Mushroom Cultivation Sevices

Mushroom Cultivation Training and Consultation

I offer a full range of mushroom cultivation services to clients who wish to learn the art and science of growing mushrooms on their farms, in their gardens, or as a part of a commercial venture. My clients have all reported excellent progress, and every one of them receives ongoing support from me if they have questions or feedback. My approach is simple: strategize, demonstrate and explain. Of course, the first of this essential triad is critical; many of my clients are sure that they want to grow mushrooms, but are not sure what sort of investment it will be, and what sort of cultivation venture they wish to start. Furthermore, it is a question of time and space: how much time can you spend, and what space do you have to dedicate to mushroom cultivation. Preparing an adequate laboratory and growing area are all things I can assist clients with, and I am able to help my clients assess what sort of project they can commit to so that we can make an informed choice together about what method of cultivation is the most appropriate for them.

This oyster mushroom spawn will be used to grow mycelium on a combination of coastal hay and bamboo. The spawn is colonized by mycelium and is made of brown rice and vermiculite.

Straining out the hot water. Oyster mushroom spawn will be added once the substrate cools.

Spreading the substrate out on a flat surface will make it easier to mix in spawn.

A half pint jar of oyster mushroom spawn is cut and split apart to inoculate the hay.

Substrate and spawn is mixed together by hand to create an even distribution of spawn chunks in the hay and bamboo mix.

Once the spawn is mixed into the substrate, it is gathered to be stuffed into a bag to incubate.

The substrate is now packed into a plastic bag with adequate air exchange so that it can incubate. The mycelium in the oyster mushroom spawn will grow out onto the hay until it is colonized by thick, healthy mycelium that can produce mushrooms.

Adding a solution of water and hydrogen peroxide will help keep contaminants out. Peroxide kills bacteria and spores, but it will not harm the mycelium. Oyster mushrooms use peroxidases to digest nutrients, and so it is resistant to peroxide and will not be harmed by a small amount of it diluted in water.

Tying the bag at the top completes the process. The bag will be stored in a cool, clean place to colonize.

After incubating in the bag for 10 days, the bag is opened, watering is increased, and the temperature is lowered. These changes signal to the mycelium that it is time to grow mushrooms. The primordia (baby mushrooms) pictured here grew within 24 hours of placing the bag under fruiting conditions.

12 days after inoculation with mushroom spawn, the bag is bursting with mature oyster mushrooms to be harvested and eaten!

Growing mushrooms is a tricky but fascinating undertaking. There are many good books on the subject of gourmet and medicinal mushroom cultivation, but the end all and be all of the cultivator's success or failure is rooted in experience. Believe me. The first set of inoculations I conducted years ago ended in a catastrophic infestation of pink mold that was devastating to the biological balance in my laboratory, and also was a true menace to my room mates, who were amazingly tolerant of the "failure in the basement". Since that time, of course, I have honed my techniques so that I do not have to worry about the possible conflicts between the organisms that share an environment with my mushroom projects. I am skilled in sterile culture, the preferred method of commercial cultivation, as well as simpler methods that do not require the cultivator to maintain a sterile laboratory. From the back yard gardener to the agar-loving chemists, there are opportunities everywhere to grow and enjoy mushrooms that aren't plucked from the wild or the produce department at your local grocery store.

Often, it is exceedingly helpful to bring in an expert who can help a cultivator make important choices about their ends and ideas. What sort of mushrooms do you want to grow? Are those species compatible with the local environment? Which method of cultivation is the most appropriate to your resources, both in terms of time and economic investment? I have served small groups of individuals who wish to start mushroom cultivation ventures, as a mentor and practical educator. From demonstrating tissue culture techniques to helping people arrange ancient log culture projects on unused wood lots, there is great potential for varied strategies that are feasible for all sorts of mushroom enthusiasts.

Please contact me for more details, and start growing your own mushrooms today!

A sprig of oyster mushrooms, 10 days after inoculation. Spore prints of these will be made in order to generate more oyster mushroom spawn.