Library, Mushrooms, Park Play

As we do each week, this past week we ventured to the Library. One of our favorite places to go, it never fails our daughter is always asking several times a week to go get new books as she finishes them so quickly and once our son gets an idea for something new he'd like to learn he is begging to head over and collect all the information he can on the subject. Definitely our greatest home school and learning resource- the library and online research.

A few weeks ago when cleaning out animal cages, as we brushed away the hay off the side of one of the cages we found an unexpected site- Mushrooms...which of course prompted us ordering online a book of Mushrooms that just came into the Library last week. Our son was the one extremely interested in this- he wanted to learn about edible and non-edible and poisonous mushrooms. The book is a great resource- and he can't wait to take it on some hikes to be on the look out to identify mushrooms.

This also prompted learning about growing mushrooms ourselves and interesting Mushroom facts....
This PDF Workbook on Mushrooms has some activities and information- American Mushroom Workbook

~~~Mind-boggling Facts About Mushrooms~~~
~ Mushrooms have no chlorophyll (a green pigment in plants), so they don't need sunshine to grow and thrive. Some of the earliest commercial mushroom farms were actually set up in caves in France during the reign of King Louis XIV (1638-1715).
~ One portabella mushroom has more potassium than a banana. White and crimini mushrooms are also good sources of potassium. Potassium helps the human body maintain normal heart rhythm, fluid balance, and muscle and nerve function. ~ Grains and foods that come from animals are good sources of selenium. But in fresh produce, only mushrooms contain significant amounts of this mineral. Selenium plays an important role in the human immune system, the thyroid system, and the male reproductive system.
~ Mushrooms are an excellent source of copper, a mineral that the body needs to produce red blood cells and for other functions. ~ Mushrooms have significant amounts of three B-complex vitamins: riboflavin (rye-bo-FLAY-vin), niacin (NYE-eh-sin), and pantothenic (pan-toe-THIN-ick) acid. The B vitamins help release energy from the fat, protein, and carbohydrates in food.
~ To keep mushrooms fresh, store them in a paper bag in the refrigerator. Avoid airtight containers that can collect moisture and cause them to spoil faster. ~ Consumption of mushrooms in the United States increased from 3.7 pounds per person in 1993 to 4.2 pounds per person in 2000.
~ Sales of the 2001-2002 U.S. mushroom crop totaled 851 million pounds, and consumers spent $912 million on them. ~ Truffles, or mushrooms that grow below the ground, are one of the world's most expensive foods. One variety, Tuber melanosporum, can cost between $800 and $1,500 a pound.
~ The largest living organism ever found is a honey mushroom, Armillaria ostoyae. It covers 3.4 square miles of land in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, and it's still growing! Above info from:  http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/farm/story4/mushroomfacts.htm   The library also has an art gallery which changes out every so often. We love to see what new displays they have, talk about the artists styles and sometimes replicate them at home.  The last of our Library collection was a group of Transportation, Horse, Car and Tractor books...to work on our 4H banner for our booth at fair. The kids have been working away, painting and preparing, the end result should be a wonderful collaboration from a group of talented kids! Library trip always means park trip or river trip or just some kind of play time! This day it was the park. Our daughter immersed herself into her new books as our son and I played Frisbee and ball.  May your Sunday be blessed and you find joy in every moment of your day and say thanks.