Project Shroom: Phase 1

Our goal is to grow medicinal and culinary mushrooms on a small commercial scale. Of course we are faced with our usual obstacles - no money and little experience, but that hasn't stopped us before! :) This year we are growing shiitake, using alder logs in a natural environment, which should produce fruit every six months. From this we should gain experience, an idea of market and costs, and some way yummy shrooms!

We began phase one - collecting logs on Saturday, March 6th.

The men are falling trees at Rick and Lindah's. We are looking for logs with a diameter of 4-6 inches. That allows the mycelium to more quickly takeover the logs.
Everyone helps!

Even Baby helps!
Here are the logs, cut in approx four foot sections waiting for the new home. We gathered 83 logs.

Placing logs near the creek bed.
The logs are stacked and will "cure" for one month, before we begin Phase 2: inoculation.

Thank you - Ted and Laurita, Billy, Neil, Rick and Lindah!!!