This past week I talked the whole family into helping me with a project. The stars must have been aligned or something, because no one even complained. This is especially remarkable because the project was setting up logs for growing shiitake mushrooms and I'm the only one in the family who likes them. The kids won't even touch mushrooms.
First, I marked the logs where I wanted the holes drilled- basically they just needed to be spaced apart in a diamond pattern.
Then Mike drilled the holes for me because he's the best partner ever. They had to be 7/16 of an inch diameter and 1 inch deep to fit the little shiitake plugs.
One of my sweet boys helped by pushing the plugs into the holes...until it was time to practice his instrument and play Wii!
And now I just wait. Once these are fully inoculated and start fruiting, they'll produce for at least 3 years. Then the magical healing powers of the shiitakes will take over my body and I'll live forever! Muahhhaaahhhaaa!
Note: I got the shiitake plugs from Field & Forest Products. They were at The Organic Farming Conference teaching a workshop- How could I resist?
10 comments:
Wow, that's so cool! Where did you get the little starters?
Where did you get those!!??
Got them from Field and Forest Products at an organic conference in Feb- But they do online orders!
www.fieldforest.net
Wahoo! Welcome to the wonderful world of mushroom growing. =)
I guess everybody will change his mind and eat shiitake from now on :)) what a great project I hope it will be successful!
Btw does it matter what kind of wood you are using? And can you start it any time or just in spring?
This is very interesting! Never know you can do that in your backyard!
super cool!
OMG...SO jealous! Yum. How long will it take for them to start producing?
Courtney
Very cool project!! I would love to hear more about how this turns out... please keep us up to date on the progress! Makes me wonder if portabellas are just as easy to grow? ((They're my weakness))
... turns out they're even easier, but the fact that they have morels on the Field and Forest site makes me even more excited. Thanks for the great idea!
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