Sarah Brown
A-Horizon Ventures, founded by Justin McDavid, is a company that enables gardeners to grow mushrooms at home. McDavid's goal is to promote fungi as a tool for regenerating damaged soil and sequestering carbon. A-Horizon sells packets of spawn and inoculated logs through urban farm stores BioFuel Oasis and Pollinate. Species include maitake, shiitake, blue oyster, elm oyster, lion's mane, and more. McDavid also travels to people's gardens to inoculate fallen trees and teaches classes on mushroom growing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder | Justin McDavid |
| Goal | Promote fungi as a tool for regenerating damaged soil and sequestering carbon |
| Mushroom types | Maitake, shiitake, blue oyster, elm oyster, phoenix oyster, trainwrecker, bear’s head, nameko, turkey tail, lion’s mane |
| Mushroom spawn | Sold in packets through urban farm stores BioFuel Oasis and Pollinate |
| Mushroom growth time | Smaller logs may produce mushrooms in a year or two, while thicker logs take longer |
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What You'll Learn
A-Horizon sells packets of spawn and inoculated logs
A-Horizon Ventures, founded by Justin McDavid, is a company that enables gardeners to grow mushrooms at home. The company promotes the use of fungi as a tool for regenerating damaged soil and sequestering carbon.
To start your own mushroom patch, you need a log, spawn, and a damp, shady place. You can drill holes in the log, push in pieces of spawn-soaked dowel, and seal the holes with wax. Smaller logs may produce mushrooms in a year or two, while thicker logs will take longer.
McDavid also provides mushroom inoculation services for fallen trees and teaches classes on mushroom cultivation.
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Mushrooms can be grown at home
Justin McDavid, the founder of A-Horizon Ventures, promotes the use of fungi as a tool for regenerating damaged soil and sequestering carbon. The company enables gardeners to grow mushrooms at home by providing mushroom spawn, which is mycelium that has been grown on small pieces of wooden dowel.
To start your own mushroom patch, you will need a log, spawn, and a damp, shady place. You can source logs from tree services, which are usually happy to provide them. Drill a series of holes all around the log, push in pieces of spawn-soaked dowel, and seal the holes with wax. Stack the logs in a shady part of the garden, and you've created a tiny ecosystem that may produce mushrooms for years. Smaller logs may produce mushrooms in a year or two, while thicker logs will take longer.
A-Horizon sells packets of spawn and inoculated logs through urban farm stores BioFuel Oasis and Pollinate. Species available include maitake, shiitake, blue oyster, elm oyster, trainwrecker, bear's head, nameko, turkey tail, and lion's mane.
In addition to providing mushroom-growing supplies, McDavid will also travel to people's gardens or land to inoculate fallen trees in situ. He also teaches classes on mushroom growing throughout the East Bay.
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Mushrooms can help regenerate damaged soil
Justin McDavid, the founder of A-Horizon Ventures, promotes the use of fungi as a tool for regenerating damaged soil and sequestering carbon. Mushrooms can be grown at home by gardeners to improve soil health and benefit the environment. To start a mushroom patch, one needs a log, mushroom spawn, and a damp, shady place. The mushroom spawn is mycelium that has been grown on small pieces of wooden dowel. Holes are drilled into the log, the spawn-soaked dowel is inserted, and the holes are then sealed with wax. Mushrooms can also be grown on tree stumps. The edible maitake mushroom, for example, will cause the roots of an oak tree to rot, while the edible phoenix oyster mushroom will devour a pine stump.
A-Horizon Ventures sells packets of spawn and inoculated logs through urban farm stores BioFuel Oasis and Pollinate. Species available include maitake, shiitake, blue oyster, elm oyster, trainwrecker, bear's head, nameko, turkey tail, and lion's mane.
The process of growing mushrooms involves cutting deep into logs with a chainsaw and adding fungal mycelium, a thready white mass that intertwines with the wood and breaks it down. After a few years, edible mushrooms will appear. This process has a profound effect on the health of the soil in a garden.
In addition to their ability to regenerate damaged soil, mushrooms offer other benefits. For example, they can be used as a sustainable way to get rid of tree stumps. They can also provide a source of food, as many mushrooms are edible and nutritious. Furthermore, mushrooms can sequester carbon, helping to mitigate climate change.
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Mushrooms can be used to get rid of tree stumps
Mushrooms can be used as a sustainable way to get rid of tree stumps. The process involves the use of fungal mycelium, which is a thready white mass that intertwines with the wood and breaks it down. This method not only removes the stump but also benefits the health of the surrounding soil and the environment.
To start a mushroom patch, you need a log, mushroom spawn, and a damp, shady place. The log can be obtained from pruning or cutting down a tree, and it should be cut into 4-foot sections. Next, drill a series of holes all around the log and push in pieces of spawn-soaked dowel, which is mycelium that has been grown on small pieces of wood. Finally, seal the holes with wax.
Different species of mushrooms can be used to target specific types of trees. For example, the edible maitake mushroom can cause the roots of an oak tree to rot, while the phoenix oyster mushroom will devour a pine stump. Other mushroom species available include shiitake, blue oyster, elm oyster, trainwrecker, bear's head, nameko, turkey tail, and lion's mane.
The time it takes for mushrooms to grow and break down the log depends on the size of the log. Smaller logs may produce mushrooms in a year or two, while thicker logs will take longer. With proper care, a tiny mushroom ecosystem can produce for years, leaving a rich patch of soil at the end.
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A-Horizon teaches people how to grow mushrooms
A-Horizon Ventures, started by Justin McDavid, teaches people how to grow mushrooms. The company promotes the use of fungi as a tool for regenerating damaged soil and sequestering carbon. McDavid educates people about the benefits of mushrooms and provides them with the tools and knowledge to cultivate their own mushroom patches.
To start a mushroom patch, McDavid advises that you only need a log, mushroom spawn, and a damp, shady place. The mushroom spawn is the mycelium that has been grown on small wooden dowels. People can obtain logs from tree services, which are usually happy to provide them for free. Once you have your log, you need to drill a series of holes around it, insert the pieces of spawn-soaked dowel, and then seal the holes with wax.
After preparing the log, it should be placed in a shady part of the garden, where it will produce mushrooms and create a tiny ecosystem. The time it takes for mushrooms to grow depends on the size of the log, with smaller logs producing mushrooms in a year or two, while thicker logs may take longer.
A-Horizon Ventures sells packets of spawn and inoculated logs through urban farm stores BioFuel Oasis and Pollinate. They offer a variety of mushroom species, including maitake, shiitake, blue oyster, elm oyster, trainwrecker, bear's head, nameko, turkey tail, and lion's mane. In addition to providing materials, McDavid also offers in-person instruction by travelling to people's gardens to help inoculate fallen trees and teach classes in the East Bay area. Through these educational initiatives, A-Horizon Ventures is spreading knowledge about the benefits of fungi and empowering individuals to grow their own mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
A-Horizon Ventures is a company that enables gardeners to grow mushrooms at home.
A-Horizon Ventures sells packets of spawn and inoculated logs through urban farm stores. Gardeners can choose from various mushroom species, including maitake, shiitake, and lion's mane.
Mushrooms are a sustainable way to get rid of tree stumps and promote soil regeneration. They can also be used to break down and remove old trees from gardens.
Justin McDavid founded A-Horizon Ventures to promote fungi as a tool for regenerating damaged soil and sequestering carbon.
A-Horizon Ventures products are available at urban farm stores BioFuel Oasis and Pollinate, located in Berkeley and Oakland, California.
