Reishi mushrooms are prized for stress-fighting properties. This in-demand crop grows naturally in Oregon forests, and you can grow them yourself with a fruiting block or inoculated logs. Learn how!
The savory goodness of mushrooms isn't confined to those fresh from the saute pan — they can be preserved by canning, freezing, drying and pickling. Here's a guide to how to expand your mushroom repertoire.
Poison oak plants contain a chemical that causes a severe rash. Learn how to spot a plant, safely remove, and clean your clothes, gear and skin afterward to prevent a rash.
Silage-making has been used to reduce the concentrations of toxins in a variety of crops. But in the case of poison hemlock, the opposite is true — making silage out of it actually increases one of its toxic alkaloids.
Tansy ragwort, an invasive weed that can harm certain types of livestock, is making a comeback in western Oregon. Find out how to control it and protect your animals.
Shelby Filley, Andy Hulting, Gene Pirelli, Eric Coombs |
Aug 2011 |
Article
It’s important to keep food safety in mind when storing herbs or vegetables such as garlic, mushrooms and chili peppers in oil. The combination of these low-acid foods and oil create an environment for deadly bacteria.
Q: The straw mulch I used at the end of summer to suppress the weeds doesn't seem to be working. Should I till it and cover with plastic? black or clear? Is there something better. Or should I add more straw. I could probably bring some cardboard home from work. Is this a healthy option?
Q: Several brown, dead rings have formed in my lawn this summer. They seem to coincide with a type of mushroom. Are the mushrooms causing this? Is there any treatment short of applying a fungicide that is effective? Will the lawn recover on its own?
Oregon is among the world’s best regions for farming European truffles. With the development of modern seedling inoculation methods, 80-90% of French truffles are now grown in orchards of inoculated oak and hazelnut trees. While...