 |
| last year's logs stacked and starting to fruit |
Is there any better way to learn a new skill than trading labor (a.k.a. hands on experience) for knowledge? And of course we got to take home some logs of our own!
Why grow mushrooms? As if that oh so yummy umami isn't reason enough, they also provide selenium, vitamin D and B, antioxidants, trace minerals and can help boost your immune system. AND, locally grown shrooms can be hard to find and pricey.
Materials:
--Logs cut in late winter/early spring
--Sawdust Spawn
--Sawdust Palm Inoculator: this one looks nice and sells for $35
--Adapter and drill bit for drilling holes with angle grinder $35 and $14
--Food grade wax (clear paraffin based cheese wax)
--Wax applicator
Inoculating Mushroom Logs:
 |
| Miguel gets the sawdust spawn ready while Devan checks out the inoculator |
Green wood should be used for mushrooms logs, so cut in late winter or early spring.
Different mushroom strains prefer different wood.
We used oak for the shiitake.
 |
| Mike drilling holes |
Using an adapter to attach the drill bit to an angle grinder made drilling the holes (about six inches apart down the length of the log) much faster and easier. We drilled four rows, one on each log "side."
 |
| me using the inoculator |
The holes are filled with spawn by "stabbing" the inoculator in the bucket of sawdust 4-5 times to pick up the spawn and depressing the plunger over the hole.
 |
| Meaghan paints wax over spawn-filled holes |
Paint the wax over the spawn to seal in moisture and keep out insects and other spores.
We cut up old sponges and taped them to sticks to dab on the wax. I think cheap craft paint brushes or foam brushes would have been a bit more efficient (after a few logs the sponges needed to be replaced) but then again, waste not want not.
 |
| spawning friends (not even the worst pun to come to mind while writing this post) |
A three person work party is pretty necessary: one person for drilling holes, another for inoculating and a third for waxing, but of course more hands are better!
Don't forget to label your logs with the strain and year they were inoculated.
Totem Method:
The totem method is best for fast-growing mushrooms like oysters and lion's mane.
1. Clear away a spot.
2. Put down cardboard and evenly spread about eight ounces of spawn.
3. Place one 12" long log on top of spawn.
4. Place eight ounces of spawn on top of log.
5. Place another 12" log on top of spawn.
6. Place eight more ounces of spawn on top.
7. Place two inch thick piece of wood on top of that spawn.
8. Place large paper bag over totem and secure with twine but don't close off air supply by tying too tightly. Leave this on until it deteriorates from rain or is covered in mycelium.
More on the totem method.
Caring for Mushroom Logs:
Stack mushroom logs somewhere dark, damp and protected from too much wind that might dry them out. Logs can be watered every few weeks to maintain moisture.
Don't stack logs directly on the ground. Pallets, blocks or bricks would all work to get that first layer off the ground.
Logs can fruit for 2-6 years. Some will fruit in the first summer but many won't fruit until the second.
Twice a year you can "shock" the logs into fruiting by soaking them in cool water for 8-12 hours and then hitting them with a mallet. Some think this works by replicating a falling tree, signaling the nearby availability of fresh food.
One bag of sawdust spawn inoculated around 30 logs for us. At $25 a bag, even with the tools and wax factored in, it's much cheaper than buying a mushroom log (locally available for $40-50) and was a great afternoon.
Thanks Miguel, Devan and Meaghan!
Don't forget to label your logs with the strain and year they were inoculated.
 |
| totem method for oysters or lion's mane |
Totem Method:
The totem method is best for fast-growing mushrooms like oysters and lion's mane.
1. Clear away a spot.
2. Put down cardboard and evenly spread about eight ounces of spawn.
3. Place one 12" long log on top of spawn.
4. Place eight ounces of spawn on top of log.
5. Place another 12" log on top of spawn.
6. Place eight more ounces of spawn on top.
7. Place two inch thick piece of wood on top of that spawn.
8. Place large paper bag over totem and secure with twine but don't close off air supply by tying too tightly. Leave this on until it deteriorates from rain or is covered in mycelium.
More on the totem method.
Caring for Mushroom Logs:
Stack mushroom logs somewhere dark, damp and protected from too much wind that might dry them out. Logs can be watered every few weeks to maintain moisture.
Don't stack logs directly on the ground. Pallets, blocks or bricks would all work to get that first layer off the ground.
Logs can fruit for 2-6 years. Some will fruit in the first summer but many won't fruit until the second.
Twice a year you can "shock" the logs into fruiting by soaking them in cool water for 8-12 hours and then hitting them with a mallet. Some think this works by replicating a falling tree, signaling the nearby availability of fresh food.
One bag of sawdust spawn inoculated around 30 logs for us. At $25 a bag, even with the tools and wax factored in, it's much cheaper than buying a mushroom log (locally available for $40-50) and was a great afternoon.
Thanks Miguel, Devan and Meaghan!
No comments:
Post a Comment