Sheet mulch mushrooms

These might be Dung mushrooms. Started showing up in May and as of today, June 16, 2008 new mushrooms grow each day. Emerge from the sheet mulch in the early morning and are dried out by late afternoon; new mushrooms the next day.

Mystery mass in our sheet mulch

ANSWER: This is fuligo septica, common name is dog vomit slime mold or scrambled egg slime mold. See here and here for more info.

Does anybody know what this is? It grew overnight in the sheet mulch. It looks solid but is the consistency of cream of wheat. By late afternoon it had dried to a thin red slab. It's sort of weird!

What is it?

Is its presence a good sign or a bad sign?

Should I leave it in the sheet mulch or remove it?

Permaculture - Concrete to food and wildlife

Sheet-mulch materials containing nitrogen

Below the sheet-mulch barrier (cardboard, newspaper, heavy paper bags):
Aged but seedy manure, fresh manure, legume hay (e.g. alfalfa), vegetable kitchen waste, weeds


Above the sheet-mulch barrier (cardboard, newspaper, heavy paper bags):
Aquatic weeds & algae, coffee grounds, aged seed-free manure, grass clippings, seaweed

Sheet-mulch materials containing carbon

Below the sheet-mulch barrier (cardboard, newspaper, heavy paper bags):
Dried leaves, dried plant stalks, grass hay, any seed-free carbon source


Above the sheet-mulch barrier (cardboard, newspaper, heavy paper bags):
Pine needles, sawdust, shredded newspaper, straw, wood chips (top mulch only)