215 replies to this topic

[rockyfungus]

You saw my first log. If you don't want to go the log route, do a ton of woodchips on the ground in a mound. I always see pictures of them growing off stumps from the ground.

Just overload the ground with spawn and wood and let mother nature put you to shame. 

Edited by rockyfungus, 29 October 2021 - 10:20 PM.

[Arathu]

Hugelculture is where I'm going next with perennial edible plants growing out of it too.....it looks like a win-win-win-win situation.....

 

The mushrooms win, the plants win, the earth wins......and thus WE win.......on our way back to the dirt.....

 

IMHO the best parts is......the grandkids and theirs.......WIN

 

Want to change the climate back and start turning things around????? Pass a law that it's mandatory to grow food and make clean dirt and water for EVERY HUMAN that breathes.......

 

Mandate a yearly RESET for everyone via the fungi and LOVE...... BAN GREED as a crime against humanity.....and everything else for that matter.....

 

There's a mandate set I'll stand behind.......

[MushLuvR]

I've seen that hugelkultur style of making mounds, I think it's amazing and let nature compost for you and do all the leg work. I have done traditional compost piles(in the past.. now I have a recycled soil old edible blocks thrown in to break down and back to the earth) and it works, but it's exactly that... Work to turn it.  The mounds look like set and forget.  

Edited by MushLuvR, 31 October 2021 - 12:19 AM.

[rockyfungus]

I guess I was hugelkulturing this year with the hopes of making some better dirt. I been mounding leaves, logs, branches, etc, soil, subs, some compost. Just good organic shit and I wanted to see what critters, fungi, would take over. Then I figured I'd add back to my compost heaps.

Fuck that I'm making a hobbit village. 

[Arathu]

 I'm thinking that a handy hugelculturist could easily (I'm sure that building mounds of logs and soil IS work) wind up with a completely organic paradise of recycling mounds....teeming with life from the micro to the macro.....I bet, I know actually, rabbits and quite a few other critters will love habitat like that.....

 

I'm starting real soon in fact.....nut tree's are something else I want on the acre, or close by anyway, too. We have native black walnut but man those tree's are toxic to plants around them.....I know having multiple species of fungus breaking down organic materials into new fresh soil components is definitely a good path to follow......Imagine if just half the population or even each family grew enough healthy food to make sure NO ONE was hungry.....man I'm talking hippy stuff again and most people just aren't into other's that much....it's sad. Can't be "successful" or have a diversified retirement portfolio by GIVING things away......how will anyone be called a superstar or accomplished unless they are grossly (and usually quite unjustifiably) elevated above others..........

 

Grow shrooms! Actually we're just helping them to grow, they're doing the good work, we're just beasts of burden.....kind of like cats, who's the smart one again? 

 

A

 

 

[MushLuvR]

@Arathu... your posts are always inciteful and you make me Think... always a plus in my book.  

 

Back at it again, spawned up 4 blocks this morning from last nights PC Party!  2 Chicken of the Woods and 2 Beech... White Beech I believe.  No experience with Beech,

but they look like I can treat them like Chestnuts and give the bag a nice good size slice.  I'll have to do a bit more research on those.  I have some Oak logs in the works for the COTW,

I learned my lesson not to try in a bag, I had a tiny bit of action like it was going to fruit and then nothing and eventual normal green mold that you see on spent Shiitake Blocks.  COTW is my favorite

polypore and I've always wanted to grow and eat them, really excited for an outdoor project.  I'd like to eventually do some Maitake logs, but my focus is on COTW since Maitake grows fine indoor.  

 

Checked on the 2 Pink Oyster and 2 Reishi blocks and the Reishi jumped off fast, the Oyster is just starting to see recovery the 3rd day.  All good, oysters will engulf a block really fast once it's back recovered and vigorously growing again.  All IS Well.

Happy Halloween Trick OR Treater's.  

[MushLuvR]

HEY... Welcome to November... My favorite Month!  If you haven't started up, NOW is the time, Can't believe Another Birthday is upon me... why can't mushrooms be the fountain of Youth?  

 

A couple days later, the Americanum fruits are looking FANtastic!  Photogenic FUR sure.  I never get tired of these furry pom poms.  Makes me want to pet them like my cat begging for attention(or food).  

