Shiitake

Shiitake mushrooms! Mmmmmm.. these are wonderful to cook with, they remind me of the fresh mushrooms available at the farmer's markets in Santa Cruz.  I helped grow these ones, which makes eating them even better.  It's become a yearly tradition now to head to my friend Bill's house, and pound mushroom spawn into fresh cut alder logs, cover them in wax and then let them sit.  He does permaculture around his place, he says the mushroom logs help hold moisture in the soil and keep things vibrant.  Come the right time of year, the logs start popping shiitake out like crazy, big fat ones and little juicy ones.  We also grow reishi and oysters at his place.