A New Project

It all started with Becky gifting her Dad a shitake mushroom inoculated log for Christmas.  A great idea.

But, Glenn thought…if he was going to nurture one log he might as well nurture more. Glenn did his research and purchased a complete mushroom growing package (three strains of shitake inoculant and the tools to prepare the logs – special drill bit, inoculator, wax applicator, tags and wax) from Field Forest Products located in Peshtigo, Wisconsin.

Glenn and Matt cut oak logs from some trees Glenn recently had thinned on our Jonestown farm.  They brought the logs to the home farm to prepare.

First, Glenn drilled holes 6-8 inches apart at two-inch intervals.  Then, Becky inoculated each hole and sealed the holes with melted wax which hardened almost immediately. The logs were tagged identifying the inoculant used and stacked. Matt joined the workforce as soon as he arrived on the scene 30 minutes later.

Three laborers working six hours with no breaks and 50 logs later, the task of inoculation was complete.

I am looking at the logs realizing that we are either going to grow enough mushrooms to supply the county or the entire project is going to be a tremendous bust.  The results will be available in about one year.

But wait, the project is not done.  Those logs have to be placed in a suitable environment for the mushrooms to grow and flourish. 

The next step was to place the logs in a wooded area.  We have plenty of options, but Glenn chose a spot that was easily accessible and near a livestock waterer since those logs need to be watered from time to time during their early development.  Glenn wanted his water source nearby to make that task easy. So, the logs were lovingly placed in a very desirable spot.

The first crop of mushrooms may be ready as soon as this coming fall, most likely next spring. 

Now, we wait.