Author: Freak of Natural Staff

MUSHROOMS CULTIVATION: THE GROWTH ENVIRONMENTS

Freak of Natural Staff

  ENVIRONMENTS NECESSARY FOR MUSHROOMS CULTIVATION 1. Laboratory: The laboratory is the place where the mushroom growing process begins. This stage is also the most difficult of the growth cycle for new producers. It can be difficult to create an environment conducive to the growth of the fungus mycelium; Growth requires a moist, nutrient-rich environment, such as a cereal jar or Petri dish containing a solution of water, agar agar and nutrients such as potato dextrose. This space, preferably isolated, must remain sanitized. Make sure you can wash the area…

HOW TO CLONE MUSHROOMS

Freak of Natural Staff

  There are two main ways to clone a fruiting body of a mushroom: starting from a pin, which is a small specimen of a mushroom that has just popped, or through a small section of the inner tissue of a more mature mushroom. Personally I prefer to clone fruiting bodies that have already shown their characteristics taking a section from it. The section is usually taken from the stem where it meets the cap. Any residual tissue is removed from the stem, the hat is removed from the stem…

GROWING MUSHROOMS: THE FRUITING

Freak of Natural Staff

  Mushroom cultivation success used to be an activity that very much depended on climatic conditions. The substrate was prepared and sown taking into account the season when the temperature and humidity conditions were favorable. This still happens today for small producers of Shiitake and some species of Pleurotus. For example, French growers of the genus Agaricus, better known as champignon, has found in the eighteenth century the ideal environment for cultivation,  the right temperature and humidity, in the French caves. Growers can adapt different places  for mushroom cultivation, such as…

MUSHROOMS ARE TRUE SUPER FOOD

Freak of Natural Staff

  Solid are the foundations and evidence that mushrooms are real all round cure, a real super food capable of benefiting those who consume them regularly in various ways. There is however something to consider carefully. Mushrooms absorb very easily the elements present in the environment in which they grow through soil, air and humidity. This characteristic determines that mushrooms grown in soils polluted by heavy metals, or in particularly polluted areas, fill them with substances that are harmful to us, counteracting the numerous nutritional benefits that they would have…

GROWING MUSHROOMS: MAKING THE SPAWN

Freak of Natural Staff

  The purpose of the “spawn” is to increase the fungal biomass, previously present as a small mass of cells in a Petri dish or liquid culture, and to expand this mass to possibly several kilos of mushrooms. The seed is generally made up of cereal grains such as barley, wheat, rye, oats, rice, etc., already colonized from the fungus. Each colonized grain, mixed in the final substrate, becomes a point where the fungus will develop,  colonizing completely the bag or jar containing the substrate in just few days. To…

SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS COUNTLESS PROPERTIES

Freak of Natural Staff

  Shiitake mushrooms are native to Japan. These medium-sized mushrooms have a soft consistency and a pleasant and delicate taste that recalls that of the Porcino mushrooms. They have always been used in the millenary oriental tradition for their countless properties. They are widely used in traditional oriental medicine and there are numerous publications in which the antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of these mushrooms, sometimes also referred to as a natural “viagra”, are recognized and discussed. Shiitake are today among the most cultivated, consumed and appreciated mushrooms in the…

GROWING MUSHROOMS: NOTIONS OF STERILIZATION

Freak of Natural Staff

  In this article we will deepen into the part that is considered by many to be the most delicate in the processes of mushroom cultivation. Any lack of attention during this steps can lead to contamination, making all our efforts in vain. The first step in mushroom cultivation, taking into account that you want to go through all stages of their production, is to learn how to work with the culture medium, with sterilization methods and good laboratory practices so that there won’t be contamination in any stage of…

GROWING MUSHROOMS: MYCELIUM CULTURE MEDIA

Freak of Natural Staff

  When growing mushroom, culture media are usually medium solid and consist of a water base to which nutrients are added, and a compound with solidifying properties, which is normally Agar. The compound is mixed in the liquid phase, bringing the water in which the nutrients and Agar powder are dissolved to a boil. The liquid is sterilized and then poured into Petri dishes where it will cool and solidify to obtain a gelatinous consistency where it is possible to inoculate the mycelium to start the culture. The culture medium…

GROWING MUSHROOMS: THE LIFE CYCLE

Freak of Natural Staff

  To learn how to grow mushrooms it is essential to know their life cycle in nature. During the cultivation of mushrooms the grower needs to simulate all the conditions that the mushroom would encounter in nature. So, instead of a rotting tree trunk, we will give the mushroom to feed it sawdust or straw that has a similar composition to its natural substrate. Instead of the shade and fresh air that you would find in an undergrowth, we will set up an air-conditioned greenhouse that simulates the conditions of…

