Mushroom

Do you like mushrooms? Did you know there are 14,000 species of mushrooms..
What are mushrooms? – they are a fungus – so why am I eating them.

SAT MORNING VISIT
A leaflet was posted in the Vibrant Vegan Association group about purchasing mushrooms. So, arranged a visit to the cropping house in Dodowa where I could purchase some mushrooms form the proprietor Dziedzom De Souza.  

YUK
Growing up I did not like mushrooms because of I considered them as fungus, didn’t like the look of them, and tasted slimy. A few years after I stopped eating meat, I reconsidered as my friend said that was her meat substitute in regards to texture. So fast forward I started eating them more and adding to vege burger mixture – but mainly button mushrooms.

MUSHROOMS BY STELIADS
Dziedzom de Souza is a young Ghanaian who saw the financial benefits and global opportunities of cultivating oyster mushroom. He started Steliads in September 2021 at his main farm. 

However, in Dodowa we entered a cropping house where 4000 grow bags were neatly stacked. Dziedzom explained the process for growing the mushrooms. Inside the grow bags was a mixture of sawdust, rice bran and other ingredients which had already been composted, prepared and sterilized, added with mushroom spawn, which mature up to 6 weeks whilst incubation. These then are transported to the cropping room.

Ensure room is at a cool temperature anything from 10 – 250C, depending on the variety of oyster mushroom. Spray water over bags every day and evening. The mushrooms will start growing at different rates but on average once the ends start to curl which is within 5 days, then you can harvest the mushrooms. Pull out entire mushroom from base, cut off ends. Mushrooms will continue to grow from bags for up to 3 months. 

HEALTH NUTRIENTS IN MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms are nutritionally and low in energy and fat but high in protein, carbohydrate, and dietary fibre. They contain a variety of minerals, potassium, copper and vitamins.  

OYSTER MUSHROOMS  – TASTE TEST
They can also be found in the wild growing from trees. I purchased both fresh and dried mushrooms. The dried mushrooms are dehydrated and costs x3 more as they can last up to 12mths stored appropriately. I have not tried and cooked before – so wondering what to do with them. That same day I fried some fresh mushrooms to add to my salad and the following day added to my stir fry.

In the future Dziedzom hopes to open more cropping houses, export and even start growing button mushrooms.

 bless Sister E