Shiitake mushrooms can be produced by placing cultured fungus called spawn into holes drilled in fresh cut hardwood. These logs are then incubated under forest shade for about a year before fruiting begins. The most recommended wood for production is the oak genus of the beech family.

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Fun fact! Shiitake mushrooms can be produced by placing cultured fungus called spawn into holes drilled in fresh cut hardwood. These logs are then incubated under forest shade for about a year before fruiting begins. The most recommended wood for production is the oak genus of the beech family.

Shiitake cultivation

High quality macadamia nuts contain at least 72% oil. Because of the oil’s rich, cushiony feel, and high oxidative stability, oil extracted from macadamia nuts is suitable for use in skincare formulations such as heavy creams, soaps, sunscreens, and shampoos.

Fun fact! High quality macadamia nuts contain at least 72% oil. Because of the oil’s rich, cushiony feel, and high oxidative stability, oil extracted from macadamia nuts is suitable for use in skincare formulations such as heavy creams, soaps, sunscreens, and shampoos.

Macadamia nut oil

While the primary market for earthworms is for recreational fishing, there is a growing earthworm market for composting. The two types of earthworms best suited for composting are the redworms 

 (commonly known as red wiggler, brandling, or manure worm) and 

Fun fact! While the primary market for earthworms is for recreational fishing, there is a growing earthworm market for composting. The two types of earthworms best suited for composting are the redworms Eisenia foetida (commonly known as red wiggler, brandling, or manure worm) and Lumbricus rubellus. 

Composting with earthworms

Milkweed provides strong fibers for making cord, rope, and for weaving coarse cloth. Fibers from the stems of milkweed have been identified in prehistoric textiles found in the Pueblo region, and Tewa-speaking people of the Rio Grande still use these fibers to make string and rope. At the Zuni Pueblo, the silky seed fibers are spun on a wooden spindle, made into yarn, and woven into fabric.

Fun fact! Milkweed provides strong fibers for making cord, rope, and for weaving coarse cloth. Fibers from the stems of milkweed have been identified in prehistoric textiles found in the Pueblo region, and Tewa-speaking people of the Rio Grande still use these fibers to make string and rope. At the Zuni Pueblo, the silky seed fibers are spun on a wooden spindle, made into yarn, and woven into fabric. 

Milkweed Textiles

Fava beans are rich in the amino acid L-DOPA; the precursor to the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.

Fun Fact! Fava beans are rich in the amino acid L-DOPA; the precursor to the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.

Fava beans and your brain

All parts of the cassava plant contain cyanogenic glucosides, which are toxic. Boiling the leaves, as well as peeling and boiling the cassava root renders it safe to eat.

Fun fact! All parts of the cassava plant contain cyanogenic glucosides, which are toxic. Boiling the leaves, as well as peeling and boiling the cassava root renders it safe to eat. 

Be sure to peel and cook cassava

Mango trees can live a very long time, with some still producing fruit at 300 years old. 

Fun fact! Mango trees can live a very long time, with some still producing fruit at 300 years old.

Long live mango trees

Native Americans would make a hot poultice of ground chia to apply to infected areas of the body inside of a cloth or bandage. The Europeans eventually adopted this method, and early California mission fathers claimed that chia made the finest poultice for gunshot wounds.

Fun Fact! Native Americans would make a hot poultice of ground chia to apply to infected areas of the body inside of a cloth or bandage. The Europeans eventually adopted this method, and early California mission fathers claimed that chia made the finest poultice for gunshot wounds.

Old school chia medicine

About 90% of wild flowering plants, and 75% of the world’s crops depend at least in part on animal pollination. Pollinators include over 20,000 different bee species as well as butterflies, wasps, moths, beetles, birds, bats, and other vertebrates. Unfortunately, 16.5% of vertebrate pollinator species are threatened with extinction globally, and 40% of invertebrate pollinator species – bees and butterflies in particular – are facing extinction.

Fun Fact! About 90% of wild flowering plants, and 75% of the world’s crops depend at least in part on animal pollination. Pollinators include over 20,000 different bee species as well as butterflies, wasps, moths, beetles, birds, bats, and other vertebrates. Unfortunately, 16.5% of vertebrate pollinator species are threatened with extinction globally, and 40% of invertebrate pollinator species – bees and butterflies in particular – are facing extinction.

Save our pollinators

Of the almost 400,000 plant species globally, little over 6,000 plant species have been cultivated for food, and only 9 species account for over 66% of all crop production.

Fun Fact! Of the almost 400,000 plant species globally, little over 6,000 plant species have been cultivated for food, and only 9 species account for over 66% of all crop production.

Fun Facts