Mushrooms a growth industry

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/garden/15mushrooms.html?src=me&ref=general

Mysterious mycelium

It looked outside to check on the old mushroom log chunks I dumped in a big terra cotta pot with some potting soil and wood shavings. Some of the chunks are still covered with the white mycelium matter. The big one, though, was all brown. I think this means it might be ready to fruit. I brought it in and am soaking it, recycling the container from some store-bought white buttons. Will ever get my $30 worth of shiitakes out of this damn log? Stay tuned.

Mycelium update

I decided to pull the plug on my mycelium culturing in the spent ale grains project. The stuff in the glass jar and the clear plastic container was not really doing anything. When I pulled it out there seemed to be a layer of black mold on it, and the odor of fermentation.

However, when I opened up the stuff from the steel cans, that mycelium seemed to be growing really, really fast. Maybe it was just a white mold. I packaged this after freezing and drying out the old ale grains again, maybe it got more sterilized, or perhaps the lack of light had something to do with it. So maybe it is possible to grow the shiitake in the spent grains.

Shiitake spawn definitely seems to like the potting mix, so I am putting most of it in that. I repacked one of the steel cans with the old grains; I probably contaminated it though.

More mushroom

The mushroom jar projects haven't really done much after a couple of days. The mycelium does seem to be spreading, but it's only into the layer of potting soil so far. The good news is, there doesn't seem to be any mold. I have been keeping them under fluorescent light.

I put some of the other mushroom log chunks in the kitchen sink. I figured it would get some second hand moisture there. It worked! I have a decent looking mushroom coming up. I am careful not to get any direct hits on it with very hot water. There does not seem to be too much of a mold problem either.

Planting something next to the flow of water transformed my sink into a riverbed, my plumbing a source of life. I think this is an extraordinary concept. And hey, free mushroom.

Mushroom madness

I have been busy moving, hence the lack of agricultural updates. Last night I did the next step in my attempt to salvage the remnants of my mushroom log.

I packed some of the cleaner looking bits in the spent grains I got from my friendly local home brewer. Before I did, I sampled one of the grains. It was very sweet. Before I did this, I let them bake at about 150' for at least 24 hours. They were frozen solid when I put them in the oven but a day later, when I opened them up, they were gently steamy inside.

I didn't sterilize my jar but it was clean. Hopefully the steam from the grains kept the mold away while not penetrating the mycelium. That's just one of my theories.

Isn't it ironic?

When your e-bike gets wet in the rain, yet your mushroom log dries out? :(

Big honkin' mushroom

Mushroom #3 must be part portabello. Compare its girth to the lime, orange, and grapefruit in the bowl next to it.

Mushroom meet belly

I could not resist; my first mushroom became the focal point of my lunchtime ramen bowl. It was absolutely delicious.

Mo mushroom

It has been about eight days since I restarted the mushroom log and I have one that is nearly ready to harvest. This would cost good money in a gourmet store.

Shroom growth

Look at these big ol' mushrooms, quite a leap in just a week.

Fungal fruiting

My shroom log is starting to go apeshit! It's alive!