Reishi mushrooms, Ganoderma lucidum, have been used for centuries to promote health and longevity and are known as” the mushrooms of immortality.”

I inoculated several oak logs over a year ago and put them in a shady spot behind my compost bin, partially nestled into the soil. They just began to fruit this spring.

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They’re shaped differently from the reishi I cultivated by smearing some spawn onto the surfaces of a huge oak tree that fell in our yard. According to what I’ve read, these differences are caused by being different strains and/or by differences in temperature, humidity, and light.

The picture above was taken about a week or two ago. Below is what they look like today, slightly larger and beginning to develop the characteristic kidney shape of the mature reishi:

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The reishi I grew on the oak stump that fruited last year is just beginning to fruit again this year. I fear for the longer term production on that stump, however, because the stump has been overtaken by another type of mushroom, a white/gray/brownish shelf mushroom I haven’t been able to identify. I’m posting a picture here and I’ll post it again on our FB page to see if anyone can give it a name. Holler if this looks familiar to you, mushroom people:

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When I harvest the reishi, I’ll dry it and use it in tea and make tincture out of it.

I love mushrooms.