The Mushroom Cultivator: A Practical Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home

This book needs no review it is the mushroom bible a must for all serious growers!

Contrary to what many cultivation cognoscenti repeatedly say, this book is not the `bible' of mushroom cultivation. Although the amount of information in this book is impressive, it is limited to a handful of species, and gives exact growth parameters for a few select mushrooms, principally those belonging to Agaricus, Pleurotus, Psilocybe/Panaeolus, and Stropharia. It should also be noted that while some species, such as Pleurotus and Agaricus are relatively easy to cultivate, others such as Stropharia and Psilocybe/Panaeolus may be difficult to cultivate even under the most favorable conditions. As many of the topics in the book are more appropriate for the small mushroom farm, the book is anything but practical for home-based cultivation. As a result, using this book as a basis for hobby cultivation will more than likely take the fun out of cultivation entirely.That said, the book explains the science behind mushroom cultivation very well, but places considerable emphasis on composting and Agaricus/Psilocybe production. The emphasis on Agaricus is understandable, as it is a commercially cultivated mushroom with mass appeal, but Psilocybe species are covered in a bit too much detail for my taste. More lab techniques are presented in this book than in Stamet's Growing Gourmet Mushrooms, and the authors provide detailed info on starting cultures from scratch, spawn maintenance and propagation, as well as setting up your own lab. One very strong selling point of the book is the authors' elaboration on the importance of good environmental control and how to achieve it, although again, the information on this topic would be more appropriate for a farm than a home. The authors also include two very detailed chapters giving information on invertebrate (insect) and microbial pests/contaminants and provide an excellent chapter on trouble-shooting during cultivation, focusing in particular on microbial pests/contaminants. The book includes a fairly good run-down on cultivation using non-composted substrates, but it could be expanded to include more substrates, more cultivation strategies, and more mushroom species that grow well on non-composted substrates. However, Stamets and Chilton primarily refer to varieties of alder, which is readily available in riparian and montaine habitats in the Pacific Northwest, and while they do provide the reader with material properties on other suitable hardwood substrates such as oak, beech, and birch in an appendix, a future edition should endeavor to show the reader the same techniques using those substrates. The authors end the book with a chapter that briefly explains the fundamentals of genetics and reproduction of edible mushrooms. The book's appendices contain invaluable information such as the construction of air and environmental systems, the composition of various potential substrates, data collection records and conversion tables, all of which do much to enhance its appeal to mushroom farmers. Finally, the book also includes a comprehensive and understandable glossary of key terms, a detailed bibliography, and a comprehensive index.Essentially, the book's emphasis is on those mushroom species that can be grown with ease on compost with a few commercial species, such as shiitake, enoki, and oyster thrown in to round out the mix. You really have to look elsewhere for more detailed information on the medicinal properties of mushrooms and mushroom growing resources. Additionally, I found the absence of good, reliable economic data on mushroom cultivation, especially from the small farm or business standpoint to be lacking in both of Stamet's texts. While this text in particular was very comprehensive when it came mushroom science, I found myself looking to Stamet's Growing Gourmet Mushrooms for historical, cultural, taxonomic and medicinal information on edibles. Additionally, Growing Gourmet Mushrooms emphasized the edibles more, while this book played up the hallucinogenic mushrooms. Finally, better quality pictures, especially those in color and high resolution, would add significant value to this book.In sum, while the average hobby cultivator just embarking on mushroom growing may find the information a bit too complicated, those looking to turn their hobby into a small farm venture will find it to be invaluable. To fully employ the techniques and methods presented in this book, the aspiring cultivator would have to invest a considerable amount of time and money. As such, I believe that this book is an excellent complement to a small farm operation. Those individuals looking to embark on hobby mushroom growing should first read Hajo Hadeler's Medicinal Mushrooms You Can Grow, and Paul Stamet's Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms. Once the hobbyist is thoroughly familiar with the topic and the ins and outs of micro-scale (home-based) cultivation, I would strongly recommend that he or she pick up this book. As such, I see this as being more for folks who are serious about running a small farm or mushroom business, as most hobby growers would not even take the trouble to set up their own lab, or even maintain starter cultures beyond grain spawn. Thus, I recommend that this book be bought only after more basic information on mushrooms and their cultivation has been fully acquired.

A very in depth and thorough book not meant for he beginner

Well-packaged and arrived in perfect condition. So excited for this book. Best bible you can find.

A book will never tell you that your stupid, it will merely infer that you might need to read more. After reading so many crazy reviews that had more to do with a person's personal preference rather the quality and craftsmanship for the book it's self. Mushroom cultivation overall is a complex process if you wish to understand it. That being said if you want a seat of your pants, a bare minimum super stupid easy book on how to grow one kind of mushroom right here and right now without an effort this is not it. You cannot buy that kind of easy in this kind of book. That kind of easy comes from perfecting a technic over years and then selling the end process as a product.There are a ton of kits on the market where all you have to do is add water, and your done.What this book is one of the better mycologists in the field talking to you openly about their discoveries, how they make things grow and understanding how to diagnosis things if it all goes wrong. Most mushroom growers just like brewing have a ton of hard-won trade secrets, they generally do not share because this has been bread and butter for families going back generations. Paul tells you not only the science but the way of doing the technic which will not only help you grow what he already has but potentially how to grow other types of mushrooms others may not. Few will truly show you behind the curtain how their craft is done, Paul Stamets thank you for your book.Armed with knowledge like this perhaps we can move forward in mushroom cultivation. There is so much we still do not know.

This book really is practical and provides all of the basics of growing mushrooms. My book has so many bookmarks and post-its for easy reference. Great for students of mycology and growers of mushrooms! Makes a great gift for that person who said "I think I want to grow my own mushrooms..." but hasn't taken any steps to getting there.

There's a very good reason that Paul Stamets is such a respected authority on mushrooms-- the man knows his stuff! Amateur mycologists are lucky to have a trustworthy source of information, especially one who doesn't shy away from controversy (witness the several pages devoted to Psilocybes in this book!).This is a comprehensive "how to" manual targeted at the amateur enthusiast. Stamets uses clinical and scientific terminology throughout most of the text, which can be frustrating if you don't speak his language, but which is also very precise. Some of the techniques described in this book are a little expensive for the amateur, which disappointed me just a bit since there are numerous inexpensive work-arounds available, but there's also little doubt that the methods presented in this book are the best available means to grow and harvest decent quantities of mushrooms with a minimal amount spoilage or contamination. Even if you're like me-- living on a budget, placing Stamet's methods beyond your means-- the principles in this book are 100% applicable to any mushroom operation, no matter how small.If you're even thinking about cultivating mushrooms, this is the one book that you probably can't do without.

Paul Stamets isn't referred to as the fungi guru for nothing. His knowledge and books should be compulsory learning in schools to educate young minds - the leaders and decision makers of tomorrow. It's imperative the knowledge/work regarding the importance of fungi in the ongoing maintenance of healthy ecosystems continue. Fungi's many medicinal attributes may be far broader than imagined. Books like this should be compulsory reading.

This is one of those books that I wish I had found sooner

A book of excellence with regards to growing mushrooms and great illustrations. Worth the price

If it is written by Stamets you cannot go wrong.

This is not a 'guide' book. This is a very extensive document. Excellent for the mushroom grower enthusiast.