{"id":9347,"date":"2021-09-13T16:20:32","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T23:20:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clallam\/?post_type=tribe_events&p=9347"},"modified":"2021-09-13T16:20:32","modified_gmt":"2021-09-13T23:20:32","slug":"green-thumb-series-mushroom-cultivation-carbon-and-soil","status":"publish","type":"tribe_events","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clallam\/event\/green-thumb-series-mushroom-cultivation-carbon-and-soil\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Thumb Series – Mushroom Cultivation, Carbon, and Soil"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Lowell
Lowell Dietz is passionate about growing fungi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Morels. Chanterelles. Portabellas. If you can\u2019t get enough mushrooms, why not try growing them yourself? Join mushroom hobbyist Lowell Dietz for a Clallam County Master Gardener Green Thumb Gardening Tips Zoom presentation on July 28th from noon \u2013 1:00 p.m. Find out more on the soil and cultivation needed for growing these fabulous fungi.<\/p>\n

Find a direct link to the Zoom presentation here.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Or join by phone: 253-215-8782<\/p>\n

Meeting ID: 920 0799 1742<\/p>\n

Passcode: 70939<\/p>\n

When Lowell first ventured into mushroom farming, he made an interesting discovery. He created a byproduct known as biochar while trying to extract more heat from wood fuel used to cook straw for mushroom cultivation. Biochar is black carbon produced from biomass sources like wood chips or plant residues. It can act like a sponge and serve as a habitat for many beneficial soil microorganisms that are known to promote soil and plant health.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mixture proved to be similar to the regenerative soil created by ancient farmers along the Amazon and its tributaries,\u201d Lowell observed. Then when he added the biochar to another natural byproduct\u2014worm castings\u2014a healthy mushroom-growing environment was born. \u201cSoil bacteria stash nutrients (normally outgassed by plants) into biochar \u2018lockers\u2019. Gardeners can use this information to create soil that does not need fertilizer,\u201d Lowell said.<\/p>\n

Lowell is a carpenter who grows oyster mushrooms; a hobby that he says pays for itself. After moving to Sequim in 2006, he learned of vermiculture\u2014the cultivation of annelid worms (such as earthworms or bloodworms) for use in composting\u2014in a Master Gardener event. He started selling composting worms in 2008 and so far, he has sold over 109,000 worms. Lowell\u2019s mushroom farm also sells plastic bags stuffed with colonized straw, or \u201cmushroom growing kits.\u201d After learning that bacteria were responsible for healing a health issue, he became a \u201cgut bacteria evangelist\u201d and determined it was his mission in life to reveal natures \u201csecrets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Green Thumb Education Series Presentations are held from 12 to 1 pm on the second and fourth Thursdays of most months. <\/span>Talks are currently only being offered by online streaming, due to current social distancing concerns with COVID-19. Please see <\/b>instructions for accessing the live stream<\/b><\/a>. Presentations and associated printed materials will be archived on the <\/b>local articles and archived presentations<\/b><\/a> portion of our website.<\/b> These events are free, but <\/span>donations<\/b><\/a> to help support the WSU Clallam County Extension Master Gardener program are appreciated.<\/span><\/p>\n\n