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Easy Guide To Growing Mushrooms At Home

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Growing mushrooms at home are so easy, it’s practically no sweat! Although mushrooms are a hot foraging item and are sold widely in stores, you don’t need to go through all that trouble and expense. Grow your own mushrooms at home, even in winter!

Growing Mushrooms On Your Homestead

Looking for winter gardening ideas led me to mushroom growing. Few gardening tasks can be done in the winter and growing mushrooms stand out. First, it’s really easy to grow, considering they’re a healthy treat and a family favorite. Second, the period from late winter to early spring is perfect for mushroom growing. And lastly, I’ve found people making extra cash from it which got me set on it. Learn how to grow mushrooms at home with this helpful infographic from Fix.com.

Easy Guide To Growing Mushrooms At Home InfographicEasy Guide To Growing Mushrooms At Home Infographic
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Make Room For Mushrooms | Growing Fungi At Home

The Mushroom Rundown

  • Cap
  • Gills (Spores)
  • Ring
  • Stalk
  • Volva
  • Mycelium

Mushroom spores exit the gills and land in the soil to form new “monokaryotic” mycelium.

When one “monokaryotic” mycelia connect with another, the two form a new “dikaryotic” mycelium, which can now produce mushrooms.

Four Grow-At-Home Mushroom Varieties

1. Blue Oyster

Blue Oyster | Easy Guide To Growing Mushrooms At HomeBlue Oyster | Easy Guide To Growing Mushrooms At Home
image via spiritelixir

Tastes like chicken! Has thick clustered stalks. Love the taste of chicken but prefer not to take on the once live animals? Then the blue oyster mushroom is for you. Plus it’s got a nice and unique color to it, you’ll love the variance. Check out this mouth-watering oyster mushroom recipe here.

2. Lion’s Mane

Lion's Mane | Easy Guide To Growing Mushrooms At HomeLion's Mane | Easy Guide To Growing Mushrooms At Home
image via lionsmanemushroom

Lobster or shrimp flavor with white cascading spines. Either hate it for its straight out of an alien movie look or love it for its soft angel-like hair strands. Either way, its taste will remind you of the sweet and seafood-like taste of scallops, you’ll love it even more.

3. Portabella

Portabella | Easy Guide To Growing Mushrooms At Home

Portabella | Easy Guide To Growing Mushrooms At Home

Beefy bold flavor with large flat caps. You’ve probably ordered meals at the restaurant with Portabella mushrooms on it. Did you like the meaty taste to this mushroom variety? Good thing they’re one of the easy-to-grow mushrooms, especially for beginners.

4. Wine Caps

Wine Caps | Easy Guide To Growing Mushrooms At HomeWine Caps | Easy Guide To Growing Mushrooms At Home
image via becrazy4god

Potato and wine flavor with large round red caps. Wine cap mushrooms may be a gardener’s favorite as they can be grown outdoors even with other late fall vegetables. They can grow in a vegetable bed with wood chip mulch. And you will love the red wine and potato taste to it.

DIY Mushroom Kit

Step 1: Choose a container: plastic trash bag, a plastic container, or laundry basket. Sterilize with bleach and water.

Step 2: Remove stems from store-bought mushrooms and place caps gill side down on a piece of wax paper. Wait 24 hours for gills to release spores.

Step 3: Assemble mushroom growing medium and add to container, 3 equal parts of peat moss, potting soil, and a sterile compost.

*specific mushroom needs may vary

Step 4: Add mushroom spores you have collected. Cover the top of the growing container with clear plastic wrap. Poke holes in the plastic wrap to allow for additional airflow.

Step 5: Keep soil moist and between 60° and 80° F. Harvest mushrooms in 10-15 days.

Benefits Of Mushrooms

  • Mushrooms are an immune system booster
  • Mushrooms contain more potassium than bananas.
  • Mushrooms have a savory umami flavor profile.

Watch this video from 100thMonkeyMushrooms for another comprehensive tutorial on how to grow mushrooms at home using your own substrate, a container, and a mushroom garden kit:

It cannot be denied mushroom is an essential food item. From Chinese to Italian restaurants to our regular homes, mushrooms play starring roles in the menu. Well, it’s no wonder some mushrooms are some of the most expensive culinary items. Transform your ordinary meals into a culinary delight with your own fresh mushrooms. I hope these mushroom growing tips and ideas were helpful to you just as they were to me!

