Review
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Booklist-
"Mushrooms 'are part of Nature's decomposers and constructors, the agent of habitat renewal, ' Cotter tells us. And
mycoremediation is the use of mushrooms to create an effective biomass that can break down environmental and industrial
pollutants. A microbiologist, mycologist, and gardener, Cotter takes a holistic approach, mindful of the
mushroom's life cycle and ecological role, in this challenging guide to the indoor and outdoor cultivation of edible
mushroom varieties. He also provides information on medicinal, industrial, and ecologically remedial applications. His
in-depth exploration extends beyond cultivation to 'healing the people and the planet.' The book's four sections cover
the fundamentals of mushroom cultivation; innovative applications and projects, including alcoholic beverages; advanced
techniques and research, including mycoremediation; and detailed descriptions of selected mushrooms. With plenty of
photographs and other illustrations and comprehensive back matter, including glossary, bibliography, list of resources
and suppliers, and index, Cotter's advanced how-to is best for those seeking serious mycological knowledge."
" Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation is a guide and inspiration for new and experienced mushroom cultivators
alike. Tradd Cotter has done a great job of combining the complexity of mushroom cultivation with the intuitive
simplicity of 'small steps.' Highly recommended for fungophiles as a great read and reference!" --Jim Gibson, past
president, Colorado Mycological Society
"Tradd Cotter has written a clear, comprehensive guide that is a gift to amateur as well as professional mushroom
growers. The pages are enlivened by Cotter's enthusiasm for the many possibilities that fungi offer, and his obvious
familiarity with growing these marvelous creatures--not just theoretical knowledge--makes the book particularly
valuable. This book opens the doors wide to a diverse and fascinating fungal world."--Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's
Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture
"Mushroom cultivation should be playing a much bigger role in our gardens and farms. Tradd Cotter's Mushroom
Farming and Mycoremediation provides low-cost, easily accessible techniques for growing mushrooms indoors and outdoors,
from home to commercial scale."--Eric Toensmeier, author of Paradise Lot and Perennial Vegetables
"This is a reference book for the next generation of DIY mycologists. It is a great practical guide to mushroom
cultivation, starting with basic concepts and building from there to mycoremediation and experimental strain
development. Tradd Cotter is a man with a mission, who has done and thought about all this a lot; he has learned to
explain it with great clarity and in a simple and well-organized manner."--Sandor Ellix Katz, fermentation revivalist
and author of The Art of Fermentation and Wild Fermentation
"Finally, an accessible resource covering a wide variety of mushroom-cultivation approaches. Tradd Cotter's book fills
an enormous need--I've been wishing for a resource like this for a long time. This is the kind of book I'll keep nearby
and will turn to often over the years. Any farmer or gardener who wishes to garner food or medicine value from wood
needs to understand and cultivate mushrooms. And this is the best all-around manual I've seen."--Ben Falk, author of The
Resilient Farm and Homestead
"Tradd Cotter has done a wonderful job sharing his practical experience in a well-organized way with illustrations that
clearly underline the topics. Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation is an invaluable resource for teaching
students about mushroom cultivation."--Peter Oei, author of Mushroom Cultivation, director of horticulture innovation at
InnovatieNetwerk, Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, and founder of MeattheMushroom.nl and spore.nl.
"Wow! Tradd Cotter is a genius of mushroom production. His step-by-step instructions and beautiful photography
make this a must-have book."--Robert Rogers, author of The Fungal cy: The Complete Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms
and Lichens of North America
Library Journal-
"Microbiologist Cotter came to mushroom farming in his 20s and quickly became hooked. He shares his enthusiasm for the
practice in this wide-ranging book, which covers topics of interest for the beginning hobbyist to the market farmer.
Starting with general information about the mushroom life cycle and growing techniques, it progresses into innovative
applications for mushrooms and educational ideas using fungi, and then gets into advanced systems. The title concludes
with a guide to specific mushrooms and methods for growing them indoors and outdoors. Highlights of innovative
techniques include growing media and guerilla urban mushroom producing. More advanced and experimental projects are
fascinating, such as the potential for mushroom farming on a space ship and advice on ways to cultivate morels.
Emphasized throughout are low-cost and sustainable methods, with several features on how to grow mushrooms without
electricity and in disaster areas. Cotter describes the "mushroom rescue modules" he imagines being shipped to disaster
areas that can provide food, mosquito control, and water purification. -VERDICT Because this title covers a lot
of ground it will be extremely useful for mushroom farming enthusiasts at any level."
Publishers Weekly-
"This comprehensive introduction to growing and utilizing fungi has something for all mushroom-inclined readers, be
they individuals curious about growing edible fungi in their backyards or basements, prospective mushroom farmers
setting up large growing systems, educators from kindergarten to college levels, or innovators experimenting with
eco-friendly materials. In addition to providing step-by-step directions for growing mushrooms, the book foodies,
amateur scientists, and activists with esoteric and advanced applications for them, such as mushroom-infused s;
'mushroom modules' that can be used for food, water filtration, or insect control in disaster ; and mushrooms that
can be "trained" to break down specific contaminants. Both practical and passionate, Cotter offers extensive and
detailed information about mushroom biology, propagation, and remediation for novices. This refreshing take goes beyond
typical how-tos, which only provide rote directions and absolute answers. He has equal interest in encouraging budding
mycologists, mushroom growers, and mycoremediators to observe, experiment, and add to the knowledge of this mysterious
burgeoning field."
About the Author
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Tradd Cotter is a microbiologist, professional mycologist, and gardener, who has been tissue culturing,
collecting native fungi in the Southeast, and cultivating both commercially and experimentally for more than twenty-two
years. In 1996 he founded Mushroom ain, which he owns and operates with his wife, Olga, to explore applications for
mushrooms in various industries and currently maintains over 200 species of fungi for food production, mycoremediation
of environmental pollutants, and natural alternatives to pesticides. His primary interest is in low-tech and
no-tech cultivation strategies so that anyone can grow mushrooms on just about anything, anywhere in the world. Mushroom
ain is currently expanding to 42,000 square feet of laboratory and research space near Greenville, South Carolina,
to accommodate commercial production, as well as mycoremediation projects. Tradd, Olga, and their daughter, Heidi, live
in Liberty, South Carolina.