Reddit mentions of Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Growing Kit, Harvest Gourmet Oyster Mushrooms In 10 days, Top Gardening Gift, Holiday Gift, & Unique Gift

Unfortunately shiitakes are a bit trickier. They grow best on hardwood logs (oak or the like) in fairly cool temperatures and quite a long time. With work they can grow on "fake logs" but I wouldn't recommend them to a first time grower. It takes a bit of experience juggling temperature, humidity, and air exchange that is best done with another species.

Oysters, on the other hand, will grow on damn near anything. I've seen grows done on phone books, money, even a stuffed bra once. Only thing to watch out for is spore drop. Oysters put out ridiculous amounts of spores and if you are the least bit allergic (or even might be) you do NOT want to attempt growing in your home.

If you just want to experience the fruiting part of the process, you can buy little "grow your own mushroom" kits many places these days (My local grocery store carries them sometimes) for about 20$. This is a block of already-colonized substrate that you just fruit. Quick and simple, its a good way to get your toes wet with minimal expenditure. http://www.amazon.com/Back-Roots-Organic-Mushroom-Farm/dp/B00CD0KZ78?ie=UTF8&keywords=mushroom&qid=1463901150&ref_=sr_1_1_a_it&sr=8-1

Right then, on to the links! Best place online to find mycological information is shroomery.org . Its focus is largely on illegal mushrooms but they have a large and well curated gourmet/medicinal section as well.
https://www.shroomery.org/forums/postlist.php/Board/13

The north american mycological association also has a website with a fairly well written step by step guide through growing oysters.
http://www.namyco.org/cultivation.php

We also have a few fungus friendly subreddits here too!
https://www.reddit.com/r/MushroomGrowers
https://www.reddit.com/r/mycology/

And to round things out, an imgur walk through that would end up with a bucket very like the one in the video up above. This fellow doesn't pasteurize his substrate (risky, but thats his choice) but beyond that the process is more or less the same.

http://imgur.com/a/hjU0o


I can post more/better links when I get home. This work laptop has the horsepower of an anemic wood frog so its a little frustrating pulling things up.

I'm going to offer a slightly different suggestion because I know how much kids like to interact with their projects. "Interacting" with plants often means watering...and thus possible death, and disappointment. I also know that many kids tend to lose interest in things that aren't "doing" anything, like slow-growing plants.

So... how about growing a mushroom kit, or herbs of any kind from seed? There's a lot of daily, visual gratification from growth and change. In the case of a mushroom kit, you actually get to water them quite often because they need it. It's so satisfying. Our family had a great time with that earlier this year.

For a true houseplant, though, I second the recommendations for ZZ and pothos. Pothos grow faster, at least.

https://www.amazon.com/Back-Roots-Organic-Mushroom-Farm/dp/B00CD0KZ78

I bought it on Amazon a few months back

Last year Superstore sold this Back to the Roots Mushroom Farm Kit for $20, and haven't seen it in store since. It was placed right next to the bulk white mushrooms in the produce section. I didn't buy it at the time cause I thought it was too expensive.

my local grocer sells these.

yeah there's basic, dead simple ones available thru amazon

Here it is! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CD0KZ78/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can spend $20 on one of these pre-made mushroom "farms", or you could spend ~$100-$300 on a four tier greenhouse, humidifier, controller, fan, timer, pressure cooker, substrates, still air box or glove box, grow bags, etc.

Or you could spend many thousands on a grow room, laminar flow hood, and all the fanciest supplies. It's up to you. You can really invest as much time and money as you want. You decide your own level of involvement. ;)

Temperature for growing depends on the mushroom but in general is around 70F-ish. Some like cooler temps, some warmer.

Back to the Roots. I got it as a gift for Christmas.

https://www.amazon.com/Back-Roots-Organic-Mushroom-Farm/dp/B00CD0KZ78

I received it as a gift, but I think this is it http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CD0KZ78

link to the product for more details

you can buy preinnoculated kits at the grocery store usually too

or off amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Back-Roots-Organic-Mushroom-Farm/dp/B00CD0KZ78/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1503533628&sr=8-4&keywords=oyster+mushroom+kit

I am not a mushroom hunter (try /r/Mushrooms/ ?), but here are some ideas -

• I liked the book Mycophilia: Revelations from the Weird World of Mushrooms. It's just one lady's story about how she got into mushroom hunting, and her experiences with the hobby, but I thought it well written and funny.
  
  
• One of those grow-your-own-mushroom kits?
  
  
• A walking stick with a morel on top?
  
  
• Some of those antique botanical drawings in a cool frame?
  
  edit: also, I really like the morel wine stopper on this site: http://morelmania.com/3Catalog/newcarvedmorels.html
  

Another possibility. https://www.amazon.com/Back-Roots-Organic-Mushroom-Farm/dp/B00CD0KZ78 Make mushroom growing at home a hobby to understand how they grow. Good for explaining to kids. Could be a science project.

mushroom growing kit

wireless indoor/outdoor weather station

pizza stone

hydroflask insulated beer growler