Page 28 - Port Douglas Magazine 31

Mushrooms grow from spores that are so tiny you can’t see shavings and locally sourced sugar cane mulch. That will grow out
individual spores with the naked eye. Rather than soil, these spores and completely colonise that block, cultivating the growth of spawn.
rely on substances like sawdust, grain, straw, or wood chips for The spawn supports the growth of the mycelium, which is the
nourishment. A blend of the spores and these nutrient sources is beginning stages of the mushrooms. The mycelium grows first in
called spawn. Mushroom spawn acts a bit like the starter needed to the substrate before the first mushroom pushes through the soil.”
make sourdough bread. Specialising in white, gold, pink, tan and Phoenix oyster mushrooms
all so pretty they resemble floral bouquets, The Good ‘Shroom Co
“Since going commercial earlier this year, crop is taken from spore to maturity and relies on a mushroom’s
incredible knack of doubling in size every day, given the right
The Good ‘Shroom Co have garnered conditions. “They’re very sensitive to outside effects that can’t be
a strong local support’ avoided, which is why the growing rooms are fully enclosed and
climate controlled“, explains Rick. “Being only 100 metres from the
beach just adds in another dimension of challenge”.
“On the upside, oyster mushrooms have a two-week growth cycle
“Starting from the very beginning, we collect the spore from which is very quick, so it’s very easy to see if things aren’t looking
the varietal we want to grow and add in a culture and let it grow the way they should. Because we’re trying to grow a fungi, naturally
out,” says Rick. “We then use that spore to inoculate our first run other types of fungi try to grow as well, so contamination is a big
of substrate to create a Gen 1 substrate, typically a mix of locally issue. Heat and humidity are big proponents of those, so yeah – a
sourced agricultural waste, organic plant supplements, hardwood
28 tourismportdouglas.com.au