Mycoremediation

I've been researching mycoremediation lately and I finally started reading a book that a friend recommended a few years ago (Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Save the World), both of which have pointed me in the direction of Paul Stamets. He is the author of the book and a huge proponent of mycoremdiation. When our house was getting set up somehow some gasoline was spilled in the yard. I planted a white cedar in the front yard last fall and the soil smelled really strong of gas. As I filled the hole back in I had to smell each handful of dirt to see if it was contaminated. I didn't really know what to do about it except send the white cedar positive energy, and to spread sawdust around the affected area. As it turns out, oyster mushroom mycelia and straw would have been a better choice. I will be ordering the mycelia from Paul Stamets's website, Fungi Perfecti at www.fungi.com sometime in the near future. Enjoy this Ted talk from Paul. It is fascinating!

Great News

My husband gave me the okay for a beehive! He had been nervous to add a beehive to the minifarm because black bears live in the area and he does not want them getting used to coming here for food. Plus it would be horrible if they destroyed a hive. A colleague's beehives were attacked by a bear in the middle of Duluth! In my internet research I learned that electric fences are the best protection, but that nothing is foolproof. Bears are smart and strong. One major key to successful deterrence is having the fence up when the bear first encounters the beehive, so that means acquiring an electric fence before acquiring the bees. I haven't been shopping much for either yet, but I have been looking at top bar bee hives. Top bar bee hives are an improvement upon the typical white boxes that many beekeepers use, and they are a more natural option. They are trough-like in shape and feature a hinged or removable lid. Removable bars are lined up along the width of the top of the trough. Bees will then make their own honeycombs on each bar instead of using the artificial honeycombs attached to the frames of some of the typical white boxes. Creation of wax is actually an elimination process for bees, so it is good for them. They are exuding waste from their bodies. It does also eat up some energy and time, which is why commercial beekeepers use artificial honeycomb to get the maximum amount of honey. I am planning to buy a handmade top bar hive from Kenny at www.kenny61.wordpress.com.
I will purchase a "nuc" (nucleus colony--a queen and a few of her daughters) of Minnesota Hygienic bees. Minnesota Hygienic bees were bred by the University of Minnesota to be "hygienic"--that is, to groom varroa mites off of their larvae. Russian honeybees also exhibit this behavior and can stand the cold temperatures of northern Minnesota.
I accidentally ordered a Forsythia that is only hardy to zone 6. I live in zone 4, so I will need to plant it close to the house and give it a southern exposure. I will mulch it heavily in the fall too, and hope for the best. It is already starting to come to life in my kitchen.