Vegetarian Lobster?

The first of our mushrooms to fruit enough for us to try some were the lion's mane, so we harvested a small one today to share.  Aren't they cool looking?

Eric had read that these mushrooms can taste like lobster, but we were both skeptical.  I mean, that's just weird, right?  Eric actually has spent his life not fond of mushrooms, so after he sauteed them up in a pan with a bit of butter and a touch of salt and pepper, I was the first to try.

Would you believe me if I tell you they taste like lobster?!  They totally do!  My mouth is watering thinking about it.

It's vegetarian (vegan if you don't use butter), low cal, low point, naturally grown & chemical free lobster!  Kosher too, for those who are so inclined.

Even better?  Check out this article from the Huffington Post.  Researchers have been experimenting with lion's mane's apparent ability to regenerate nerves, improve memory and cognition, and boost mood.

Mind blown!

Oh, and the pink oysters?  Yeah, they're going to be harvested this weekend, for sure.

Mmmmm... Mushrooms!

Soon, anyway.  Probably in a couple weeks, in fact!  Eric and I decided, after buying a shiitake log at the local garlic festival, to become mushroom farmers.  Yes, really.  Bees and honey, chickens and eggs, and now mushrooms.  I've always loved mushrooms, but until starting to read about them, neither one of us realized just how healthy they are.  It's pretty incredible.

So we started with shiitakes, pink and blue oyster mushrooms, and lions mane.

The blue oysters became fully innoculated with mycelium most quickly, so yesterday Eric and I built the fruiting chamber, sort of a greenhouse that's primarily about keeping the right level of humidity.

We built a PVC frame around metal shelving, and then covered the whole thing in a plastic tarp, leaving a door of sorts, so we can get in and work with the mushrooms.

We set up the humidifier with the electronic sensor Eric built, and a light on a timer, and then Eric cut slits in the fruiting bags.  See all that white all mixed in with the coffee grounds?  That's the mycelium, the body of the mushroom plant!  I know it looks kind of ick, but what comes from it is totally worth it.

And now we're just letting the humidifier do its thing.  Can't wait to watch them fruit!