INPUT ARTICLE: Article: To easily grow mushrooms, purchase spores that have already been "inoculated" or mixed in with a substrate, like dirt, hay, or sawdust. Button mushrooms are very common and available through online retailers, and can even be found in local nurseries. Whenever possible, purchase spawn from an experienced mushroom cultivator. These spawn will be more likely to produce mushrooms. Since the spawn is pre-treated, you can apply it directly on top of the compost mixture. Try to make an even layer across the substrate so the mushrooms will grow in all parts of the soil. Mushrooms like to grow in a damp environment, so even if the manure and compost are wet, spray the tray thoroughly with water. Set the tray directly on top of a pre-heated pad that plugs into a wall and has a temperature control dial. Place a thermometer in the soil to monitor the temperature as it rises. Avoid heating the soil any higher than 70F (21C) because it can kill the spores before they grow. The mushrooms will grow best in a dark place, like a root cellar, basement, garage, or even a closet. Throughout the day, check the temperature and moisture of the soil to make sure it isn't to warm or dry. Spray the soil with water thoroughly 2 times per day. If the soil is frequently warm, try lowering the temperature of the heating pad and keep an eye on the thermometer. After 3-4 weeks, the top of the soil will be covered in tiny, white roots, called "mycelium." When the soil is completely covered, lower the temperature to encourage growth of the first mushrooms. Some areas of the tray might form mycelium early, while others will take a full month. Be patient throughout the process, and wait until the colony is fully formed to lower the heat.

SUMMARY: Purchase ready-made spores online or at a nursery. Spread the spores on top of the compost and mist with water. Place the tray on a heating pad to raise the temperature to 70F (21C). Move the tray to a dark room, and spray with water 2 times per day. Lower the heat to 50F (10C) once tiny, thread-like roots form.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The first rule of investing is to buy when prices are low and wait for the value of what you buy to increase. Do background research on what types of artwork are more or less valuable at the moment and see which types are poised to grow in value. Note that if you buy a piece of art at a bargain price, it may be because nobody else wanted to buy it and it failed to sell at auction. You may have to wait as long as 10 years for these works of art to rise in value. Consider beginning your research at an art fair. Art fairs will give you a starting point so that you can narrow your gallery search down and avoid visiting ones that don't feature what you want. Artwork in a particular genre or by a particular artist can fluctuate wildly in price, especially if it's more contemporary in nature. For this reason, make sure you're diversifying your investments by buying art from a variety of artworks, styles, and types. Don't limit yourself to any one type of art. Be willing to invest in decorative art (e.g., porcelains) as well as fine art (e.g., paintings and sculptures). Although much of the value of a given work of art stems from who the artist is, art of a higher quality is nearly always worth more than lower quality work. When deciding on art to invest in, opt for quality instead of quantity. Works of higher quality are also far more likely to appreciate in value over time, making them much better long-term investments. Determining which pieces of art are higher quality will require you to either acquire a working knowledge of art history and movements or hire an art "advisor" who can help you decide which pieces to invest in. Works by relatively unknown or young artists tend to be cheaper and have great potential for increasing in value. Buy cheap works from up-and-coming artists if you're looking to turn your investments into possible short-term windfalls. Note that this is an inherently risky endeavor, as not all art is guaranteed to increase in value. You probably shouldn't spend all of your money on this type of art if you're looking to invest. For the best results, look for art that is featured in cutting edge galleries or museum shows and that was painted by someone whose work has not been featured before. There are two types of market in the art world: primary and secondary. The primary market is for buying works that have not been previously owned (i.e., new works of art) and are thus relatively inexpensive, while the secondary market is for buying previously owned works through a gallery or auction. Buying art on the primary market will almost always be less expensive than buying art on the secondary market. Thus, if you're able to resell that art to a gallery or at an auction, it usually results in a net profit for you.

SUMMARY:
Find out what the relative values of different types of art are. Diversify the type of art that you invest in. Buy the highest quality art you can afford. Purchase works by emerging artists for potentially greater profits. Acquire art on the primary market if you're looking to flip it.