Summery of project
We had very mixed results with this project.
Method
The planting method for the herbs was easily done. The 5 plants forming an X pattern was easier to relocate, as the GPS’s range was only +- 9 meters.
The logs needed for the mushrooms were very challenging to locate, especially for the target audience. A tree trimming company’s extras were the best option. Using plug spores was much easier to handle and assemble than the standard spore mash + hot sealing wax method. Even small logs less than 6 inches in diameter and less than 2 ft long proved difficult to manage.
Survival
Unusual weather patterns (including 2 years of drought and record heat waves) might have affected the survival rates of these plants and mushroom logs. The mushroom plugs, while being easier to assemble, also dried out faster than the hot sealing wax method. Those probably died the first summer. No mushrooms were collected from the logs. Mushrooms collected from tabletop kits using that same spore showed that the spore was fine. Pictures of the log process and tabletop mushroom kits are on the website.
After the first year’s drought and delayed planting, more herbs were planted the following year. Older plants were planted earlier in the year, in new spots. More effort was taken to reduce transplant shock and shipping stress. A local herb expert helped identify better planting locations the second year, along with an analysis of potential problems in the first years locations. Exact reports are on the website. Despite those changes, few plants survived to the end of the project.
Area 3 showed the highest survival rate of all 3 types of herbs, and from both planting years. Area 1 showed survival of at least 1 herb (goldenseal) in plot B from the second years planting, but none survived from the first years planting. The herb expert commented that the recent record breaking heat wave could have sent some of the herbs into a type of early hibernation, so failure to relocate some of the plants may not have meant death of those plants. Area 2 showed no survival from either year’s plantings.
The Fairywand was the most questionable herb in this project, in terms of whether it would survive here or not. This project proved that it could, and that it could grow well.
The fenced-in plot (Area 3) had the highest survival rate, but also had noticeably different soil type than the other two locations. The soil was very soft and uncompacted, easily dug with bare hands. Soil analysis was done on location 1 and 3, with results posted on the webpage. The best survival spot also had more shade than expected to be useful, and fewer competing undergrowth. The area with the least survival had sandier, more compacted soil (ex – old tractor path), despite being within 20 ft of a small lake.
DISCUSSION
Using these herbs is an option for woodland conservation in this area. The method is doable, non-intrusive, and the market exists. Not enough is known about the financial return, however. More testing on ideal conditions would be very helpful, and whether animal impact had as much to do with the success of the fenced in area as the soil. I personally would like to eventually see a chart comparing the energy output of this type of project with the possible financial return. Ex – if you have low energy but high initial investment, try this. If you have more energy but less initial finances to invest, try this.
I plan continue to look into these herbs. I’m also looking into gourmet varieties of pawpaws, now that the cancer, insecticide, and gourmet food markets for pawpaws are increasing. If I do any more with mushrooms, it will more likely be on straw bales or using the totem method, as opposed to log plugs. Both of those will be shorter lasting, but involve less initial energy/time output.
IMPACT
I believe the environmental impact of this process is potentially high, allowing for increased conservation while providing minimal negative effects. The economic impact is unknown, but it has good potential. As for social impact, it seemed to provide a unifying aspect, and generated a great deal of discussion/interest whenever it was brought into a conversation.
Links to soil tests