Mycelium Running -Paul Stamets

Paul Stamets is a legendary observer of the fungi kingdom, and has been, ever since his first encounter with mushrooms as a forester some 30 years ago. They soon took over his imagination. Over the years Stamets wrote a series of beautiful books which generously informed an increasingly fungi-philic public on every step of his investigations into the life-form of  mushrooms: their growth and cultivation, their phenomenal reach and expansive properties, their potential in medicine and environmental re-mediation strategies, and their key role as decomposers.

In his latest book Mycelium Running Stamets draws our attention to the wondrous underground fungal network of Mycelium. You can sense his awe: 

"......Mycelium is the neurological network of nature....interlacing mosaics........ information-sharing membranes.....in constant molecular communication with its environment...." 

Stamets compares the mycelium networks and growth patterns to the internet, the brain, dark matter and archetypal spirals such as galaxies and hurricanes.

From his awe comes an interest in seeking the mycelium as a conscious human alley:

"....enlisting fungi as allies we can offset the environmental damage.....we can come into balance with nature using mycelium to regulate the flow of nutrients....the age of mycological medicine is upon us. Now is the time to ensure the future of our planet and our species by partnering, or running with mycelium." 

From this inspiring arc of insight Stamets proceeds to examine the expanding role and use of Mycelium and mushrooms in forestry, filtration, soil restauration, mico remediation, mycopesticides, cultivation, mycelium companion gardening.

Stamets  ends with "magnificent mushrooms: the cast of species" --kind of a  a who is who in mushroom land and how to cultivate and use them. 

This is a great book and I haven't even mentioned the wealth of photographs and illustrations. Paul Stamets has no doubt  grown into the foremost mushroom authority and  has inspired millions to open their eyes to a distant but close ancestor: the humble mushroom. 

Michelle's Garden and Cuba

Michelle Obama has been such an inspiration for so many, and  for mr. Obama himself --it's obvious. Her initiative of making an 'organic' garden and including the children, cooks and community is another ground-breaking example of being in tune with the reality of our time. Growing your own organic backyard garden may be the most effective way to bring the price of 'organics' down. What I expect to see, even this year, is that in cities all over America people will take community based initiative to start food gardens.

Let's face it --the only way to make organic truly organic is when it is produced in your own region, or better still...in your own backyard. What is 'organic' about an Argentinian grape sold on the shelves of let's say Whole Foods ? "Organic" and its marketting is often a deceptive ploy by now. So in case of Michelle's garden the 'organic part' should be almost taken for granted. Who would want to see pesticides ( that for instance kill bees) be sprayed around the White House? No-one ! Instead we want to see bees, mulch, compost, mushrooms, bats, all of that...

What is so great about Michelle's Garden is that it is an example of urban gardening -- an idea that may well feed millions of people in a time of crisis.

Here at Ecoversity our gardening and beekeeping classes have never been as well attended as this year. One can feel a kind of excitement in many beginners of all ages who want nothing more than to plant a seed and re-establish their relationship with the earth and become more self reliant in the process. People seem tired to work for money now, but they seem eager to volunteer and work for values, and learn whole new sets of skills in the process. 

In this respect we may count ourselves lucky that the tide is turning and relationships with Cuba are defrosting at last. Just a thought: a Michelle Obama  goodwill visit to Cuba (with the children) would be sensational and would create a whole new beginning with all of  Latin America. It turns out that there are a few good things about Cuba after all: though the Cubans may still all be very poor, they have experience (under duress of an embargo -- mind you) with organic urban farming (there are hundreds of food gardens in Havanna) and with how to have public healthcare at the same time. The wikipedia informs us that the "Cuban government operates a national health system and assumes fiscal and administrative responsibility for the health care of all its citizens". Isn't that more or less what we want here....? (but we are so far from that). It is funny how history has a way with us --there may be a few things to learn here....

Brazil: Agro-ecologia de Montanha

I just came back from a subtropical Mata Atlantica mountainous rainforest in Brazil, and witnessed an ecocommunity at work. On a bio-regional basis common Brazilians are developing a method of local foodsecurity and land management which they call "Agro-ecologia de Montanha". The principle is this: people are gaining foothold higher into the mountains by building their habitats and family homes in the forest, while at the same time the tree'd areas are expanding into the human areas ....along roads and into what used to be endless cow pastures. 

The forest itself is also transformed, though not one tree is

 being killed. What happens is that groups of mostly men, saddle up with some horses and mules loaded with a bunch of tree starts and

 other transplants that usually have some medicinal, fiber or food value. In open areas some underbrush is being removed and according to sound assessments  on water availability, erosion potential and organic matter, elders instruct groups of younger men and women how to plant trees in the forest. From that perspective --high up in the mountains-- it is easy to understand the relationship between healthy mountains and healthy waters in the valleys below .

What happened  

one day some 26 years ago, when our Brazilian friend G.F. walked into those mountains, he realized that from the materials right around him he could make a very comfortable house -- the trees, the rocks, the adobe --supplemented by some second hand carwindows and baked orange roof panes. He never left.  His architectural integration into the landscape was so seamless and comfortable -- and of course very cheap (in money --not in labor), that now some 150 people have adapted his 'style', or rather...his vision . He did the same to furniture and  all over the mountains one can find his one of a kind, sometimes bizarre and old, but always comfortable and sturdy chairs, stools and benches to sit on.

The mountain and valley are somewhat isolated. The first small village with some stores, lies at the end of a winding dirt road which often takes at least 60 minutes to travel. But hardly anybody goes.....why would they ? The people produce their own simple foods of manioc, corn (more than 25 varieties --all gm free), some bananas, basils, often combined with homemade yogurt or an array of delicious cheeses. Rarely fish from the fishpond, and never meat. They all wear very durable and comfortable clothes made in the valley. I felt kind of jealous of the sophisticated quality of the 'duds' of the Brazilian dudes. 

The community decided not to have dogs, since they keep most of the wild animals at bay and generally make too much noise . Chickens and goats attracted too many mountain Pumas, so now they are left with some cows (in the lower parts) and (too many) well trained but 'free' horses and some donkeys.

Most everyone in the valley is one way or another involved in the community school which is expanding. The children are thriving and engaged. There is internet access for everyone, but no tv. The whole place is kind of permeated with kind of a 'beat' feeling in the air.... why go anywhere or need anything when you can just open your eyes and take in La Naturaleza ?

At one point in its history the community tried to make transactions with a localized money system. However it got so complicated that it collapsed. Now they thrive on an 'economy of generosity' together. Nobody starves, education is available, everybody has shelter, there is very little capital, but there are tons of community (work) and ceremonial events that keep everyone on track and  fulfilled. 

But best is of course not to do anything at all: listen to the Daimond Sutra sung by the water streams and falls, echoing through the valley and harmonizing all beating hearts, until phenomena dissolve and churn into golden fiction.