Shitaki mushrooms growing on sawdust and cereal log, on display at the 18th U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) summer farmers market’s final outdoor market of the season at the USDA Whitten Building east parking lot in Washington, D.C., on Friday, November 22, 2013. The Peoples Garden Initiative and USDA Executive Master Gardeners host several educational stations to help people learn about the agricultural beginning of every day products such as cotton thread, wheat flour, ground corn, soap, honey. Subject matter experts are also on hand to talk about how mushrooms are commercially grown in Pennsylvania caves. A petting pen with small farm animals allowed children to pet the animals that they may not normally have the opportunity to do so otherwise. The USDA market supports regional food systems and increases consumer access to fresh, healthy foods. It features farmers and vendors from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia selling fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, prepared foods, baked goods, kettle popcorn, local honey products, hand-made soap, and more. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

How to grow mushrooms at home

By Tania Moffat Growing mushrooms is unlike growing any other vegetable. Fungi grow from spores rather than seeds. These spores

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