Shiitake mushrooms & oak logs in Alabama
Shiitake mushrooms & oak logs in Alabama
Amazing what you can find if you keep your eyes open. Linda and I have been enjoying Shamrock Farms (Waterloo Alabama) organic produce for several seasons now. Their amazing Spring blueberries were the original draw at our local farmer's market. Then we continued to be drawn in with fresh, organic delicacies each market. This year's we've been blown away by their shiitake mushrooms. And have just been amazed that they were producing them here in Alabama.
Yesterday, my long time Bub (Bobby Harris) and I took what should have been a 20 minute drive north through the beautiful countryside to visit Shamrock's organic, hydroponic gardens. And what a treat it was. This Alabama country crew really has their stuff together. Using the best patented hydroponic systems, originally developed by our space initiatives? to organically water and nourish their beautiful crop. -- More about this on a future post.
But we were mesmerized by their over the top shiitake mushroom production. This is all quite technical that I'm not the one to explain. But the mushroom spores (family origin Japanese) are sourced from Washington State University. They drill dozens/hundreds?? of tiny holes in the perfectly cured oak limbs, hydrate and time it all perfectly, and somehow eventually end up with fifteen years production of shiitake mushrooms from each limb.
They will even sell you an oak log ($100) already producing shiitake's! Just set it under your kitchen sink, vertically in a tub of water. (still thinking about this part)
