In the 1980s we did receive from Claron, Vendôme/France, for New Year, a package with Antique Postcards about French Marl Cave Mushroom Growing
This postcard shows the hard work of harvesting inside such Marl Caves in France.
They have made ridge beds on the floor from their compost... covered with crushed marl.
Preparing the substrate: composting, then making ridge beds inside the caves.
The support culture of fungi is the compost, which serves as a food substrate to fungi.
It must be prepared. Compost is a mixture of horse manure (75%) and straw (25%). Manure and straw are not directly assimilated by the Paris champignon (button mushroom), for insufficiently being decomposed; the operation is therefore to obtain a rich compost fermentation of these two ingredients. Just click for more photos and info on the short link and click through...
Here you see a Mushroom Grower at the entrance of the cave...
Now the men proudly pose with their harvested mushrooms...
Découvrez comment sont cultivés les champignons à Villers–Cotterêts ←click for short video where in the end the person shows this photo of his Grandfather!
Well, don't know if the above video is telling the truth...
Came upon this historic information with the same photo and more: The Delalande Family, La Cave des Roches. 4 centuries of history ←click link and see below image:
Showing off their harvest here and even a French kitty is posing in this picture!
They were the producers of Mushroom Spawn at the time...
Some unique history that I wanted to share with my readers!
Related posts:
1958 Tragedy for Pieter's Mushroom Friends in Zichen-Zussen-Bolder in Belgium | previous post
Husband Pieter visiting Mushrooms in the Cave - Bradford-on-Avon in England | previous post
Blink TV Australia used our Marl Cave Mushroom Growing Image in Guillaume's Paris Episode 9 | later post where Pieter's Postcards got used by permission for TV series
Wonderful postcards Mariette!
ReplyDeleteWishing you and Pieter a lovely new week!
Love and hugs, Claudia xo
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteThey are a great piece of history!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, Thank you for illustrating these wonderful postcards. You know how I love the documentation of the past through old photos and postcards. It is so interesting to see the traditional mushroom culture and harvest. I don't envy those men their job, though. It looks like it would be difficult or impossible to stand upright in that cave! I'll bet those baskets are collectors' items now.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteThis is such an important part of history, had to write about them.
Can you imagine if people still had to stoop over for doing such a job at ground level?
Things certainly have improved over the decades and for the better.
You are right about that particular cave having a very low ceiling so you could bump your head!
Maybe some crafters still could produce the woven baskets; they are very pretty and sturdy too.
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,,
ReplyDeleteich freue ich über deinen schönen Post.
Alles Liebe
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteEin Stück Geschichte und harte Arbeit von vergangene Zeiten...
Lieber Gruß,
Mariette
Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, the history of the beginning of mushroom cultivation...
Hugs,
Mariette
Hi Mariette. Those are wonderful postcards showing old mushroom growing! I love the photo with a kitty posing with growers :-) Looks like their work paid off and they had a big harvest there. I wouldn't know the preparation process if I didn't read your blog. Thank you for sharing, Mariette!
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteYes, these postcards revealed some valuable history about early mushroom growing.
That kitty made it into a long virtual life...
It makes us all appreciate more what we eat if we learn how it came about.
Hugs,
Mariette
Beautiful
ReplyDeleteDearest R,
DeleteYes, those old postcards are telling their own story very well.
Hugs,
Mariette
Thanks for sharing such interesting things. Never knew about anything like this. I never liked history in school, but it was not presented this way. Always makes me so happy when you take the time visit. Sorry you are having so many water issues. Trust things will get better soon.
ReplyDeleteDearest LV,
DeleteThis is interesting history that needs to be preserved!
Husband Pieter always has emphasized as a teacher to make it visual; show slides or something to actually see and grasp things. SO TRUE!
So far this week looks better and even with the Oconee River having been 27' above level, hope it soon gets back to normal!
Hugs,
Mariette
Tolle Postkarten, liebe Mariette, die sind ja schon richtig alt! Hätte ich gar nicht gedacht, dass man so lange schon Pilze auf diese Weise züchtet.
ReplyDeleteLiebe Grüße
Sara
https://meinwaldgarten.home.blog
Liebe Sara,
DeleteJa doch, seid Jahrhunderte wird es schon so gemacht.
Mein Kommentar bei dir kommt leider nicht durch und bei ein zweites Mal bekomme ich die Meldung von doppelter Kommentar...
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette
I like the one with the French kitty posing. Wow, what a history in postcards.
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday to you
Betsy
Dearest Betsy,
DeleteThank you and yes, it is a wonderful insight in the life of a mushroom grower from that time.
Hard work, that's for sure!
Hugs,
Mariette
o wie interessant, liebe Mariette, danke dass Du diese lehrreiche Geschichte mit uns teilst.
ReplyDeleteViele liebe Grüße aus dem stürmischen Ostfriesland.
Herzlich Traudi.♥
Liebe Traudi,
DeleteDanke sehr und so etwas sollte geteilt werden da es wirklich Geschichte ist. Hoffentlich wird es nicht zu naß bei euch wie es hier immer noch ist.
Lieber Gruß,
Mariette
Mi piacciono le fotografie in bianco e nero, molto belle le tue.
ReplyDeleteBuon mercoledi.
Caro Giancarlo,
DeleteGrazie e sì, queste antiche cartoline di tono seppia sembrano belle. Un bel po' di storia per preservare.
Un abbraccio,
Mariette
Dat is een mooie serie kaarten Mariette. Maar wat een zwaar werk, dan gaat het tegenwoordig gelukkig heel anders. Fijne dag,
ReplyDeleteBeste Willy,
DeleteJa, mooie sepia tone kaarten waren het en de moeite waard om als geschiedenis vast te leggen.
Nee, de bedden zo op de grond maken dat is al lang afgeschaft, bijna ondoenlijk...
Er wordt toch nog wel in grotten gekweekt hoor!
Liefs,
Mariette
Ohhh! Those photos are interesting, really documentary of the time, growing mushrooms.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tomoko,
DeleteOnly now I discover that I did not reply to your comment...
Sorry—this is old and true history of the earliest grown mushrooms in marl caves.
Hugs,
Mariette