The composite material is comprised of a substrate of discrete particles and a network of interconnected mycelia cells bonding the discrete particles together. The mycelia cells are selected from the group consisting of at least one of Agrocybe brasiliensi, Flammulina velutipes, Hypholomoa capnoides, Hypholoma sublaterium, Morchella angusticeps, Macrolepiota procera and Coprinus comatus. The fungus digests the nutrient material over a period of time sufficient to grow hyphae and to allow the hyphae to form a network of interconnected mycelia cells through and around the discrete particles thereby bonding the discrete particles together to form a self-supporting composite material.