How do you grow fungi at home step-by-step?
This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/mushrooms/grow-mushrooms.htm
Is it possible to grow shiitakes indoors (as in a basement)? I have damp darkness and room to stack the logs.
Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/mushrooms/grow-mushrooms.htm
This year I have found a reddish tubular plant growing in and around my garden. In the morning the tube stands straight up and then wilts by the end of the day. There seems to be a brownish, thick liquid oozing from the tube. Also, it seems to attract a lot of flies. What are these things, and how can I get rid of them? Is it a fungus or a mushroom?
It's sound like a mushroom. This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-care/lgen/eliminate-mushrooms-in-your-lawn.htm
Are mushrooms that grow in your yard poisonous?
Yes, these are poisonous to both humans and most animals, like cats and dogs. If you have small children or pets, you may want to take steps to eliminate these from your lawn. Here is an article you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-care/lgen/eliminate-mushrooms-in-your-lawn.htm
What is a first step making mushrooms?
This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/mushrooms/grow-mushrooms.htm
I would like information on how to grow mushrooms in the backyard for personal use.
Here is an article on growing mushrooms:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/mushrooms/grow-mushrooms.htm
I will warn you though that edible mushroom farming is typically an indoor process in a cool, damp location indoors, like a basement.
I have a lot of mushrooms growing in my front lawn where we used to have a very large tree and it was rooted out (but I still find dead roots now and again). I also can't get grass to grow there and the cats keep thinking it's kitty litter. ANY SUGGESTIONS before I plant grass and re-soil on top of it?
It sounds as though the pH of the soil is off, most likely because of deep roots from the tree that are decaying and this is making the soil acidic. We would recommend having your soil tested by the local extension service. It may be that a fertilizer treatment would be all that is needed to both get rid of the mushrooms and get the grass growing again. This article will explain about bringing the acid level down of the soil: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/lower-acid-soil.htm