PERMACULTURE
Permaculture doesn't just focus on plants and animals, but on all organisms in the ecosystem. Most important, in fact, is the microbiology of the soil. There are many ways we use this essential key to life for peoples benefits...growing fruits and vegetables is the obvious. Under the ground are organisms that help process nutrients and minerals for plants. There is a ecology that is alive in healthy soil that can digests the waste from the surface, turning decaying matter into nutrient substrate.
Garden grown Winecap, 2022. Digital Photograph.
One essential player in the wild west of the soil are the many species of fungi. They are the only organisms that can efficiently break down the lignin in wood, and are the powerhouse organisms that turn wood chips into something other organisms can utilize. There are suggestions that fungi have a symbiotic relationship with some species of trees and plants, can provide an aerobic environment that inhibits harmful bacteria and microbes, and they can provide a source of food for insects, animals and humans.
PRODUCE
There are many species of fungi that will populate woodchips, but I'm not sure there is an easier one than the Winecap Mushroom. Stropharia rugosoannulata is a gilled mushroom that grows on woodchips, straw or any woody material. When picked young with a deep purple color, they cook and taste much like baby Portobello mushrooms.
These ones popped up this spring after several dense rains. The mycelium, the white webbing in the soil is like the body of fungi. I introduced some of it into freshly applied woodchips in my garden last autumn, and now we get to see the results.
There are more edible mushrooms than deadly ones to ingest. Nonetheless it is important that every mushroom is properly identified before eating, and that all wild or garden grown mushrooms should be cooked first.
Garden grown Winecap II (above), III (below), 2022. Digital Photograph.
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