See the spot of white? That’s the fungi growing!

One of the coolest and unique projects on the farm is growing mushrooms on logs! This is a method of cultivating mushrooms by inoculating a log with mushroom plugs.

This is how how you do it.

  1. Pick a log. It should be from 3-6 inches in diameter. The log should be 3-5 feet in length. Good trees to use are ones with a thicker bark such as oaks and maples.
  2. Inoculate the log within 3 weeks of harvesting the log to keep it fresh. If it is longer than that, simple soak it in water for 1-2 days and let it dry.
  3. Drill specific sized holes for the size of

    Soaking the mushroom log

    your mushroom plug about 6 inches apart all around your log.

  4. Place you plug into the hole and and hammer it in until it is level with the log.
  5. Wax it! Wax the top of the plug. This will keep out unwanted critters and prevent it from drying out.
  6. Store the logs in a shady area. These can be stack on top of each other.
  7. The logs need to be soaked one every two weeks (or sprinkled twice every week) to prevent drying out.They need to keep 40-60% of its internal moisture.  The log has to dry between soakings or unwanted weeds might grow.
  8. Fruiting: when there is white mycelia on log that means it is getting close.
    1. Naturally: The log will naturally produce mushrooms after a fall or spring rain. The shock of rain after a warm season causes the mushrooms to sprout. This has about a 9 month cycle.
    2. Forced: You can force the mushrooms to sprout, if they have matured enough, by placing them in cold water for 24 hours. Take the log out after the 24 hours and within a week, full mushrooms should have sprouted! About 7 weeks is necessary before the log can force fruit again.

If properly taken care of, the log can last for years to come! This is a project that has occurred a few times and demonstrated for students at the farm.

Today all varieties of mushrooms are used around the world to eat and prepare delicious meals. They are used as garnishes, in soups, pizza, sir fry, and many more. Here are a few popular and delicious recipes for you to try with your newly grown mushrooms!

 

Here is a recipe for a simple, but delicious, zesty shiitake mushroom pasta!

A classic, stuffed mushrooms! Check out how to make them here.

Sources:

“How to Cultivate Mushrooms in Natural Logs.” Mushroompeople, 2011, www.mushroompeople.com/how-to-cultivate-mushrooms-in-natural-logs/.