Fungiculture involves growing and harvesting food, medicines and other valuable products from mushrooms and fungi.
Fungiculture relates to mushrooms which are the sporophores of fungi. They are very different to plants and mastering their cultivation can provide diversity for subsistence or permaculture growers. Unlike plants, they do not rely on sunlight in order to develop (photosynthesis). Instead, fungi draw their nutrients required for growth from the medium in which they inhabit. This is done using a biochemical decomposition process. This unusual process adds productivity diversity and may offer benefits in locations or times of year when aquaponics and hydroponics are not suitable.
In order to grow mushrooms effectively, the right balance must be found between: Grow substrate type and volume, Spawn (starter culture), temperature and humidity.
In fungiculture there are two primary methods for small and medium sized mushroom production. Outdoor logs or beds, which most closely mimic natural processes. However, success can be unpredictable and determined by seasonal conditions.
But by far the most common method used today is indoor growing trays or bags. This usually allows total control over the growing environment ensuring high yield and year-round harvests, ideal if you need to feed your family or supply your customers!
Find out more about the sustainable food growing methods we incorporate to design our home food growing kits and commercial systems.