 

Enjoy the Show... I know I Do   :popcorn:

Edited by MushLuvR, 01 November 2021 - 09:45 AM.

[MushLuvR]

Bears Head progress... starting to really grow now.  

 

I noticed some action on the COTW blocks, nothing yet on the Beech Blocks.  

 

 

 

[MushLuvR]

Well guys, I had a bit of trouble the other night with the PC and I lost 2 blocks because of it(I've ran over 75 blocks in the last year and this is the first Loss).  The damn rubber plug was leaking during cool off(pressure came down WAY to fast), I tried to tap it to get it to seal and it didn't. So ironically, it tagged both the Beech Mushroom blocks, and the 2 COTW blocks are Fine... For now.  If it was contaminated, it should of already shown, but I'll keep an eye on them All the same.  I have small logs ready to PC for the COTW, if it goes down, I'll just have to order up some spawn, too much time to start from seed to block to log.  I did the COTW blocks first and they were the bottom blocks, it all adds up to the PC problem, the spawn was clean and no issues so... good news is... I'm not worried about the Beech mushroom, plenty of time and LC for another crack at em'.  It's not the money with losing blocks(cheap to make), it's the TIME.  Oh well, the more you do this... the easier it becomes just cutting bait and moving on from projects.  

 

I did spawn 2 more Maitake blocks and the Black Poplar after fixing the PC issue of course.  I cleaned the lid thoroughly, and added a little cooking oil to the plug, and at that point... the seal too.  The last run went perfect like it should SO... BACK... ON... Track.  Clean spawn and Perfect sterilization equals... SUCCESS!  

 

The LM fruits are slowing, I think I'm going to pick them and eat them for lunch.  I was lacking on humidity running them to dry(early on) and I'm sure that is why they showed a little tannish in the beginning.  I'm running different trays and blocks in the same setup, and it's NOT quite dialed in for blocks yet, all good... just getting started and it's the First flush... tastier picked early... but they are hard to pick when you have a big monster growing(braggin' rights and all that).  I have 20 blocks already in early November so I'm ahead of schedule from last year and the long colonizers are good to go.  I'm stalling the Ports and the spawn is in my Garage fridge, also another Rye jar of Maitake I'm holding on, I'll probably just do two more blocks, I'm out of spawn and I hate just running two.  I'll probably just get it Done with my blocks spaced out... I'll get impulsive and just finish it I'm sure of it.  Friday... Fungus Folks!  

Edited by MushLuvR, 05 November 2021 - 11:06 AM.

[MushLuvR]

I forgot the pictures, and the Turkey Tail Blocks are doing well and into fruiting now. One block is further along than the other, but both showing the signs.



I was going to pull the Bears Head, but I increased the Air yesterday which in turn switches on the humidifier more frequently and they had a decent growth spurt so I'll leave them be for now. Happy Friday Folks



MushL

Edited by MushLuvR, 05 November 2021 - 02:36 PM.

[MushLuvR]

Progress report time.  The two Bears Head blocks are still just doing their thing.  The Turkey Tail blocks are starting to take off, love the Velvet look, and Polypores are fun to play with.  Edible wise, Kings and LM always.  Speaking of Kings, my culture is clean and that's good news, I made a Shiitake S75 LC to LC to almost 500ml and looks nice already after a day and a half give or take.  Other than losing the Beech Blocks, the COTW is OUT of the woods...(Pun intended) so that's the most important since I have logs ready to sterilize and spawn.  The COTW blocks are very close to full colonization, less than a week, guessing 4-5 days by the look.  The Reishi blocks have been colonized for awhile, Super fast, and the Pinks are getting there.  The newest Maitake and Piopinno's are looking great and no issues.  My old Shiitake culture is clean, verified on a transfer so that's good news, and so is the King Oyster.  I think I'm going to do an Agar to LC with the KO, I just Luv them SO(texture and taste is the ONE)... and it's nice to have it ON demand whenever you are ready.  I bought some 20 and 30cc syringes and long needles, I made 3 LC jar lids, but one of them needs to be fixed so I dumped it and didn't even attempt to inoculate with the filter all wobbly and clearly not attached correctly.  That's all.. FOR Now... Keep it Mushie!

 

[rockyfungus]

Careful! There's a bear on the loose. Holy crap that's a monster. How much spawn to sub?

Can't wait to see your KO. I'm on grain and eager to hit the tent!

