How NOT to Lead

CHAPTER 9Don't Be a Mushroom Farmer

My theory on feds is that they're like mushrooms; feed 'em shit and keep 'em in the dark.

—Sergeant Dingnam, The Departed

Mushrooms are a controversial food in my experience. There are those who love fungi as part of their diet, myself included. And some loathe mushrooms and think they're “dirt.” My kids would fall into that latter grouping. Whether or not you are a mushroom fan, they're useful in various ways. Yes, there is the magic kind that has shown value for treating ailments like depression and helping with other mental health issues, as well as making some music and movies much more engaging. Other mushrooms can be used to replace meat in a person's diet. Some mushrooms are being used to replace steaks in some kitchens. In New York City, I experienced a dessert made from some unknown (to me) mushroom, and it was delicious.

What is interesting about these miracles of the food world is how they're grown. The mushrooms most of us are familiar with are the big white kind that grows in the yard or the basement when we get too much rain or ignore the wife's pleas to de‐funk the cellar. But the good kind, the kind we eat, get much better and more attentive care as they grow. To grow a mushroom for consumption, the basics are something like this:

1. Buy a mushroom‐growing kit, or grind up some old mushrooms you purchased.
2. Put the spores and kit items in a cool, dark place.
3. Cover them with compost or other fertilizer‐type material (manure ...