What does it mean to be sustainable? Sustainability is a way to conserve our natural resources. Humans exploit nature to the point where we approach our environment in destructive ways.
Sustainability is the only option for our children and ourselves to thrive. Pollution can cause various health issues, from the greenhouse gas effect to global warming. So, what can we do to become more sustainable? The answer lies in using natural resources that we don’t easily exhaust. Free energy sources, such as solar power and hydroponics, can create energy without pollution.
Another way we can promote clean energy is to use biodegradable materials that we can easily compost. We can find a good example of this in the fungi kingdom. Mushrooms are easily some of the most sustainable materials in the world, and we’ll dive into why growing mushrooms is good for the environment below.
Water usage
Did you know that the processes used for most food production leave lots of water waste?
Preparing meats for consumption can take hundreds of gallons of water. On the other hand, growing mushrooms only requires a fraction of this. For example, a mushroom sustainability report by SureHarvest Services, an agricultural sustainability certification and verification firm, found that you only need 1.8 gallons of water to grow a pound of brown or white mushrooms.
This is an exceptionally small amount. Remember that when you’re reaping the benefits of your mushroom grow kit, you’re doing your part to help the environment. This is one of the reasons why growing mushrooms is good for the environment.
Energy usage
Food needs to go through a four-step process, from agriculture to handling. Unfortunately, we use a ton of energy during these phases, and the energy waste is astonishing. We use energy to make boxed products and use diesel fuel when we haul them to the grocery store. Moreover, most foods use BTUs in the quadrillions. Alternately, mushrooms don’t require much energy to grow, which cuts down on energy waste.
Efficient acreage
Did you know you can produce one million pounds of mushrooms per acre? We already explained how they use very little energy and water, but they don’t need a lot of land to grow compared to most other foods. Additionally, when you produce mushrooms, you don’t have to worry about deforestation that may occur with other foods. Also, the soil you grow them in consists of agricultural byproducts that you can compost. Therefore, you can use it multiple times. Growing mushrooms is an excellent way to help assist the environment and our lives.
