Neil Glasgow

INumerous companies are growing Mycelium for insulation and furniture. However, the real benefit from Mycelium is its a Vegan approved meat and dairy substitute. That’s right, when grown on a suitable substrate, it’s fit for human consumption and creates Vegan products ranging from bacon to dairy products.

In my opinion, the Permaculture community should put together a team dedicated to the on and off-grid production of food and explore the two main ways to make Mycelium: submerged Fermentation (liquid) and the Solid state method described in this article. Large investments are being made to develop Mycelium food products so I propose we put our thinking caps on and design a homesteader version for the masses. I believe Mycelium could figuratively be the next Manna from Heaven food source.
Here is the link to one company offering a meat and dairy free product from Mycelium. https://www.naturesfynd.com/products

How many of you have sprouted an Avocado seed? That’s right, everyone has but have you ever tasted the fruit from a Haas Avocado grown from seed? I had the great pleasure to visit a friend in South Florida who offered me a sample of the first official fruit from a seed he planted 7 or 8 years ago. Taste? Worst tasting avocado with a bitter aftertaste. After asking a Horticulture expert a few weeks later, he laughed and said NO avocado seed produces a genetic copy of the parent tree and only a tree grafted with a Haas, or other, scion guarantees a match.

Moral of the story: Keep on encouraging the kids to sprout the seeds but only grafted trees will produce the stuff great Guacamole is made from...

Mushroom Mycelium makes sustainable leather and furniture. This would make an interesting topic for a thread or topic to teach.

Here is the link:
https://theconversation.com/vegan-leather-made-from-mushrooms-could-mould-the-future-of-sustainable-fashion-143988?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=School%20Busses-email-4D&utm_term=4D

I purchased a motion activated sprinkler system from Orbit for my food garden which solved my deer, and most of the time, bunny, raids. The sensor system I use is powered by the electric grid but I’m sure someone could convert it to solar The only problem I had was when my wife forgot the system was armed and got a free face and body wash.

Eric Hanson wrote:Neil,

This is exactly type of situation that makes me scratch my head even more.  I am now even more conflicted.  On the one hand, I love that those acres are being put towards the purpose of growing something.  Even better, I love that these acres are not being paved or built upon.  Not thrilled that they get harvested, but better than the alternative?

Anyhow, thanks for getting the thrust of the question and adding to my confusion.  And I really mean that in the best possible way.

Eric

Eric,
I believe the property is sub-divided into parcels and harvested under a 10 year growth plan and NEVER 100% clearcut.

My family owns a 55,000 acre Plantation Pine forest in Louisiana now used exclusively for producing wood pellets. This is a new development for the forest industry as European Power Plants signed contracts to buy everything the forest produces each year. The added benefit is they love the fast growing Hybrid loblolly pine as it grows so fast that it is worthless to the construction industry but priceless for the Pulp industry; thus filling the Void created by the demise of the newspaper industry.