Living in the dark like that.
Actually, mushrooms have an advantage — at least they’re outside, inhaling fresh air and absorbing nutrients straight from the soil (or dung, or compost, or stable bedding — it’s all a matter of taste). And even if they’re outside in unpleasant weather, they’re equipped therefor.
According to the American Mushroom Institute, which I linked through to (ooh! a daringly split infinitive!) from the Mushroom Council (mushrooms have a council?!), “Mushrooms are one of the most difficult commodities to grow.” This is because they would prefer to be living free, in a location of their choice, not trapped in some highly technical, computerised “growing house.”
Midway through my second Boston winter I can empathise. You have my sympathy and my support sister mushrooms! Don’t despair — I will come and rescue you!
If I make it down this hill without sliding into a power pole or a parked car. Perhaps one of those cars that’s parked just before the Stop sign, so that I have to swerve out into the path of vehicles swinging needlessly wide around the corner and accelerating up the hill, then swivel the steering wheel sharply right and hit the brakes hard so I can stop at the Stop sign without being in the middle of the road (or the intersection).
Don’t blame me for my bitterness! I grew up on a subtropical island. I was born for temperate climes!
