January rose. Copyright Ann Carranza, January 2011
January frosts
roses before sharp pruning
cuts to the heartwood
Ate the mushrooms
Mushrooms-in-a-kit just before cutting for dinner. Copyright Ann Carranza, Jan. 2012
We had the mushrooms grown from the kit last night for dinner. They were delicious. I do have to say, though, that though it was exciting, only a small portion of the kit grew out the mushrooms. They have started in a couple of spots but the areas don’t seem to be growing.
There is still the other side, though, to grow more mushrooms. I had a lot of fun and it certainly didn’t take very long!
Mushrooms and asparagus. Copyright Ann Carranza, Jan. 2012
Last night, I roasted them with asparagus and it was a fresh and tasty treat.
New Year’s poppy
Recognizable mushrooms-day 2
Mushroom kit-day 8. Copyright Ann Carranza, December 2011
If I count from the first day of soaking, today is day 8 of my mushroom-in-a-box growing kit. Know that this kit is touted for “kids,” so it must mean that I’m pretty childlike (and I’m fine with that!)
If I count from the first day of recognizable mushrooms, then today is just day 2. Isn’t this just great? They’re growing so quickly and splendidly. I’m a happy indoor grower.
Garlic in the trough. The neighborhood cats think it's a big litter box. Copyright Ann Carranza, December 2011
Outdoors, the garlic is looking pretty good, despite the dry December (and the doggone neighbors’ cats that thinks the garlic trough is his/her litter box).
Is this the guilty party? Copyright Ann Carranza, December 2011
The rest of the fall gardens I wanted to plant didn’t happen, except for bulbs we’ve planted in pots.
More mushrooms
Mushrooms on the microwave. Copyright Ann Carranza, December 2011
My favorite gift this holiday season was an “oyster mushrooms in a box” kit.
On Dec. 23, 2011, I opened the box, followed the directions and started soaking the block the mushrooms grown on–which is created from sterilized coffee grounds.
After soaking for two days (it was supposed to be one but I didn’t completely immerse the block in a bucket, like it said), I shook off the bag, replaced it in its cardboard box and put the box on top of the microwave. The box can’t be in direct sunlight, is supposed to have good air circulation and must be misted twice a day.
Since I use my microwave several times a day, I am misting more frequently, because I can see when it gets dry-ish.
Just two days ago, Dec. 28, I started to see larger physical changes and the “seeds” in the grow medium, along with white fungus along the sides of the cutout bag. Today, there are recognizable mushrooms growing!
What a quick growing project! After I harvest the mushroom from the first side, I repeat the process on the other side, and will get a second harvest.