Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms

This is a magnum opus of colossal proportions covering most every mushroom species conceivable for human consumption... most, I say, because I am an enthusiast of psychoactive mushroom species, and as such, I was in for a colossal let-down. I was recommended this book as a "must-have". I was told that this book contained definitive facts about growth parameters, development cycles, substrate formulas, and species characteristics. Indeed it does... just not about the mushrooms I was looking for. The only psilocybin mushroom even documented in this behemoth is psilocybe cyanescens which is known to resist indoor cultivation due to its unsatisfiable temperature requirements. Mr. Stamets is a wise man, and I've known him to say that, generally speaking, you can take the same technique for growing similar species on similar substrates and get the same results (hint, hint). However there are more straightforward texts for those of us with specific interests in specific species, and I cannot in good faith recommend this one for those purposes. So, why do I give this book five stars? The failure was mine not the author's. I should have done my research. This book is actually quite fascinating; although I don't see amateurs reading Chapter 17, and then running out to buy an autoclave. Mr. Stamets clearly envisions a readership of serious mushroom producers with industrial-sized ambitions. Prepare to encounter the "high-pressure extrusion method" and to be awed by photographs of column cultures climbing ten-feet high. You'll even learn how to convert that forgotten old barn in your backyard into a viable grow-factory. Good luck.

I have to admit, I did not know Paul Stamets was this generation's premier mycologist. After reading this volume, there is no doubt of it. He is objective, a true mycologist of the highest order, and a down-to-earth pragmatic steward of the environment. I have learned a lifetime of valuable information...both scientific as well as practical know-how from this book, (a rare feat). Not only does Stamets enthuse the reader with the miracle of possibilities in cultivating mushrooms for the environment, nutrition, (yes nutrition), and health benefits of Reishi and other mushrooms, he details how it is to be done, (by individual cultivators and/or commercial operations alike). I cannot express more to any reader of this review how important it will be to have this standard volume on your bookshelf. If you are curious about how mushrooms "work", you must own this book. If you want to have this volume as a practical guide to growing mushrooms indoors OR outdoors, buy this volume. If you are a commercial grower and you want to increase production, create your own sterile spore production facility, you must buy it. I have never met Paul Stamets, and have no vested interest in making this recommendation. However, after reading this book, I am as enthused as the author about the subject of practical mycology. I hope you will be too!

THis book will take from start to finish on the following subjects: Growing methods for each mushroom, growing media preparation, nutritional information, consumption information, purchasing sources, club sources, etc. A definite must read. Highly recomend it. Black and white pictures.

I was pleasently surprised at the overall quality of this book when I received my copy in the mail. It is chock full of photographs with an entire section in the center devoted to color photographs. It is extremely well written and presents the facts of mycology, the current limitations of the field, and interjections of personal experience. Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms is much more than just a "how to" book, it discusses the science and life cycle of mushrooms along with brief histories of mycology. It is textbook quality (BTW college textbooks go for around $100 each these days) and provides specific guides for growing choice species in the latter portion of the book. It is not an identification guide however and I recommend picking up an audobon society field guide as a companion to this source. Some basic knowledge of chemistry and agriculture will help you get the most out of this book.