Mycelial Mayhem-A place for Mushroom folks!

April 1, 2016 News Society Publishing released a book "Mycelial Mayhem" by David and Kristin Sewak. This book is a great intro book to incorporating and cultivating mushrooms! We hope you enjoy the light hearted but serious approach we have with the book and hope to exchange ideas and thoughts with other sustainable folks. The Mayhem part comes from running a small niche business, we sold on western Pa organic garden/landscaped, native plant nursery and mushroom operation and moved to Montana-because growing mushrooms in a temperate hardwood forest was just too easy! We had to try it in the semi-arid landscape along Missouri River in Montana! Below is a brief intro- Hello all you mushroom folks you will find that I'm a Fungi!

David Sewak has worked in conservation and recreation for nearly two decades. First with his Papap, he has gathered wild mushrooms since he was a child and has cultivated shrooms for over 20 years. Prior to moving from Pennsylvania to Montana, David and his wife Kristin co-owned Berglorbeer Farma, which specialized in edible mushrooms, heirloom vegetables, native landscape plants and sustainable landscape design. David and Kristin speak on mushroom growing and other sustainable living topics at regional and national green living events. David holds a degree in History and Philosophy and is a fly fishing guide on the Missouri River in western Montana.

Kristin Sewak is the founder of Natural Biodiversity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring biodiversity within landscapes and involving people in environmental solutions. Prior to moving from Pennsylvania to Montana, Kristin and her husband David co-owned Berglorbeer Farma, which specialized in edible mushrooms, heirloom vegetables, native landscape plants and sustainable landscape design. Kristin and David speak on mushroom growing and other sustainable living topics at regional and national green living events. Kristin holds a degree in Ecology, a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, and has developed a nature-inspired leadership model.

Montana-because growing mushrooms in a temperate hardwood forest was just too easy! We had to try it in the semi-arid landscape along Missouri River in Montana!

My observation has been that mycelia tend to fruit with changes in moisture. Most often when ans where the substrate changes from moist to dry. So how do you plan for this to happen on a productive schedule when it will not be happening naturally as frequently in an arid landscape?

David,
Can't wait to read your book. We were planning on lots of garlic for our land since it requires minimal upkeep and sells well. However I'm thinking mushrooms will actually bring in more and there will be no arguments for how many we need to keep for ourselves since no one but me in the family eats them! Do you think the two could live in harmony?
-Carol Oliver

Hans,

Our place is split by a small stream that flows year round and we have a spring also. Right now I am fiddling with micro-climates outside, just letting the natural brush and trees alone. I have a number of shiitake logs and reishi blocks there. I also just finished a greenhouse, and I have a garden in a shady area where I do Lettuce, kale, things that do not like the blasting sun. For those I have a bigger area above the house with Quinoa, corn, drying beans, squash, peppers and tomatoes. I just picked around 3-4 lbs of Shiitake, they still fruit with temp drops and rain, I haven't been able to force them, but it seems the micro-climate is sustaining them through the dry periods.