A couple years ago Andrew bought me something that truly proved his love for me: a mushroom growing kit. How romantic is that? Well, if you knew the way he feels about mushrooms you'd understand the sacrifice a gift like that entails.Well I followed directions exactly but wouldn't you know it those darn fungi wouldn't grow! I never ruled out the theory of sabotage--maybe someone soaked it in bleach or something--but finally gave up on the stupid thing and tossed it out back behind the playhouse in my little garden figuring the sawdust would break down and be good for the soil.
A couple weeks later Grace reported that I had something strange going on behind the shed. I looked back and found a GIGANTOR SHITAKE MUSHROOM. The Godzilla of Mushrooms, the Schwarzenegger of Mushrooms, the mushroom that made Andrew want to curl up in the corner and cry himself to sleep.
It's been non-stop mushrooms ever since. Who knew all the kit needed was a little abuse and they'd be popping up like . . . well like mushrooms.
Technorati tags: Wordless Wednesday, mushrooms, gardening, Alaska
15 comments:
My family loves this very much. I'll look for that mushroom growing kit and do a little abuse like you did so it will produce lots! :-)
By the way, it is called Shiitake(椎茸)in Japan.
I get field mushrooms growing wild in my lawn, but I would love to grow some different types.
Where did Andrew get the kit from? And can you get them in Aus I wonder...
I am SOOO jealous! Where do you get one of those? I have all the horse crap you can find! We didn't get any wild mushrooms this summer. and I have been known to come across a puffball here and there....
I can understand a hatred of canned mushrooms. But fresh mushrooms, raw or cooked are divine. I love me a juicy steak with sauteed mushrooms!!
Mmmmmmmmmmushrooms. You lucky devil!
I totally understand the kind of sacrifice it was for your husband, because mine is the same way.
He says, "Why on earth would I want to eat something that grows only in decaying matter!"
Congrats on your surprise. God is apparently a better gardener than we are. =)
ROLF LOve it, poor Andrew LOL
Aline
I've never understood the fascination with eating fungus.
Considering that I suggested giving your loved one fennel instead of chocolate on Valentine's Day, I'd say shitakes are pretty downright steamy! ;)
I'm not a mushroom fan myself I can understand Andrew!
That is so fun! I once has a little aloe plant that wouldn't grow inside. I thought it was dead and threw it into the compost pile. A month later, there was a great aloe plant rising out of the grass clippings. A pretty strange sight for Michigan. I plucked it out of there and still have it. Sometimes tough love works!
I love mushrooms -- we head to the woods every spring to find morrels. I was hoping to try the kits -- so, I may e-mail you after it arrives for tips. Wow. Hopefully next year, you'll have a bumper crop. That is awesome.
I do love shiitake. I wish I had friends and family who understood enough to give me growing supplies.
Oh, this is what I might need to do with my non-producing cardboard box of dirt, then?
Oz might be a little different, though. Was the area shaded and moist?
We tried under the house, but it just didn't get results!!
It was shady and Alaska can be pretty moist at times so yes, that would be it.
Plus a dose of karma I suppose.
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