It ’s strange how random encounters get with you . Years ago , at the San Francisco Ferry Building Farmers ’ Market , there was a guy who sell mushrooms . I ’d always been a white mushroom kinda gal , from time to time adventuring into the humankind of portobellos or criminis , but it was n’t until I met Awesome Mushroom Guy that I crossed the border into the worldly concern of alien mushrooms .
He may have had a little crush on me , or perhaps he was just obsess with evangelizing the wonder of mushroom , but one mean solar day after I had made my usual mundane selection , he put a hand on my arm . “ look , ” he said . “ You ask to try one of these . ” He plucked a weird - looking , shaggy-haired white clump from a bank identification number and added it to my bag . “ It ’s a lion ’s mane , ” he said , in reverent pure tone . “ They ’re amaaaaazing . ”
I was a bit frightened , both by his strength and by the unusual fungus , but I accept it home , slice it up , and sautéed it in a bit of butter . Meaty , delicious , and tasting a bit like seafood ( scallop ? lobster ? ) , it was indeed astonishing , with the supererogatory “ a ’s . ” I could have consume 40 of them .
I could n’t hold back for the next market daytime . I charged Awesome Mushroom Guy ’s tabular array like it was a headway cut-rate sale at Nordstrom Rack . “ MORE ! ” I gasp . I loaded up : Another duad of lion ’s head of hair , some Cantharellus cibarius , a few huitre mushroom cloud . I was plume . Awesome Mushroom Guy was thrilled : He had an acolyte .
One Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , he slipped something into my purse , afterI’d pay . A natural endowment . “ Something special , ” he whispered , with a knowing wink . I was somewhat sure it was some kind of contraband . Did he sellpsilocybinmushrooms , as well ? I took a peek in the handbag as I walk back to my office . The mushroom take care like something from a fairy story : Its material body , that of a tiny wizard ’s chapeau ; its spongelike surface was covered with wrinkle ridges . It looked … foresty .
It was a unfermented morel !
I ’d heard of morels , but their curio and price had hold on them out of my reach . I bought some fresh fettuccini and minced that single morel into a light cream sauce . It was a Revelation of Saint John the Divine . That single , tiny mushroom cloud hike up the flavor of the sauce into the stratosphere . After that morel , I seriously considered deepening my kinship with Awesome Mushroom Guy beyond our hebdomadal tête - à - tête at the Farmers ’ Market . If you ’ve ever had a refreshing morel , you ’d understand .
Years have passed , but I ’ve been fascinated by mushrooms ever since . I ’ve pay back ambition of forage , but I am unquestionably cautious enough to fuck I ’ve got to round up an expert . I do n’t want to risk my liver on a misidentified ’ shroom . So , in rescript to fulfill my longing , I decide to put together a mini - mushroom farm .
Like many things in my life , the mini - mushroom farm cursorily spun out of control .
I arrange a packet of 100 lion ’s mane mushroom cloud plug from the lovely folks at Fungi Perfecti ( www.fungi.com ) . I selected an oak that need clipping , foreshorten the log into the need 3- to 4 - groundwork lengths and set out drill my plug holes . After a while , I adjudicate to calculate the holes , to make trusted I was going to have enough . I had 131 holes , and a bonny amount of log to go . I called my new BFFs at Fungi Perfecti to grade another packet . “ Howbig is the log ? ” Heather Fungi Perfecti asked . “ And how closearethose holes ? ” release out I may have been a bit fanatical in my hole placement . This might be the best - inoculated mushroom access the account of the world .
Heather Fungi Perfecti popped another bundle in the mail and severalise me not to vex . My confidence reconstruct , I ordered a pair packs of pearl oyster mushroom and a packet of shiitakes . Meanwhile , I dutifully tapped the original solidifying of plugs into my logarithm and sealed them with beeswax . When the next packet arrives , I ’ll finish out that log , and peradventure start another . And a shiitake mushroom log … and a pearl oyster logarithm …
Once I get the logs inoculated , it ’s a waiting secret plan while the spawn incubates . ’ll keep them moist through the give and summertime , then sometime in the downfall , I ’ll start them ( a whole new world of jargon ! Is there anything better ? ) , partially bury them in pail of sand in training for fruiting . Until then , I ’ll keep my fingers cross and my appetite whetted . Awesome Mushroom Guy would be so gallant .
« More Greenhorn Acres »
