The oyster mushrooms in this video were not eaten as we don’t know the chemicals used to print the phone book, however, we took a spore print which can be used to grow more mushrooms. This video demonstrates how oyster mushrooms grow on various kinds of substrates including paper which is made from wood. This phone book is made from recycled paper and sawdust. Oyster mushrooms are saprophytic, meaning they feed on decaying organic matter like wood and other plant debris which are made of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The mycelium or vegetative part of the mushroom secretes enzymes and acids to decompose these substances releasing nutrients it can absorb. There are a few parasitic oyster mushrooms that eat bacteria and nematodes. Oyster mushrooms are used in mycoremediation and are known to remove contaminants in soil, water, and wastewater. The phone book was pasteurized in boiling water and provided nutrients to the mycelium to grow and establish producing fruiting bodies or mushrooms. Once the book has cooled down, the grain spawn (sorghum inoculated with mushroom mycelium) is added between the layers of pages at a ratio of 25%. After inoculation, the book was placed in an undisturbed area with temperatures between 70–75 F to allow colonization. This is the incubation period which can range from 2 to 4 weeks depending on the environment. Two 3-inch holes were cut out from the lid of the container to allow air circulation. Blue Oyster mushrooms need a cold shock to stimulate fruiting. We placed the container in the refrigerator for a day. Afterwards, it was placed in a well-lit area away from direct sunlight. The book was misted with water 4X daily. The whole process took approximately 4.5 weeks. To prevent contamination, make sure your working area and tools are clean and sterilized. We sprayed and wiped the counter, container, lid, and tongs with 70% isopropyl alcohol and wore gloves. #fungi #fungus #mushroom #oystermushroom #pluerotus #growfood #fallgardening - @learntogrow1