Willoughby Arevalo - DIY Mushroom Cultivation: Growing Mushrooms at Home for Food, Medicine, and Soil

Praise for DIY Mushroom Cultivation

DIY Mushroom Cultivation is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to begin or advance their mushroom cultivation practice. Offering clear and comprehensive instructions for low-tech growing for a range of budgets, interests and scales, this book offers practical inspiration and a sense that: hey, I can do this! Willoughby has a refreshingly warm way of communicating about the art and science of mushroom cultivation, which welcomes the reader into a community of delight and appreciation of the fungi and the many ways we can work with them to support human and ecological health and well-being.

DANIELLE STEVENSON owner, DIY Fungi

With hands of an artist, eyes of an ecologist, and the heart of a deeply connected human, Willoughby brings the practical and joyful together through the science and wonder of mycology. This volume on mushroom cultivation is an invitation to read and share in community to grow not only mushrooms, but our true earthly relationships.

NANCE KLEHM Director of Social Ecologies, and author, The Ground Rules and The Soil Keepers: Conversations with Practitioners on the Ground Beneath Our Feet

Willoughbys unique combination of talent, passion, and experience growing and cooking mushrooms has produced this beautiful and informative contribution. Well done, Mycology Maestro!

ROBERT ROGERS author, The Fungal Pharmacy

It is simply a fact that as the horrors of climate change descend upon us, ecosystem regeneration will become our overarching drive. Then, finally, we will seek advice and assistance from our beloved ancestors, the forest fungi. Ever forgiving, they will supply our indoor protein, nurture our new forests, financially support our drawdown effort, and mend our damaged world. This delightful book gets all that started in clear language and beautiful illustrations, at home scale and low budget, one new mushroom grower at a time.

ALBERT BATES owner, Mushroom People, North Americas oldest mushroom tools supply company, and author, The Biochar Solution.

DIY Mushroom Cultivation by Willoughby Arevalo is a great book for those looking to dig deeper into the powerful world of mushroom cultivation and appreciation. Willoughbys knowledge, passion, and sincere love for fungi makes this book a wonderful, accessible, and informative read. The book provides a solid foundation for inspiring and empowering individuals and communities to grow mushrooms for food, healing, and remediation.

LEILA DARWISH author, Earth Repair: A Grassroots Guide to Healing Toxic and Damaged Landscapes

Fun to read and easy to digest, this guide is both practical and inspirational. There are few people in our modern society that have the kind of deep connection with the fungal realm as Willoughby Arevalothe mushrooms actually speak through him. Both experienced and novice mushroom growers will enjoy the adventure and grow their skills.

MAYA ELSON mycologist and Santa Cruz Program Director, Wild Child Free School

Copyright 2019 by Willoughby Arevalo.

All rights reserved.

Cover design by Diane McIntosh.

Cover image: Nameko Mushrooms Anne Murphy

Back cover images: Upper and Lower Left Ja Schindler; Right Willoughby Arevalo.

Interior design by Setareh Ashrafologhalai

Illustrations by Carmen Elisabeth Olson

Printed in Canada. First printing June 2019.

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION

Title: DIY mushroom cultivation : growing mushrooms at home for food, medicine, and soil / Willoughby Arevalo.

Other titles: Do it yourself mushroom cultivation

Names: Arevalo, Willoughby, 1983- author. | Olson, Carmen
Elisabeth, illustrator.

Description: Illustrations by Carmen Elisabeth Olson. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20190092696 | Canadiana (ebook) 2019009270X | ISBN 9780865718951 (softcover) | ISBN 9781550926880 (PDF) | ISBN 9781771422840 (EPUB)

Subjects: LCSH: Mushroom cultureHandbooks, manuals, etc. | LCSH: Edible mushroomsHandbooks, manuals, etc. | LCGFT: Handbooks and manuals.

Classification: LCC SB353.A74 2019 | DDC 635/.8dc23

This book is intended to be educational and informative. It is not intended to serve as a guide. The author and publisher disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk that may be associated with the application of any of the contents of this book.

Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of DIY Mushroom Cultivation should be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below. To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America) 1-800-567-6772, or order online at www.newsociety.com

Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to:

New Society Publishers

P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada

(250) 247-9737

New Society Publishers mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision.

DANIELLE STEVENSON

Homegrown nameko mushrooms. WILLOUGHBY AREVALO

W ITH LOVE AND gratitude I recognize the network of heart-forward and hopeful mushroom people who have helped me on my journey and been such good friends, collaborators, and colleagues, including but not limited to: Max Kirchgasser for your companionship and generous help with cultivation projects through my writing process; Mike Egan and Mycality Mushrooms; Max Brotman and Claire Brown; Danielle Stevenson and DIY Fungi; Leila Darwish; Olga Tzogas, Rebar, and The Mycelium Underground/Smugtown Mushrooms; Nance Klehm and The Ground Rules; Maya Elson, Mia Maltz and CoRenewal, Lexie Gropper and Amisacho; Robert Rogers; Ja Schindler, Val Nguyen, and Fungi for the People; Michael Hathaway and the Matsutake Worlds Research Group; Kaitlin Bryson; Nina OMalley, Charlie Aller, and Mush Luv; Mara Penfil and Female and Fungi; Peter McCoy and Radical Mycology; Jason Leane and All the Mushrooms; Ava Arvest, Raskal Turbeville, and Myco-Uprrhizal; the Mushroom Man Scott Henderson; Octavio Perez Ortiz and Senguihongo; Dallas Lawlor and Northside Fungi Farm; Ray and Patty Lanier and Mushroom Maestros; Willie Crosby and Fungi Ally; Geoffroy Grignon and Champignons Maison/Myclium Remdium; Philip Zoghibi; Mycollectif; Xiaojing Yan; Ionatan Waisgluss and Vegetation Station; Theo Rosenfeld and Wildwood Ecology Labs; Nadine Simpson; the online mushroom community; all my cultivation students and teachers assistants; Paul Kroeger and all my friends and colleagues in the Vancouver Mycological Society; the Humboldt Bay Mycological Society; and my teacher Dr. Terry Henkel and early mentor Dr. David Largent.