Midnight Mushroom Music

Mycelial ghosts.. I recorded more bio-data from the Stropharia.

This is less squelchy, less hectic.

Happy dreaming!

The mycelium has engulfed the substrate and is now overtaking the soil!

I carefully buried electrodes down into the substrate over the mycelium and recorded their bio-data.. I've left the electrodes in place to see what will happen. Last time I did something like this with Ganoderma lucidum the mycelium grew over the silicone insulating the wires.

Listen to this translation with really good headphones, if at all possible. I am still on the fence with this one... next time, different parameters. This mycelium was busy with the bio-data!

I just kicked back and allowed the mycelium to do its thing. Super activity! Not quite as 'mellow' as the Ganoderma lucidum. Enjoy responsibly!

January fifth by Mycelium Network

Last night at Sím (2018) many of the artists in residence allowed me to record their bio-data. E.Sher, visit her at www.eleonorasher.com

Image, E.Sher's Tessilations, was taken during our group exhibit at the Icelandic Arts Association Gallery in Reykjavik, extruded in Toronto.

The Mycelium is fruiting.

I've been growing Pink oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus djamor) since early August (2018) and admittedly forgotten them in my downstairs greenhouse. There they were, beautiful as ever. Fruiting and the substrate entirely myceliated.

Mycelium grown over several months in a stainless steel bowl. Reacting to light and dark and touch.

During the summer I inoculated experimental substrate with Hericium erinaceus, left for Iceland and returned to find the mycelium growing and toothy, spiky fruiting bodies fruiting :) Meanwhile, I am putting together kits towards November 18th and the Make Change Conference, thought I would try out some new electrodes...

The Sím residency has allowed me time to further my experiments with Icelandic Obvara mixtures and íslenskur Fagradalsleir, through the

creation of a small body of work towards a future publication documenting Obvara mixtures around the world.

Wild yeast capture & culture:

Conduct your experiments in either the Sour Dough Starter method or the Beer Brewer’s method. In Iceland, I tried both methods. There are many kits (and instructions) on the market for capturing wild yeast, one such kit is available here, http://www.the-odin.com/homebrew-yeast-capture-kit/ A PCR machine is not required for

this process unless of course, you want to identify the particular yeast strains captured!

Beer Brewer’s Method (simplified):

Sterilized Petri dishes

YPD agar medium

nitrile gloves

Wild clover and Thyme or Wild parsley flowers were picked and touched gently onto the agar in separate plates. Over a two week period, the plates were kept in a dark, warm place (or incubate around 30c if you own an incubator) to allow the yeast, bacteria to grow. Out of 6 plates, 2 were viable, the other plates grew mould/penicillin and who knows what!

I am fairly certain one the yeasts I captured/grew belonged to Brettanomyces. Using a loop yeast was taken from the plates and placed into the Icelandic honey and warm glacier water mix. Once the yeast rose a bit I then added flour, more water and covered the bowl with a clean, damp cloth and placed it near a radiator.

Over the next week, the yeast continued to grow on the plates.. and thrive. Granted, the recording might also be of the agar, whatever bacteria and moulds are hanging out with the yeast.. etc. ;)

Walking back to the residency last night and I noticed some very large Woolly Milkcap (Lactarius torminosus*)growing near an Elf rock. So, I set up the computer and started recording their bio-data and here are the results! *what I think they were. Thank you for tuning in! May the spore be with you ;) XO