A living hydrated mycelium composite containing at least one of a combination of mycelium and fibers, mycelium and particles, and mycelium, particles and fibers is processed with a nutrient material to promote mycelia tissue growth thereafter dehydrated to a moisture content of less than 50% by weight to deactivate the further growth of mycelia tissue and then stored. The stored dehydrated mycelium composite is further processed by rehydrating to reactivate the mycelium and to initiate growth of at least one fruiting body.
