The Mushroom Growing Monks of Mepkin Abbey

Mepkin Abbey, Monks Corner, S.C.

I admit that when the Mepkin Abbey Monks got out of the egg business after being harassed by PETA I did hope they would become the Fudge Making Monks of Mepkin Abbey but I've been very happy that in their wisdom they became Mushroom Growing Monks.

I made chicken ginger mushroom soup with the mushrooms I bought in the gift shop. I gave my office mate a box and she turned around and made me soup. Now I've discovered there are mushroom recipes on the monk's web site and I may love mushrooms enough to try them all.

The Mepkin community has added Shiitake mushrooms to their Oyster mushroom production.   They look for the Shiitakes to become a valuable addition to their monastic industry due to the  market value for this delicacy in the Charleston area.

Mushrooms Everywhere!

Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

They are everywhere!


Mushrooms
Overnight, very
Whitely, discreetly,
Very quietly

Our toes, our noses
Take hold on the loam,
Acquire the air.

Nobody sees us,
Stops us, betrays us;
The small grains make room.

Soft fists insist on
Heaving the needles,
The leafy bedding,

Even the paving.
Our hammers, our rams,
Earless and eyeless,

Perfectly voiceless,
Widen the crannies,
Shoulder through holes. We

Diet on water,
On crumbs of shadow,
Bland-mannered, asking

Little or nothing.
So many of us!
So many of us!

We are shelves, we are
Tables, we are meek,
We are edible,

Nudgers and shovers
In spite of ourselves.
Our kind multiplies:

We shall by morning
Inherit the earth.
Our foot's in the door.

Sylvia Plath

Mushroom Run

Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner, S.C.

When PETA harassed the Franciscan Monks of Mepkin Abbey into giving up chicken farming they turned to mushroom growing. I had no complaints about them taking up mushrooms although I originally hoped they might decide to be the Fudge Making Monks of Moncks Corner. You must admit it has a ring to it!

The gardens are so beautiful it is worth a drive (check your directions) any time of the year and now you can pick up mushrooms. Here is the mushroom story and a link to the online store.  The monks are pretty high tech.

Okay kids. I need to get my shower and get to bed. Another day ends.