Back to the Roots Mushroom Kit Giveaway

From the bean of Green Bean.

Back in May, I discovered what I was sure were morel mushrooms in my backyard.  I spent two days photographing them, researching them, examining them, and asking everyone on the Internet whether they were indeed morels or false morels.  In the end, I left the potentially scrumptious mushrooms to rot because I wasn't quite sure.

It got me thinking, though.  What if I grew mushrooms in my own backyard?  Why not! I've got everything else growing here.  Why not mushrooms that I'm not afraid to eat?

I started researching and, coincidentally, Northwest Edible Life posted a giveaway for a Back to the Roots Oyster Mushroom Kit.  A what?

Turns out it was a groovy little cardboard box stuffed with recycled Peet's Coffee coffee grounds (Hellllo, ultimate reuse!  Love it!) and mushroom spores.  All you have to do is soak the plastic bag of grounds and baby mushrooms in water for 24 hours and then mist it twice a day with the provided mister and, ta da!  Mushrooms grown in your own property that are safe to eat!

I entered the giveaway all three times and promptly forgot about winning anything.  A couple days later, shopping at Whole Foods, I spotted the mushroom kit and tossed it in the cart.  I mean, I wasn't winning any giveaways but that looked like a really cool kit!

I get home, check my fav blogs and low and behold, I won it!  Now I've got two mushroom kits.  Score!

How were they?  Very very cool and as easy as can be.  The shrooms grew by leaps and bounds.  Every morning the kids would ooh and ahh and, frankly, I did too!  Plus, are they grew the looked like some sort of really cool modern art structure.

I harvested them about 10 days after I started the whole process. We devoured them shortly after in my favorite mushroom recipe - summer soup - and I promptly soaked them again so we can harvest from the other side.  Pizza next time!

Want to have your own groovy mushroom patch in your house?  BTTR has offered to give one lucky reader their own kit.  There are three ways to win and you can use all three of them:

1) Like BTTR on their Facebook page and leave a comment here letting me know.  If you already "like" them, cool.  Just leave a comment.

2) Follow BTTR on Twitter and leave a comment here, reporting in.

3) Visit BTTR's website and then leave a comment here indicating something that you learned about mushrooms or their company.

Let the 'shrooms begin!

*BTW, post a photo of your grown mushroom kit on their Facebook page and BTTR will send a sustainability curriculum and donate a kit to an elementary school of your choice!

* All entries must be in by Wednesday, July 27th at midnight.  Giveaway winner notified on Friday, 
July 29. 

* Disclosure: I purchased a kit with my own money and won a kit from another blog.  I offered to do a giveaway for their product and reviewed my kit as part of the giveaway.  I've not received anything other than the kit I won from BTTR.