Project Shroom - Phase 2: Innoculation

Now that the logs have been allowed to lay dormant for a month or two, it was time to inoculate with plug spawn. Check the previous post if you are curious about the log procurement process. We purchased 1000 plugs of lentinus edodes (shiitake) spawn and 100 plugs of reishi spawn from Fungi Perfecti in Olympia, WA. The spawn was then allowed to lay dormant in the baggies for a week or so, to settle and regrow from the journey.

Mushroom Babies!!

The plug spawn is essentially small furniture dowels that have spiral cut and are full of living fungi. The mycelium looks like fuzzy white stuff - as you can see the smaller bag is really full of fuzzy white stuff!Wax Melting!

We set up operation in our woods with a generator for power, two drills, a small burner, the baby's wagon, and various small tools. We then drilled 2 inch deep holes, 4 inches apart with a 5/8th drill bit, pounded the dowels in the holes with a rubber mallet and brushed melted wax over the inoculated hole. The wax seals the hole and prevents other forest critters from eating our precious mycelium. The logs are then stacked in ricks (looks like a tower), and left for six months or so.

Drilling Holes!

Now that logs are inoculated the mycelium should spread throughout the log, and, in the fall, begin to fruit beautiful, yummy shiitake mushrooms. We will need to keep the logs moist and water as needed, and wait....