Isn’t it great to be growing your own mushrooms at home? Let us know about your own mushroom growing plans in the comments section below.

Up Next: How to Grow All The Food You Need In Your Backyard

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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published on December 2016 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

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Self Sufficiency

NYC Adds Nearly 4,000 People Who Never Tested Positive To Coronavirus Death Tolls

New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll Tuesday, bringing coronavirus-related deaths in the city to around 10,000 people.

The city decided to add 3,700 people to its death tolls, who they “presumed” to have died from the virus, according to a report from The New York Times. The additions increased the death toll in the U.S. by 17%, according to the Times report, and included people who were suffering from symptoms of the virus, such as intense coughing and a fever.

The report stated that Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio decided over the weekend to change the way the city is counting deaths.

“In the heat of battle, our primary focus has been on saving lives,” de Blasio press secretary Freddi Goldstein told the Times.“As soon as the issue was raised, the mayor immediately moved to release the data.”

The post New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll appeared first on Daily Caller

This Article Was Originally Posted On dailycaller.com Read the Original Article here

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Self Sufficiency

How To Make Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut In A Mason Jar

The thing about homesteading is you get to create your own ingredient right from scratch! Cheese, yogurt, butter and now sauerkraut, a delightfully sour and crunchy ingredient you can use on your meals — or consume by itself — while on a homestead, or while facing this health crisis!

This homemade sauerkraut is a great meal because it has a long shelf life. You can either make plain sauerkraut or mix it with herbs and spices. In this tutorial let us make Lacto-fermented sauerkraut that preserves all the good probiotics in a jar, good for your guts.

So how to make sauerkraut in a mason jar?

RELATED: How To Make Buttermilk On Your Homestead

Delicious Sauerkraut Recipe Every Homesteader Should Know

Why Make Sauerkraut?

|

Not only does sauerkraut spoil a long time, but it is also a meal in itself, and it is also easy to make! You don’t need to be an expert cook, all you need to do is follow these simple steps.

So let us get started. Here are the steps in making sauerkraut in a mason jar.

Ingredients:

  • 1 head of cabbage or 2 1/2 lbs cabbage
  • 1 tablespoon of salt

Tools Needed:

  • knife
  • bowl
  • mason jar
  • smaller jar
  • rubber band

Step 1: Wash & Clean the Tools & Ingredients



Wash all the equipment and utensils you need. Wash your hands too.

You don’t want to mix your sauerkraut with bad bacteria, anything that is going to make you sick.

Next, remove the faded leaves from your cabbage. Cut off the roots and the parts that don’t seem fresh.

Step 2: Cut the Cabbage Into Quarters & Slice Into Strips



Cut your cabbage into quarters and remove the core. Then, slice it into strips.

Step 3: Place in a Bowl & Sprinkle With Salt



Put the stripped cabbage into a bowl. Sprinkle the cabbage with 1 tablespoon of salt.

TIP: Use canning salt or sea salt. Iodized salt will make it taste different and may not ferment the cabbage.

RELATED: Homemade Yogurt Recipe

Step 4: Massage the Cabbage



Massage the cabbage for five minutes or more to get the juice out.

TIP: You’ll know it’s ready when you see a bit of juice at the bottom of the bowl and will look similar to coleslaw.

Step 5: Press Cabbage Into the Mason Jar



Add the cabbage to the mason jar gradually. Press it in hard to allow the juice to come out. Do this every time you add about a handful of cabbage.

IMPORTANT: Food should be covered by the liquid to promote fermentation. Add any excess liquid from the bowl to the jar.

Step 6: Press a Smaller Jar Into the Mason Jar



You want to squeeze every ounce of that juice from the cabbage. To do this place the mason jar in a bowl and get a smaller jar.

Fill it with water or marble to make it heavy. Press it into the bigger mason jar. Allow any juices to rise to the surface.

Step 7: Cover the Jars With Cloth & Tie With Rubber Band



Leave the small jar on. To keep your jars clean from annoying insects and irritating debris, cover your jars with a clean cloth. Then, use a rubber band to tie the cloth and the jars together, putting them in place.

Step 8: Set Aside & Check Daily

Set it aside in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight. Check the water level daily. It should always be above the cabbage.