GROWING MUSHROOMS: THE SPORES

Freak of Natural Staff

  WHAT ARE MUSHROOMS SPORES? We know that re the spores that allow mushrooms propagation. They separate from the fungi and travel long distances thanks to the air currents until they fall on a suitable substrate, giving birth to another colony of mushrooms.   When we collect these spores, we can place them in a container containing substrate, and start cultivation. Growers do not normally use spores to grow mushrooms due to the high genetic variability. Each pair of spores will generate a different individual. This means that hundreds of…

MUSHROOM CLASSIFICATION AND CULTIVABLE SPECIES

Freak of Natural Staff

  Mushrooms are classified into categories based on how they feed. There are basically four categories. These are: saprotrophs, mycorrhizal, parasites and endophytes. Saprotrophs Saprotrophic fungi use specific enzymes and acids that help them break down decaying organic matter, hence the dead tissues of trees, other plants and sometimes mammals. This allows them to feed on the decomposed matter. Saprotrophic fungi play a fundamental role in the decomposition process in nature, and therefore in the entire food chain. These mushrooms include: Agaricus Bisporus (White button, Portobello, Cremini) Morel mushrooms Reishi…

HYDROPONIC IS THE FUTURE OF FARMING

Freak of Natural Staff

  A BETTER WAY TO GROW OUR FOOD Hydroponic is a way of managing plants allowing to grow them soilless. This technique works great fo herbaceous plants, fruits and shrubs with equal success. Hydroponics allows you to grow in confined spaces by optimizing unconventional areas, without losing sight of the main needs of plants, such as light, temperature, water and nutrients. In these systems the essential mineral elements are provided by the nutrient solution. The yield of hydroponics under the right conditions is much higher compared to traditional farming in…

WHAT MUSHROOM SPECIES TO GROW

Freak of Natural Staff

  AGARICUS BISPORUS (Button, Cremini, Portobello mushrooms) The collection of these mushrooms in different stages of their life produces types with different names, even if in reality it’s always the same species. The classic white Champignons or Button mushrooms are harvested at the beginning of their growth, or at most in an intermediate phase. Cremini are also called baby portobello or brown mushrooms. Portobello mushrooms are simply the most mature mushrooms of this genus, have a more apologetic brown color and the hat is more open. These mushrooms also grow…

PASSIFLORA: Properties of the Passion Flower and Fruit

Freak of Natural Staff

  Genus: Passiflora Common names: Passion Flower, Passion Fruit   Among us who has never noticed the Passiflora climbing on some wall or fence? It’s just impossible not to be enchanted by the particularity and beauty of its flower. As a climbing plant, it lends itself well to ornamental purposes to cover walls, fences and pergolas. There are more than 500 species in the genus Passiflora among perennials and annuals, climbing, shrubby, herbaceous and  looking different, but in this article we will focus on the properties of Passiflora Incarnata and…

WHAT NOT TO THROW IN THE COMPOST

Freak of Natural Staff

  Organic matter undergoes a fermentation process in landfills that generates highly polluting elements, namely methane gas and toxic leachate. Leachate is a highly polluting liquid generated by the infiltration of water into the mass of decaying waste. This substance contains a very high load of harmful substances must be carefully collected and stored. Even small quantities dispersed are able to contaminate the underlying aquifers with disastrous results. Gases, on the other hand, contribute negatively and directly to climate change. The good news is that it is still possible to…

THE IMPORTANCE OF MOISTURE LEVELS IN THE COMPOST BIN

Freak of Natural Staff

  The humidity inside the compost container is a crucial factor for the proper functioning of the composting system. Especially when making composting at home in small containers, there are some factors that influence the whole process that must be taken into account. If these conditions are not monitored, the internal environment with its micro-organisms will suffer, as will our precious earthworms. Before discussing the influence that humidity has on the process, it is essential to make some background on the factors that determine the conditions within the worm compost…

GROWING MUSHROOMS: INTRODUCTION and TECHNIQUES

Freak of Natural Staff

  GROWING MUSHROOMS IS SMART, SUSTAINABLE AND PROFITABLE! Do you plan to grow mushrooms? There are many good reasons to begin  this hobby or activity: if desired, mushrooms are a good, profitable and economically attractive commercial crop. In addition, they are easy to grow even at an amateur level and finally they have important nutritional values. Some species, if that weren’t enough, also carry important medicinal properties. The period between inoculation and harvest can be very short, just three weeks. After the cultivation, the support can still be reused to…

