I drink a lot of coffee. So that means a lot of coffee grounds accumulate in my compost, and a few months ago I looked at that and wondered if it could be used to grow mushrooms. This visionary and practical book should be an instant classic in the emerging science of how to use nature’s wisdom and fecundity to rescue the earth and ourselves from the unwelcome consequences of human cleverness.“ However! If I someday have a home in a mountain forest (as I often fantasize), I would definitely try to cultivate multiple mushrooms in various contexts, mostly in food production and soil improvement. Maybe some magic stuff, too? This is the kind of book I love: highly factual and practical and mixed with the spiritual content that sets the great writers apart from all the rest.“

One year ago I didn't know anything about mushrooms and now it's a topic I always want to know more about.

Success!

The overall impression and story that Stamets tells about fungi, mycelium and the role they have to play in the world.

The Fermentation Edition at Why is this interesting? brought up an twist that I wanted to add in here. Common newbie mistakes in propagation, particularly as many pasteurization techniques are cost prohibitive for a small scale runner. Paul Stamets manages to convey his passion for mushrooms, making all of us who are passionate about them build a small mycelium that unites us. He also spreads that little great hope that makes you think that maybe we still have time to save the planet if we listen to the earth.

Become a Member

Stamets' detailed accounts of his own experiments and discoveries, and the broad possibilities these could create for the future of forestry, food and generally looking after the natural world. The role of oxalic acid and calcium oxalates in sequestering carbon dioxide and building the carbon bank Solid overview of fungi's ecological potential - from repairing deforestation to cleaning up toxic/radioactive waste to even fighting insect pests, this was probably my favorite part of the book. These are important and timely findings, and should be more popular than they currently are. Growing Gourmet & Medicinal Mushrooms ★ The Mushroom Cultivator ★ Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World ★ Mycelium Running ★ From Bears & Trees to Mushrooms & Bees ★ Although I do not agree 100% with some of his premises, his approach seems new and enriching to me.