Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World

A very hard read but extremely interesting.

An excellent handbook for everyone now taking an interest in a branch of life that has been shunned for far too long. Well-written, well-illustrated, and with many references for further reading, this is a book that takes readers way beyond the idea that mushrooms are merely useful as food. Introducing concepts of fungi as life-saving medicines, forestry protection (myco-forestry) and land reclamation (myco-remediation), it really gets you up out of your chair and experimenting at home or in your garden. Initially, I had bought this book as a guide to help me do a better job of growing-my-own. Now I have several species of mushrooms growing in various substrates, all ticking away nicely. And not all of them will be for food. Two are medicinal and one is for helping to restore part of my garden to health. Under the heading of myco-forestry, this book describes a better and far less exhausting way of handling problems with the Honey Fungus problem that affects so many trees & shrubs. (If you look up the RHS site for the way they propose you tackle this dreadful blight, you will see the outdated, potentially expensive, invasive, messy, and frankly body-wrecking technique of digging out a 2ft depth of soil in the area where an affected tree used to be - yeah, you try doing that here, with chunks of slate the size of paving slabs just a few inches under the soil surface! Paul Stamets' way of tackling this problem is much easier on the old joints, and all it takes is a bit of looking about either online or with a guide book when walking through the countryside. Myco-remediation is a real eye-opener of a chapter, where you can transform land that has been poisoned through anything from farm effluent run-off to industrial waste to oil spills. It also guides you through the process of restoring soil depth to exhausted and over-farmed land - his process taking a considerably shorter time than usual, as well as being cheaper and much more environmentally beneficial than buying in bags of compost. In fact, given the date this book was first written, I'm astonished that Forestry Authorities everywhere have not snapped up these common-sense concepts immediately to preserve the lands they have sadly depleted. (I live in an area surrounded by the aftermath of Forestry Commission activities, locals appalled by the condition the land is left in and the knowledge that it is only fit to be harvested 1 possibly 2 more times before it's completely useless for everything other than a little sheep farming. Hardly the legacy you want to leave to the next generation!) Mr Stamets includes a fair bit of science with the more practical side of things, but don't be afraid of that part. It's not beyond anyone's grasp and serves to give readers a better understanding of how the various types of fungi function and how you can better integrate it into your garden/ woodland /land/ smallholding/ farm. Although there is indepth instruction on how to raise mushrooms on a small or larger scale, there are many tempting mentions of Mr Stamets other book on Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms, and I will probably purchase this on the strength of the quality of this book.I promise you, that after reading this one, you will not view your next wild-growing toadstool in the same way again.

I've been increasingly interested in nature since moving to the country and have read several books on mushrooms and mycelium. The first part of this book is the part most people will find interesting. The second half is for those who want to implement / use mushrooms and mycelium to improve the soil or clean up pollution their specific local. Definitely worth reading !

This comprehensive and well written book provides a vast amount of information about mycelium: what it is, how it relates to other plants and what it does for them and for itself. Well worth reading, particularly if you want to recover a brown-field site or improve your own soil. Once you've read this book, do some research into biochar, volcanic rock dust and composting. Once you've done that you can create a nutrient rich soil that will allow you to grow healthy, nutritious edible plants indefinitely.

Was allerted to book by my Bee club , With an interest already in Fungi and mushrooms and in planetary conservation ,I sure this book will give me greater knowledge ,, looking forward to starting the big read

Well worth getting this book if you are into mycology very interesting and well written

Mushrooms and mycelium can save the world, but people are not listening, and taking notice. Covid 19 originates from nature. Mother earth is telling us enough is enough, and its time to change. Humankind hasn't survived for thousands of years, before the multi national drug companies were formed, without the help of nature. The book explains how most things can be helped or cured using the resourses nature provides, why is this not happening?, its because the the fat cats can't make money out of something thats virtualy free.

Loved this book by Paul Stamets. I no longer simply think of white button mushrooms - there’s incredible variety. The various effects and cultural associations with mushrooms deeply impressed me. I tried growing Oyster mushrooms and succeeded and the second batch are growing now. I also take Lion Mane’s supplements and find them cognitively enhancing. Great book - it informs and enthuses.

Un libro a tener en cuenta. Me encanta como explica todo el mundo de los hongos y el suelo. En contras solo expresaría que se encuentra en ingles, y a veces el lenguaje empleado es un poco difícil de entender.

Top lesenswert. Die Ideen, sind umsetzbar. Auf in eine bessere Zukunft. Ich verstehe es. Auf deutsch korrekt übersetzt, DAS GROSSE NETZ, auch erhältlich.

Comprato come regalo per mia figlia biologa. Il dono è stato molto apprezzato, mia figlia dice che è davvero interessante, l’ha letto di un fiato

Must read for all fungi enthusiasts.

"Mycelium Running" is an electrifying read that takes you on a wild journey into the magical world of fungi! Written by the master of mycology, Paul Stamets, this book is packed with mind-blowing information on how these tiny organisms can change the world. The book starts by diving deep into the mysterious underground network of mycelium, the foundation of the mushroom ecosystem. You'll learn how these tiny threads can break down dead plant matter and form partnerships with plants that will blow your mind! But the fun doesn't stop there, Stamets then takes you on a rollercoaster ride of discovery as he uncovers the many ways in which mushrooms and other fungi can be used to benefit the environment and human health. From their medicinal properties, like boosting the immune system and fighting cancer, to their role as a natural pest control in agriculture, to their ability to clean up environmental toxins, this book has got it all! But the best part is yet to come, Stamets emphasizes the importance of preserving biodiversity and the relationship between the health of the mycological realm and the planet. He encourages readers to embrace the fungal kingdom and explore its many wonders. So grab a seat, buckle up and get ready for an exhilarating ride into the world of fungi with "Mycelium Running"!