Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation

Tradd Cotter is a microbiologist, professional mycologist, and retired landscape designer who has been cultivating mushrooms both commercially and experimentally for more than thirty years. He is the author of the best-selling book Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation (2014) and has won numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Clemson University Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the EPA GRO-U Fellowship Award, and the Gary Lincoff Award. His ongoing research projects include bacterial interactions with fungi, mycopesticides, novel antibiotic discovery, and the isolation of native mycorrhizal species for bioregional-specific inoculants for plants. In 2022, Tradd sold Mushroom Mountain, which he founded in 1996, to pursue his interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy and to focus on research in the medical field. Tradd currently is co-owner of Blue Portal, a mycologically-focused company specializing in psychedelic therapy and cultivation, medicinal innovations, and industrial applications for fungi.

Library Journal-"Microbiologist Cotter came to mushroom farming in his 20s and quickly became hooked. He shares his enthusiasm for the practice in this wide-ranging book, which covers topics of interest for the beginning hobbyist to the market farmer. Starting with general information about the mushroom life cycle and growing techniques, it progresses into innovative applications for mushrooms and educational ideas using fungi, and then gets into advanced systems. The title concludes with a guide to specific mushrooms and methods for growing them indoors and outdoors. Highlights of innovative techniques include growing media and guerilla urban mushroom producing. More advanced and experimental projects are fascinating, such as the potential for mushroom farming on a space ship and advice on ways to cultivate morels. Emphasized throughout are low-cost and sustainable methods, with several features on how to grow mushrooms without electricity and in disaster areas. Cotter describes the “mushroom rescue modules” he imagines being shipped to disaster relief areas that can provide food, mosquito control, and water purification. ­VERDICT Because this title covers a lot of ground it will be extremely useful for mushroom farming enthusiasts at any level.”