Step 9: Taste Your Sauerkraut & Keep at Cool Temperatures

Homemade Sauerkraut Cumin Juniper | How To Make Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut In A Mason Jar

After about five days, you can taste your sauerkraut. If the taste is to your liking, tightly cover it with the lid and store in the fridge or cellar.

NOTE: If after five days it’s still not your desired taste, leave it for a few more days. This will allow the fermentation process to continue.

You can now enjoy your sauerkraut in a mason jar. Enjoy its goodness! You can use it as a side dish or mix it with your favorite sandwich.

Things to Remember in Making Sauerkraut

  • Store away from direct sunlight and drafts.
  • Colder weather will make the process longer. Spring is the best time to make them since the warmth helps activate the fermentation.
  • Always make sure that the cabbage is below the water level during the entire fermentation process.
  • If the water level decreases during the fermentation process, you can make a brine and add it.

Let us watch this video from Kristina Seleshanko on how to make delicious Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar!

So there you have it! Making Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar is as easy as slicing the cabbage into strips. Remember that as long it remains unopened, your sauerkraut can last for months. Best of all, you can partner this sauerkraut in many recipes.

What do you think of this homemade recipe? Share your best sauerkraut recipe in the comments section below!

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Self Sufficiency

9 SPRING VEGETABLES FOR YOUR GARDEN

Having plants in the house will bring peace to people. Having a little garden with vegetables is even better! You can grow these vegetables in your backyard garden easily as well!

RELATED: Microgreens Growing Guide

In this article:

  1. Tomato
  2. Eggplant
  3. Beet
  4. Spinach
  5. Pea
  6. Carrot
  7. Radish
  8. Cauliflower
  9. Asparagus

Growing veggies in your garden will give you an opportunity to understand what you eat and value it more. Early spring is when most vegetables are being planted. Keep reading to learn about 9 spring vegetables that anyone can grow in their garden!

Tomato

Tomato is the most popular garden vegetable in the States! There are different varieties to choose from. Tomatoes need to be planted in early spring because they won’t survive a frost.

Because tomatoes are consumed daily, try adding them to your garden! They’re not difficult to grow either.

Eggplant

Eggplants are known to have low-calorie, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Plus, they are delicious! So why not plant them in your garden?

Eggplants shouldn’t be planted too early because they won’t be able to survive a frost. So you could consult an expert in your area before you plant your eggplants.

Beets

Beets are known to be a superfood for its various health benefits. They’re easier to grow in the garden, usually around late March or early April.

If the weather is always cool, beets will keep getting bigger and bigger. Once the weather starts to warm up, you’ll need to harvest them, or they’ll go to waste.

Spinach

Spinach is a delicious early spring veggie, and it’s also very beneficial for health. And it’s not difficult to grow spinach in your garden!

Spinach needs cold weather to grow. Getting spinach to grow is easy, but keeping it growing will require some extra care.

Pea

Peas are usually planted in late April. Peas will die in freezing temperatures, but they also won’t survive the heat either. So make sure you plant your peas in early spring.

Peas are widely used in many different ways, and there are different types of peas. The soil you’ll be planting your peas should be suitable for them, so make sure you ask while buying seeds.

Carrot

There are different types of carrots, but regardless of their size and color, it’s a fact that carrots are both delicious and rich in vitamins.

They’re root vegetables, so with proper sun and watering, they can be picked up as baby carrots as well.

Radish

A radish is an excellent option for beginners because it doesn’t require too much care. Radish is easy to harvest.

Radish grows fast, so it’s better to keep an eye on it after a few weeks. Radish usually is grown pest-free, but there’s always the chance of unwanted guests, so watch out for worms. Radish can be eaten raw or can be added to garnish recipes.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower isn’t the easiest vegetable to grow at home, but it is very popular.

Cauliflower grows better in colder weather, so before you plant it, consider the climate of your garden. Cauliflower can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is known to be very beneficial for health.

Asparagus

Freshly picked, tender asparagus is very delicious!

Asparagus plants get more productive with each harvest, and mature asparagus harvest can last for months! Make sure you plant them at the correct time, or else they might go to waste.

All the vegetables listed above are great for your healthy diet, and it’s fun to watch them grow. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to grow your own veggies and eat healthy this spring!

So tell us which veggies will you be growing this spring? Tell us in the comments section!

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