Edited by rockyfungus, 09 November 2021 - 06:36 AM.

[MushLuvR]

Yessir, I have a Bears Head... AND a Monkey's Head... 

 

I'll be transferring the KO really soon, I've been getting everything else prepped first since Kings are fast to colonize and fruit.  Here are some previous fruits that will make you Drool.  

 

[MushLuvR]

My Bad @RockyFungus... I use a myco quart of spawn for 2 blocks.  Fairly high spawn ratio, but I like 2 at a time and it's FAST(to colonize).  I'm betting I could easily do 3 blocks if I wanted, maybe even 4, but would be slower to consolidate... always a trade off.  

Edited by MushLuvR, 09 November 2021 - 01:39 PM.

[Arathu]

Excellent work Mush! Those Bears Head are awesome.......can't wait to see these Turkey Tails on the blocks.......KILLER! Kings......nice!

 

Man I said it before and I'll say it again.....BEST HOBBY EVER!

 

A

[MushLuvR]

ABSOLUTELY... @Arathu... my wife and I went on a walk just around the neighborhood and there were lawn mushrooms(all different types) everywhere from the previous rain we had.  A few dry days will do it, now it's rained again, but should be dry for awhile so this weekend could be fun to explore.  I tell my wife all the time, makes me feel like a kid on a scavenger hunt.  I'm just getting into going out and spotting mushrooms just for the sake of trying to identify them(my wife spotted these monster lawn mushrooms around the corner from our house...and had to show me, she has the eye) or  appreciate the beauty for a moment, take a picture and move on.   I love this lifestyle with all my heart too fungus friend.  .  Thank you for dropping bye, really enjoying this new Bears Head variety... Beautiful and going to be delicious!  

 

Some King Blocks I threw outside after 3 flushes

in the mini GH.  2 Flushes outside and was finally spent

at 5 flushes... King Trumpets are my JAM!  

Edited by MushLuvR, 10 November 2021 - 12:30 AM.

[MushLuvR]

Breakfast of Champions!

 

I missed Fresh LM(more than I initially realized), I just acquired a Heat

tolerant Erinaceous that I need to do a run with. I want

to grow these All year long from now on.  Love the flavor,

eat your Hearts out LM Fungus Fans!  

Edited by MushLuvR, 10 November 2021 - 12:56 PM.

[Arathu]

Imma plug half a dozen logs with LM sooner or later....there's a tree down along the road to work (huge thing, you'd need a large moving machine of some type to budge it) that fruits what looks to be BH....

 

I've seen it fruit three times now but no one ever picks them........I don't know why I haven't grabbed them now that the tree has fallen but just haven't/didn't stop.....

 

In my defense the first two times it fruited they were 15 feet off the ground.......right next to the road...... tough to say what pollution you might find there...but cloning is an option for sure....

 

It is a pretty tasty mushroom and supposedly good for the nerves......

 

Nice..

 

A

[MushLuvR]

Can't wait to see some LM LOGS @Arathu(I bet they get HUGE)... I'm going to be sterilizing some White Oak logs this weekend since the COTW is colonized.  The goal is to get the COTW started, and I may end up doing some Maitake Logs as well, but the COTW is my priority at this point.  If all goes well, I'll be planting logs this Spring.  The FUN(Guy) stuff... NEVER ends.  

Edited by MushLuvR, 11 November 2021 - 05:22 PM.

[MushLuvR]

Hey all, it's Saturday and just a quick update.  I pasteurized up some Sub for the Ports finally, cleared up two jars and 2 gallons of sub for 4 trays.  Perfect amount and enough room to case them when they are ready.  The Myc smelled perfect this time, and I'm confident I'm at least starting out with clean spawn.  Never worried about my pasteurization technique.  I left out the straw and went with mainly horse manure/Verm, and lower amount of Coco for fluff(and texture feel) and a splash of Gypsum.  Those were the last two jars of spawn so I am officially cleared up for a minute.  It won't be long, I'll cook up some more seeds and be at it again.  I need to get some Agar work done soon as well, always work TA do.  

 

P.S I didn't notice the new Tag in my profile, Wow, so humbled and honored and... Thank you for the Wonderful Surprise.  Cool Title too!  

Edited by MushLuvR, 13 November 2021 - 07:21 PM.