubleshooting guide. More than 500 photographs, illustrations, and charts clearly identify each stage of cultivation, and a twenty-four-page color insert spotlights the intense beauty of various mushroom species. Whether you’re an ecologist, a chef, a forager, a pharmacologist, a commercial grower, or a home gardener—this indispensable handbook will get you started, help your garden succeed, and make your mycological landscapes the envy of the neighborhood.

Recipes for appetizers, soups, sandwiches, side dishes, and entreesHow to select, clean, store, and prepareMediterranean Mushroom Bruschetta, Mushroom Vegetable Soup, Chicken Mushroom Fajitas, Penne Mushroom Vegetable PastaMore than 60 great recipes with mushrooms as the main ingredient. Information on history, varieties, and nutritional value is included.

In this volume the relevance of fungi for agriculture is discussed in four sections. The first one 'Food and Fodder Production' concerns the application and potential of mushrooms, straw enrichment, and food or crop spoilage. The next section 'Mycotoxins and Detoxification' deals with the biosynthesis of mycotoxins and the use of fungi in organopollutant degradation. A large section entitled 'Disease Control, Diagnostic, and Management' covers various aspects of biological control (fungi, insects, and weeds), diagnostics with emphasis on the example of Magnaporthe grisea, and disease management with focus on the important fungal pathogens Phoma, Fusarium, rusts and powdery mildew. The last section 'Update on Host-Parasite Interactions' discusses signal transduction, avirulence determinants, phytotoxins, cell wall degradation, and the coevolution of pathogenic fungi and grass hosts.

Readers are introduced to the fundamental elements of mushroom cultivation, including substrate preparation, inoculation, incubation, fruiting conditions, and harvesting. The book is replete with practical tips and insights garnered from experienced cultivators, ensuring that readers have the knowledge and confidence to embark on their mushroom-growing adventures. Moreover, "Mushroom Varieties and Growing Methods" acknowledges the growing interest in sustainable and locally sourced food. It highlights the environmental benefits of cultivating mushrooms, emphasizing their role in recycling organic matter and reducing waste. The book encourages readers to not only enjoy the flavors of freshly harvested mushrooms but also appreciate the ecological significance of integrating mushroom cultivation into sustainable living practices. Throughout the book, the author weaves a narrative that combines scientific understanding with a deep appreciation for the magic and mystery of mushrooms. It transcends the utilitarian aspects of cultivation, inviting readers to marvel at the intricacies of mycelium networks and the ecological roles mushrooms play in nature.

“A beautifully written portrait of the people who collect and distribute wild mushrooms . . . food and nature writing at its finest.”—Eugenia Bone, author of Mycophilia “A rollicking narrative . . . Cook [delivers] vivid and cinematic scenes on every page.”—The Wall Street Journal In the dark corners of America’s forests grow culinary treasures. Chefs pay top dollar to showcase these elusive and enchanting ingredients on their menus. Whether dressing up a filet mignon with smoky morels or shaving luxurious white truffles over pasta, the most elegant restaurants across the country now feature one of nature’s last truly wild foods: the uncultivated, uncontrollable mushroom. The mushroom hunters, by contrast, are a rough lot. They live in the wilderness and move with the seasons. Motivated by Gold Rush desires, they haul improbable quantities of fungi from the woods for cash. Langdon Cook embeds himself in this shadowy subculture, reporting from both rural fringes and big-city eateries with the flair of a novelist, uncovering along the way what might be the last gasp of frontier-style capitalism. Meet Doug, an ex-logger and crabber—now an itinerant mushroom picker trying to pay his bills and stay out of trouble; Jeremy, a former cook turned wild-food entrepreneur, crisscrossing the continent to build a business amid cutthroat competition; their friend Matt, an up-and-coming chef whose kitchen alchemy is turning heads; and the woman who inspires them all. Rich with the science and lore of edible fungi—from seductive chanterelles to exotic porcini—The Mushroom Hunters is equal parts gonzo travelogue and culinary history lesson, a fast-paced, character-driven tour through a world that is by turns secretive, dangerous, and quintessentially American.

Everything you need to know to start growing mushrooms at home! Looking for something quick and easy to grow, that doesn't take up much space, and offers numerous health benefits? Then mushrooms are the perfect choice! Growing Mushrooms at Home will take you through all the basics, from key equipment and step-by-step growing guides all the way to how to turn your harvest into teas, coffees and tinctures. These guides can be used for many varieties - including shiitake, lion's mane, wine cap and oyster - and multiple different growing situations, from buckets and bags to outdoor beds and logs. As well as revealing the essential growing know-how, the book explores our long and complex human history with mushrooms and the fascinating ways fungi continues to shape our world. From ancient Aztec rituals and underground tree communication networks to ground-breaking new medicines and organic pesticides, Growing Mushrooms at Home uncovers the weird and wonderful world of mushrooms, and everything they have to offer.