MYCOREMEDIATION
"Water links us to our neighbor in a way more profound and complex than any other" ~ John Thorson
What is Mycoremediation?
Mycoremediation: Mycoremediation, a term popularized by Paul Stamets, describes the use of fungi to restore damaged ecosystems by harnessing the natural abilities of fungi to transform environmental pollutants. As a form of bioremediation, it relies on fungal enzymes and metabolic pathways to break down contaminants, often activating ancient or dormant genetic capabilities that are expressed when environmental conditions provide the necessary stimulus. Rather than creating entirely new solutions, mycoremediation reveals the powerful restorative processes that fungi have evolved over millions of years, allowing us to work with nature’s existing mechanisms to heal ecosystems.
Enchanted Nature is working with the power of fungi to help undo some of the damage being done to the environment; with a focus on water. As W.H. Auden said, "Thousands have lived without love, not one without water". We are made of water! Unfortunately, our modern lifestyles are unintentionally, and in some cases, intentionally leading to water that is making humans, animals, plants and the earth itself sick.
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Recently, we put together a team of volunteers from various disciplines and completed a lab test to study the efficacy of using Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) colonized media to filter water with elevated levels of Escherichia coliform (E. Coli).
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The results were ASTOUNDING!
Chris Vacher collecting contaminated water samples
Bobby Whitescarver packing the samples in a cooler with ice
Filtering the contaminated water samples and collecting the result
Thanks to our colleague Cory Egger for the photos
Preparing the sample plates and placing them in the incubator
Time to start counting coliform forming units (CFU's)
We repeated the experiment to confirm our results.
This time Cory is collecting the water samples
In our 23 cm depth filter column, we had complete attenuation of CFU's
If you are interested in reading our complete report on the experiment and the results, here's the link:
Check back here. We are moving forward to deploy this technology in the field.
As we learn and continue working for a sustainable world, we'll update this page with our progress.
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