MYCELIUM 1 | INITIAL THOUGHTS

ZACH TK

MATERIALS

1) ‘Back to the Roots’ oyster mushroom kit. The ‘mini’ kit will do. These are readily available on
Amazon and there are equivalent kits sold in China and elsewhere. There are similar, locally
made, kits too, available at farmers’ markets. The main thing is to get a kit that contains oyster
mushrooms, the white Pleurotus ostreatus being the most common variety. Oyster mushrooms
thrive in a variety of conditions.
2) Used surgical masks (several). Remove strings, nose wire and cut up with scissors into
reasonably small pieces.
3) Used coffee grounds. Around a cup. May contain leftover paper coffee filters
4) Shredded paper (optional). Any kind will do.
5) Two identical plastic meat trays. Clear is best but any kind will do. These will serve as the mold
for your tile. Make sure they are well washed!
6) Clear plastic bag or plastic wrap (for keeping your mycelium humid)
7) Large bowl or bucket with some kind of cover. I used a dinner plate
8) Disposable gloves and spray bottle of rubbing alcohol. (Optional but recommended)
9) A pot or kettle to boil water

COMMENTS:

1)Like the Kombucha leather the ingredients involved in creating the Mycelium are actually quite simple.

2)The materials warrant it’s a matter of first collecting the initial mycelium content and then the means to grow is actually again found within household items.

3)Additionally as it says in the brief, these oyster mushrooms, are fast growing, can grow in diverse conditions, and can be combined with a variety of forms of waste to create, new, useful forms.

4)Mycelium feeds on carbon-based materials

QUESTIONS:

1)Can Mycelium grown with the wrong waste become toxic?

2)What type of waste (synthetic & organic) is applicable to the creation of new healthy forms?

3)How odorous is this? Should any precautions be taken in the case of smell?

PHOTOS [EXAMPLES FROM BRIEF]