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NATURAL CULTURE: CREATING MYCOLOGICAL LANDSCAPES 25
Figure 15. Collecting the spores of the delicious Lepiota rachodes, a Parasol Mushroom, on two panes of glass
which are then folded together, creating a Spore Booklet.
For those wishing to begin a mushroom
patch using fresh specimens, a more efficient
method of spore collection is
recommended. This method calls for the
immersion of the mushroom in water to create
a spore mass slurry. Choose fairly
mature mushrooms and submerge them in a
5-gallon bucket of water. A gram or two of
table salt inhibits bacteria from growing
while notsubstantially affecting the viability
of the spores. By adding 50 ml. of
molasses, spores are stimulated into frenzied
germination. After four hours of
soaking, remove the mushroom(s) from the
bucket. Most mushrooms will have released
tens of thousands of spores. Allow the broth
to sit for 24-48 hours at a temperature above
500 F. (10° C.) but under 80° F. (27° C.) In
most cases, spores begin to germinate in
minutes to hours, aggressively in search of
new mates and nutrients. This slurry can be
expanded by a factor of ten in 48 hours. (I
have often dreamed, being the mad scientist,
of using spore mass slurries of Morels
and other species to aerially "bomb" large
expanses of forest lands.This idea, as crazy
as it may initially sound, warrants serious
investigation.)
During this stage of frenzied spore germination,
the mushroom patch habitat should be
designed and constructed. Each species has
unique requirements for substrate components
for fruiting. However, mycelia of most species
will run through a variety of lignin-cellulosic
wastes. Only at the stage when fruitbody production
is sought does the precise formulation
of the substrate become crucial.
Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus, P eryngii
and allies), King Stropharia (Stropharia
rugoso-annulata), and Shaggy Mane(Coprinus
coniatus) mushrooms thrive in a broad range of
substrate formulations. Other mushrooms such
as Morels (Morchella angusticeps & esculenta)
are more restrictive in their requirements. Since
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