Up close
From below
Looks like coral when they first sprout
Almost a week old
This weeks Wordless Wednesday is sponsored by Back to the Roots. This was a project that my son was super excited about. About a week a go I received a cardboard box in the mail from Back to the Roots along with some simple directions on how to turn this box and the contents (recycled coffee grounds) into a delicious batch (up to one pound) of oyster mushrooms. As you may recall I don’t have a green thumb at all so this project frightened me. Thankfully coffee grounds are black and don’t require a green thumb. We simply mist the opening on the front of the box 2 times a day and let nature do the rest. Within just a few days we had small coral reef looking sprouts and today they are beautiful oyster mushrooms that are ready to harvest. I think I’ll find a recipe that calls for mushrooms for Wed or Thursday of this week so I can see what an oyster mushroom tastes like.
Their goals for 2011 at Back to the Roots are to divert and reuse over 1 million lbs of coffee grounds by turning them into 250,000 lbs of fresh mushrooms. This would be a great project for kids of all ages and I’m excited to share this one with my mom. As the cafeteria manager for a local elementary school she is dedicated to educating youth about the importance of eating healthy by growing many of their school lunches in their school garden. This year she’s adding a hydroponic garden to the mix and I’m sure she’d love to add these as well. The more excited kids get to see their food actually being grown the more eager they will become to actually try new and healthy foods.
Each time you post a picture of your mushroom kits on Facebook, Back to the Roots will donate one box to a school of your choice.
Buy It: The boxes are only $19.95 and can be harvested 2-4 times. Use coupon code mushrooms4me10 and save 10% off your purchase.
Win It: Visit Back to the Roots website and Facebook page and tell me something exciting that you learned about the company or the product. Leave a comment on this post along with your email address. (Valid for one entry) Giveaway ends on July 15th at midnight ET. Open to residents of the US over the age of 18 yrs old. Eco-ngratulations Amy! You are the winner! Contest now closed.
Connect:
Online – http://www.bttrventures.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/backtotheroots
Twitter – http://twitter.com/#!/bttrventures
Disclosure: One mushroom kit was provided by the company for my family to experiment with. No other compensation was received.
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Wow! What a great idea! How fun. I learned that they are in Whole foods which is great!
The company uses coffee grounds and the mushroom waste (after harvesting) to make an organic top soil for potted plants. Nothing seems to go to waste at this company! 🙂
rutheadler at gmail.com
Wow, that is so cool! Coffee grounds into mushrooms! My whole family would love this because we love mushrooms!