who doesn't love fungi?
caveat emptor- this kickstarter somewhat directly benefits me, but i benefit it much more, i think, so...
i am very excited about this. mushrooms are an awesome perennial source of protein. they are also an awesome source of income for small farms.
i am so excited that once again the hive mind has delivered what i needed next. i have built a large scale hugel pile, and i know that i need fungi power to turn it into delicious, rich soil. i do have a couple of nice wild blooms so far, and i have a couple dozen nice inoculated logs.
but kevin gives us an order of magnitude more fungi, and fungi knowledge. he is already spreading fungi wherever he can. and collecting fungi anywhere he can. i am really proud to support his plan to cultivate local fungi as well as spreading reliable cultivars to home gardeners, community gardens and urban farms here in the greenest big city in america.
ftr, i have never run a fundraiser for my farm. and this is not really for my farm. just a stopover. but chip in for a good meal while these delights pass though.
the next frontier in local food.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/130207241/mushroom-gardens-for-chicago
if you like my farm, you can watch as we build our barn, and further permaculture in the big city.
= new reply since forum marked as read
And I freakin love mushrooms 
Sorry I have nothing to contribute but best of luck with this really good idea.
we are very close. i know some of my du peeps have already kicked in here. i knew i could count on the folks here to see the value in a project like this.
disclaimer- my little farm will benefit greatly from this project. i have kicked in my own money, and i am very happy to be able to get so much knowledge on my side. i could read up, and buy spores. but with kevin's help the biggest thing i will be able to do is identify the mushrooms that will be coming up naturally because of the way we built our soil. i can dig through my little mushroom identifier app, but i am not gonna be completely comfortable eating a wild shroom. i have done it. but i don't like to. i certainly do not feel comfortable sharing my wilds with anyone without some real training behind that.
the most important thing, really, is the soil. fruits are nice, but soil is what we are working toward.
but the bottom line is that both kevin and i are about teaching and sharing as much as we are about selling anything. there is a huge gardening and farming boom happening in chicago right now.
this is a very important component of that.
please pitch a couple bucks if you can. if you are in chicago, and you would like a more personal premium for your support, drop me a pm.
learning to make new soil is a tool for the crisis to come.
we will have a boat load of this one- we have old logs everywhere.
?1394566749
?1394567438
My fancy log grown, jeweled shiitake you won't find in stores!
so, pics-
?1395418942
Simple mushroom fruiting terrarium with shiitake.
mushrooms are very popular at the farmers market here.
it is the perfect first cash crop for my farm. but it was barely on my radar.
i do have some. got some logs ready to come out. but was only dreaming of large scale cultivation.
understand that kevin has already procured his first big rec- winecaps
perfect for us, right up to the fact that when they are overgrown and no long tasty, they become infested with black fly larvae. the chickens can.not.wait.
ps- thanks my friend. not my pic.
I'm quite familiar with the Heartland Cafe. 
I still love swimming in the lake in August, though, when it gets nice and warm. 
Response to mopinko (Original post)
I might give growing shitake's a try this year if I have the time and energy. We have an excellent source at the farmer's market for fresh shrooms throughout the growing season.
Thank you everyone for your support!
Last night I feasted on chicken with shaggy manes and fried blewits with greens. It was a fantastic dinner with close friends in East Rogers Park. I also discovered Michigan blewit cultures in the freezer. I can't wait to introduce them into gardens. They are a rare and beautiful treat.
It is time to secure a lease, prepare equipment orders and collect mushroom strains. Keep an eye out for updates about progress and your upcoming pledge rewards.
?1395680687
Beautiful blewits (Lepista nuda) growing in leafy mulch.
[^^this- coming to my farm^^ you betcha.]
and personally, kevin thanks du for a real blast of support that put it over the top.
you my peeps, man.