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    Benedict Noel bio

    Benedict Noel of The Mushroom Guide is author of a 9-part guide to growing shiitake mushrooms on our blog (starting here). He’s been hooked on mushroom growing since watching this TED talk in 2015 and has been building his knowledge and experience ever since. Since starting out, he’s helped run a couple of cultivation courses, given presentations at festivals and grown a wide variety of mushrooms, from oyster and shiitake to pioppino and chestnut.

    Articles by

    Benedict Noel

    Alternatives to single-use plastic in mushroom growing

    Benedict Noel 23-Jul-2019

    Benedict Noel of The Mushroom Guide shares his tried and tested alternatives to single use plastic in mushroom growing. Read more

    The Mushroom Guide Part 9: working with agar cultures

    Benedict Noel 16-Jul-2019

    A jellylike substance derived from seaweed, Benedict Noel sets out the role of agar cultures in Part 9 of his Mushroom Guide. Read more

    The Mushroom Guide Part 8: working with liquid mushroom cultures

    Benedict Noel 04-Jul-2019

    We learn how to work with liquid mushroom cultures as The Mushroom Guide with Benedict Noel continues. Read more

    The Mushroom Guide Part 7: preparing mushroom spawn (2)

    Benedict Noel 18-Jun-2019

    Mushroom grower extraordinaire Benedict Noel explains how to prepare mushroom spawn using a pressure cooker, as his Mushroom Guide series continues. Read more

    The Mushroom Guide Part 6: preparing mushroom spawn

    Benedict Noel 30-May-2019

    Benedict Noel shares how to scale up your mushroom production, preparing mushroom spawn using grain to then inoculate sawdust bags. Read more

    The Mushroom Guide Part 5: inoculating fruiting substrate

    Benedict Noel 24-May-2019

    Inoculating fruiting substrate: sounds a little daunting, no? Fear not – Benedict Noel explains all in Part 5 of his Mushroom Guide for beginners keen to grow their own shiitake mushrooms. Read more

    The Mushroom Guide Part 4: preparing fruiting substrate for shiitake mushrooms

    Benedict Noel 15-May-2019

    In Part 4 of The Mushroom Guide with Benedict Noel, learn how to create your own bags of fruiting substrate for shiitake mushrooms, using sawdust, bran and a pressure cooker. Read more

    The Mushroom Guide Part 3: harvesting shiitake mushroom blocks

    Benedict Noel 07-May-2019

    In Part 3 of The Mushroom Guide, Benedict Noel enjoys the fruits of his labour harvesting shiitake mushroom blocks, as he continues his step-by-step tutorial. Read more

    The Mushroom Guide Part 2: fruiting shiitake mushroom blocks

    Benedict Noel 25-Apr-2019

    We learn how to fruit shiitake mushroom blocks with Benedict Noel of The Mushroom Guide. It’s possible to grow shiitake mushrooms with very little equipment. If you’re a novice, this is the best place to start. Read more

    The Mushroom Guide Part 1: why grow shiitake mushrooms?

    Benedict Noel 16-Apr-2019

    No garden? No problem! In the first of a new series from the Mushroom Guide, Benedict Noel considers why shiitake mushrooms make a great starting point for anyone new to mushroom growing, particularly in an urban environment. Read more

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