MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

ABSTRACT: According to the National Gardening Association, about 35% of households in the US are growing their own food, either at home or in a community garden. Many people, especially millennials, are moving towards a “food revolution,” where homegrown, organic food is becoming not only ideal, but also common. Unfortunately for some homeowners, there are limits to growing your own fruits and veggies. This can include not having enough space, having a shady yard, or not having the funds/time to garden. But, there is an option for these individuals: edible mushroom gardening. Mushrooms are an amazing source of protein and minerals, and if bought from a reputable source, they can be grown efficiently, in shady areas, and at a relatively low-cost. There are various types of mushrooms that can be grown in the Mid-Atlantic region, and growers even have the option of gardening indoors or outdoors. From this pamphlet, a home-grower can learn 1) what they want to grow, 2) how to cultivate mushrooms, 3) the benefits of growing at-home organic mushrooms, and 4) they will obtain reputable sources where mushroom cultures can be bought.

READER’S PROFILE: I imagine a skeptical reader will be afraid of growing home-grown mushrooms because there are toxic/poisonous species.

READER’S RESPONSE: The pamphlet has many pictures of mushroom’s I’ve eaten (or have seen being used for food)! I recognize these, and due to the descriptions listed, feel less afraid of mushrooms in general. There is also a section on where these mushroom cultures can be bought and it looks very legitimate and official. I trust these sources due to the format they are being presented in, and the experience of the people described! My fear of mushrooms probably stems from stories about foragers (I like the quote, “there are old foragers and bold foragers, but no old, bold foragers”). I now understand what is a dangerous situation regarding mushrooms and a safe one. Maybe I will try to grow my own because all of these benefits seem like things I agree with (health and costs)!

CITATION FORMAT: This will be informal, or presented in a simple way. This is because it is going to be presented in a pamphlet to people with various levels of mushroom cultivation knowledge.

Use natural language citation -- clues to the source are in the sentences around the information. Think of this as a way to build confidence in the reader, including about some fear of poisonous mushrooms.

Looking forward to this guide. This backyard garden tour is planned for May.