Mushroom-cultivation has become the rage now across the United States of America with mushroom kits selling by the dozens every hour. The foodies as well as the school going children are intrigued at the prospect of growing the nutritious food item in their own kitchens helping us understand that mushroom-cultivation is the in thing now. With mushroom-cultivation, the growing of Locavores get a new boost making it a pleasant time for the store keepers and kit manufacturers who have seen unprecedented sales in the recent months.

The instructions about mushroom-cultivation that come along with the kit are easy to follow and result in a heap of the Locavores which are consumed with enthusiasm. Paul Stamets, the owner of Fungi Perfecti agrees that mushroom-cultivation is the in thing now as he sees every variety of the mushrooms from the maitake to the delicate pearl oyster kits disappearing from his store rapidly.

Mushroom-cultivation can also be done outdoors by injecting the spawns into damp logs or tree stumps. This procedure of mushroom-cultivation is a little more complicated than growing it within the confines of your own home. The time period for the very first mushroom to appear is longer too taking about a year or two. However, the area shows a steady yield on and off for several years thereafter. All these facts make mushroom-cultivation a lucrative pastime indeed.

The nutritious value of the fungus is quite high with the Locavores being low in calories and rich in antioxidants. They also contain Vitamin D considered to be essential for proper development of bones and teeth which is also a contributing factor that endorses that mushroom-cultivation is the in thing.

Manufacture of mushroom-cultivation kits started last summer when two Berkeley University graduates, Nikhil Arora and Alex Velez left their business and concentrated on making the kits. They experimented with different types of mushrooms finally zeroing on to the Pearl oyster variety which grows best with the kits. The company BTTR Ventures (known as Back To The Roots as well) was thus born ushering in a new era for mushroom-cultivation.

The American Mushroom Institute also approves of the kits saying that it is a fun and easy way of growing the nutritious fungi.

Image Courtesy: magic-mushroom.com