Get FREE info about cultivating gourmet, medicinal and exotic mushrooms!
Mana Mushrooms Newsletter
ZERI
Justin Lowell-Bellew
Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs to a linguist/artist mother and a successful entrepreneur father who co-founded and sold The Great Frame Up franchise to Deck The Walls, Justin graduated Cum Laude Wabash College, majored in Psychology (double-minor in French and Economics) and participated in the Malcolm X Institute for Black Studies, the Student Senate, French Club, and Wabash's Division III baseball team. During this time, he also developed a multilevel marketing business: Excel Communications, later purchased by Canadian Teleglobe.
Justin spent a semester and summer in France during his Junior year. This time was spent studying in Tours (Institut de Touraine) and Grenoble (Boston University program CUEF, Universite Stendhal). A common thread through the two stages culminated in an independent study project on Cognac, France.
Directly after earning his degree, he moved to Boston to work for KLD Research & Analytics. He built their book of business more than 20 percent during over the 2 1/2 years he worked for the leading Socially Responsible Investment Research firm, exceeding sales targets every quarter for 8 consecutive quarters of direct responsibility and quotas. This now represents 40% given the recent loss of long time client Domini Social Investments. During his several years in Boston, he also managed all aspects of a multi-unit dwelling in the suburbs.
Encouraged and inspired by his success and the opportunities of social enterprise, he moved on to co-found Mana Threads, LLC. A major driver behind the transition was his desire to make a direct impact, rather than observe from the sidelines.
He currently serves on the board of Grass Commons and is developing Mana Mushrooms, a context-appropriate iteration of the principles espoused by Mana Threads, LLC.
Since founding Mana Threads, Justin has also taken up surfing. While in Brasil, he also participated briefly in SOS Itacare, an organization then focused on sustainable development of the region. He has also taken a Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives course and read voraciously to continue his own independent education. Some of this reading and Mana Mushrooms itself has been inspired in part by courses taken with Paul Stamets of Fungi Perfecti. He also spent several weeks in New Orleans as an apprentice carpenter, plumber, and electrician.
Is it Possible to Use Pleurotus ostreatus Substrata in Dairy Cows Feeding?
Ivanka Milenkovic, Ognjen Adamovic, and Milan Adamovic combine to present a compelling read for anyone interested in sustainable agriculture, especially this whole IF&WMS thing ;-)
This was provided with the courtesy of friends at SCIZERINM.
Within my limited network of ZERI community members, Ivanka has been credited with this work.
National Inquiry Services Centre - Abstract from African Journal of Aquatic Science 2000
So, this is an interesting article, especially considering that I recently discovered the Tsumeb brewery was not implemented as the full vision had foreseen. Although it is the most often cited example of a brewery implementing the ZERI methodology, there seems to be no one who can confirm or deny its current status. Go figure. The idea is brilliant and the design seems plausible, which led me to pursue the opportunity... and here we are, making a record for you -- the wonders of the internet ;-)
NISC Abstract on ZERI concept in industry-polyculture-farm system
Spent Mushroom Substrate as Animal Feed 3
This is one of the core pages from SCIZERINM that reflects the opportunity for improving our agricultural system. The purpose of the page in the context of the SCIZERI NM site is to reflect their work with Ivanka Milosevic, one of the scientists in the ZERI 'network', a mycologist from Yugoslavia. Mana Mushrooms would like to work with Ivanka in the future, pending successful implementation of the CIP method and sufficient financing / creative partnership.
One component of the system which I feel is under-explored is the conveyance of medicinal and nutritional properties of mushrooms to cattle/ruminants and their byproducts; can we reduce antibiotic loads in cattle by using spent mushroom substrates from certain fungi with medicinal properties? It seems logical that the fundamental chemical characteristics of certain fungi would be transmitted through to milks and meats -- proteins, for example.
Spent Mushroom Substrate as Animal Feed 2
The SCIZERINM site has great information, but can be difficult to find, so I have a few links to them, especially to the specific pages of interest in the endeavor of downstreaming byproducts of mushroom cultivation to cattle, or ruminants. So far as I understand from conversation with those involved with the project, the ruminants involved are wild buffalo. In 2006, my understanding was that the buffalo had not demonstrated much interest in the SMS as a feed, but that it was difficult to gauge their interest; the people running SCIZERINM are not and did not want to be in a position of interfering with nature, forcing the buffalo to eat the ration. From other information on the website, I understand that ruminants will take up to 18% SMS in their TMR, or "total mixed ration" (often consisting of corn silage, dried brewer's grains, and other agricultural byproducts.
Search
