Description
The first Mushroom Groves establish basic cultivation areas for hardy, fast-growing fungal species throughout the shadier portions of Mossglow Hollow. These initial groves focus on reliable edible varieties that thrive with minimal intervention, blending seamlessly with the existing fungal ecology of the forest floor.
Each grove site consists of carefully prepared logs sourced only from trees that have fallen naturally or been taken with the forest's blessing, ensuring no living tree is harmed. These nurse logs are inoculated with spawn from oyster mushrooms, the most forgiving and productive species for beginners. Arranged in artful patterns that follow the natural contours of the land, the logs soon become covered in delicate shelf formations of pearl-white, golden-brown, and soft-gray oyster mushrooms.
Additional cultivation beds feature composted leaf litter enriched with wood chips, providing ideal growing medium for ground-dwelling varieties. Common button mushrooms and cremini thrive in these beds, their familiar forms producing reliable harvests that supplement the settlement's food stores. The magical properties of the Elderwood Grove accelerate growth significantly, with oyster mushrooms reaching harvestable size in just one to three days rather than the usual week or more.
Small signs carved from fallen branches mark each cultivation area, noting the species present and basic harvest indicators. Woven willow baskets hang from nearby trees for gathering mature specimens. The groves quickly develop their own earthy fragrance, a rich scent of loam and growth that draws residents to witness the quiet marvel of fungal abundance.
These initial groves serve as proof of concept, demonstrating that mushroom cultivation can work in harmony with the forest rather than against it. As the mycelium networks spread beneath the surface, they begin forming beneficial relationships with nearby tree roots, contributing to the forest's interconnected web of life even while providing sustenance for the settlement.
Benefits
The groves produce 100 pounds of edible mushrooms each month, primarily oyster mushrooms and common varieties, valued at 2 gold per pound, generating 200 gold per month. This upgrade generates 1 Prestige.