HOW TO CLONE, PRUNE AND MAKE CANNABIS CUTTINGS

Freak of Natural Staff

  MAKING CLONES Cuttings are the basis of large indoor crops. Cannabis reproduces in two ways: sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction occurs when the male fertilizes the female’s flowers with his pollen, which then produces seeds. Asexual reproduction occurs when a part of the plant emits roots and becomes an independent individual, precisely through the cuttings. Asexual reproduction is well known in other plant varieties such as geraniums for example and all succulents. The interesting thing about this technique is that the cuttings are genetically the same as the mother plant,…

BEST SUBSTRATES TO GROW MICROGREENS

Freak of Natural Staff

  CHOOSING THE RIGHT SUBSTRATE FOR GROWING MICROGREENS One of the most critical aspects in growing microgreens is the choice of the cultivation substrate, which plays a fundamental role in determining the productivity and finally the quality of these small vegetables. Furthermore, this choice determines the sustainability of the entire production process. In order to ensure a good germination and optimal growth of the seedlings, a good substrate must have physical characteristics such as to ensure a porosity greater than 85% of the total volume. It must ensure a correct…

PLANTS THAT ACTS AS NATURAL REPELLENTS

Freak of Natural Staff

  There are indeed many plants that act as natural repellents against certain plant parasites, keeping therefore pests away from our fruit, vegetable and ornamental plants. Not only that, they can also keep annoying and biting insects away from us, our families, and our pets. Most are herbs, so we can quickly start growing a few. Just as the fragrance and taste of some of them is pleasant or unpleasant to us, the same is true for many pests that would harm our crops and ourselves, as is the case…

BASIC GUIDE TO WORM COMPOSTING

Freak of Natural Staff

  As Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier summarized in the 1700s, “Nothing is created, nothing is destroyed, everything is transformed”. Fortunately, there are those who still today base their business on the concept of circular economy, transforming waste into a resource. Why not use earthworms to decompose our organic waste and produce a valuable fertilizer, reducing their disposal costs, as well as the resulting environmental damage? Worm composting is the biological process of valorization of organic matter that makes use of the work of earthworms, in addition to that of microorganisms present…

MAKING TINCTURES AND CANNABIS EXTRACTIONS

Freak of Natural Staff

  Cannabis growers often find themselves, after harvesting and pruning the inflorescences of their plants, with many leaves that are poor in resin that they don’t know what to do. Leaves have much less THC level then buds and they’re not worth smoking. However, there are several ways we can use these leaves. Cannabinoids are compounds that are soluble in alcohol or fat. So there are basically two types of extractions possible here: those made with alcohol and those made with fatty substances such oils and butter. All extracts can…

3 NATURAL REPELLENTS FOR YOUR ORGANIC GARDEN

Freak of Natural Staff

  All plants can be attacked at some point by parasites, whether on the balcony, in our garden or greenhouse. Applying chemical pesticides is just as if not more harmful than the parasites themselves, both for the environment than for our health. The good news is that we can take care of our plants and protect them from parasites attacks with simple and inexpensive natural remedies, respecting the environment, plants and ourselves. PLANTS  PARASITES Before saving our plants from the attack of parasites, we should understand which parasite it is. The…

BEST ORGANIC FERTILIZERS FOR HEMP PLANTS

Freak of Natural Staff

  Organic fertilizers are first of all the most respectful for the environment, as well as safe for the plants and us. Organic fertilizers are unlikely to damage the plant when given in excess, while this is rather common and often happen using chemical fertilizers. It’s essential to provide plants with the essential nutrients they need and fertilize. Many novice growers tend to use industrial fertilizers in abundance resulting in serious problems and in same case the death of their plants. Plants in general are more tolerant with organic fertilizers,…

HUMUS: What is it, How to Make it

Freak of Natural Staff

  Humus is nothing more than soil particularly rich in nutrients that are easily assimilated by the plant immediately. It is a true concentrate of elements such as carbon, nitrogen, iron, phosphorus, calcium and manganese, which are essential for the thriving and healthy growth of vegetation. Furthermore, by increasing the water retention capacity of the soil, humus makes it even more fertile. Biologically, humus acts as a source of energy for the development of microorganisms; without microorganisms humus would not exist, and finally without humus, life on our planet as…