Made in the shade

Mushroom growing workshop takes place at Muddy Creek

Credit: http://muddycreekmushrooms.homestead.com/

Patrick Stephens, left, gives Danny Gunter a tour of his shiitake mushroom growing operation at Muddy Creek Mushroom Farm on Friday. Muddy Creek hosted a growing workshop to introduce attendees to the process.

By: Jennifer Frew | Morganton News Herald
Published: February 21, 2009

Glen Alpine --

One of North Carolina's new cash crops is popping up in Burke County - and cultivation is almost as easy as falling off a log.
Near the west end of Burke County, Muddy Creek Mushroom Farm hosted a shiitake mushroom growing workshop on Friday. Shiitake, in Japanese, means "mushroom of the oak." Workshop participants learned and practiced growing the mushrooms on oak logs.
Owners Pat and Mary Stephens welcomed participants in the program sponsored by N.C. A&T State University. The college received grant money from the Golden LEAF Foundation to re-educate tobacco farmers. The school arranges local workshops such as the one at Muddy Creek.
It wasn't just farmers who showed an interest in the workshop. Some in attendance took advantage of the free educational experience close to home. Valdese resident Trisha Crutchfield said, "I'm excited about the upcoming mushroom industry in North Carolina and wanted to attend a unique, fun, free event."
The workshop provided an introduction to mushroom growing. Stephens notes that someone needs desire, perseverance, education and patience to be successful at growing shiitakes.
For more information about the local farm, visit http://muddycreekmushrooms.homestead.com/. For more information about growing shiitake mushrooms, visit www.ag.ncat.edu/