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artizen
JEFFERSONIAN
Registered: 12/16/08
Posts: 1,996
Loc: HOME SWEET HOME
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Quote:
RogerRabbit said: I'll be running out of rye grain by tomorrow or the next day, and my next truck doesn't get here until the 27th, so I'll switch to making up some sawdust bags and straw logs. My intention was to ramp up a shitload of grain spawn, and then refrigerate it while I sterilize the sawdust, and pasteurize the straw.
I have four AA 75X sterilizers, an AA 921 I use for agar and jars, and an AA 941 I hardly use at all except for soaking grain. I also have four food grade 55 gallon drums set up to pasteurize straw, using propane. I'm working on a 5 psi steam sterilizer, using a 55 gallon drum. Next summer if I have time, I'll build a wood fired sterilizer. I already have the fire brick, mortar and an unlimited supply of firewood, so that's probably the way to go. RR
i've been thinking of making a steam pasturizer out of a few 5gal metal buckets. i get them at work they are laquer thinner buckets so i dont think they have any kind of liner and i'm hopeing the paint on the outside is high temp since it doesn't corrode from the thinner
i was thinking of using a water heater element of some sort? i'm in the suburbs so i was thinking elec. may be the way yto go. i do have a fire pit but i don't know how long the bucket would hold up. plus i could run it in my shop without open flame.
if you see where i'm going with this, am i on the right track? are there products like this?
sorry if i'm getting off topic. i've been trying to follow your project. we are looking to buy a campground ( 2-5 years from now ) and we're looking for something with extra property to do somethinglike this. even though my skills, time and knowledge are limited (i do OK), i'm trying to scale up my projects as much as i can comfortably with a small house and still working for a living.
-------------------- HCA AMU IN LOVING MEMORY 1.6.1917 - 4.3.2010
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SOUTHERN
NAIL DRIVER
Registered: 03/29/09
Posts: 846
Loc: south
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
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i figured u might say that. so i need to get some bags huh? or i'm gonna have a trillion jars lol.
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure
Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: Mountain mushroom farm [Re: SOUTHERN]
#11849814 - 01/17/10 09:35 PM (14 years, 2 months ago) |
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Some types of 55 gallon drums have threaded caps, which I believe are exactly the size for water heater elements to screw into. Search back a month or two in this forum. Somebody made one that way. If you're looking at 5 gallon size, I'd just get a large kettle and do it on the kitchen stove. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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urbanfarmer
l'estranger
Registered: 12/22/08
Posts: 614
Last seen: 10 years, 11 months
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Quote:
RogerRabbit said: Some types of 55 gallon drums have threaded caps, which I believe are exactly the size for water heater elements to screw into. Search back a month or two in this forum. Somebody made one that way. If you're looking at 5 gallon size, I'd just get a large kettle and do it on the kitchen stove. RR
I've been hacking on that. Pics soon.
...also, *goddamn* but lion's mane spawn grows much faster than their cultivator builds sterilization gear.
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artizen
JEFFERSONIAN
Registered: 12/16/08
Posts: 1,996
Loc: HOME SWEET HOME
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Re: Mountain mushroom farm [Re: SOUTHERN]
#11854325 - 01/18/10 04:52 PM (14 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
SOUTHERN said: i figured u might say that. so i need to get some bags huh? or i'm gonna have a trillion jars lol.
i've bees doing it in the kitchen like in your vids. i can already do more like that than on the stove. i'm thinking more like 3 - 5gals. first one with water and element and next two packed with straw. i found a thermometer with a 12 - 18" stem that should reach close to the middle of the straw. i'd like to do enugh for 4-6 8x30 logs at a time.
i'll search around like you said. thanks, good to know i atleast have a viable idea.
-------------------- HCA AMU IN LOVING MEMORY 1.6.1917 - 4.3.2010
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Jabbawaya
Registered: 07/10/05
Posts: 1,479
Last seen: 10 years, 3 months
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Amazing work ! What an ambitious project, I hope others follow your model. You're actually doing a lot of good for public health by bringing this food/medicine to the market .
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Isolatedwedge
Stranger
Registered: 01/06/10
Posts: 161
Last seen: 13 years, 9 months
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Re: Mountain mushroom farm [Re: Jabbawaya]
#11858152 - 01/19/10 07:50 AM (14 years, 2 months ago) |
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are 55gallon steam sterilyzers better than filling it up with liquid?
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure
Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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You couldn't fill it up with liquid if there were spawn bags in there. The liquid would penetrate and ruin the mix. I'll find out soon enough how it works on a commercial scale and post the results, good or bad. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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SOUTHERN
NAIL DRIVER
Registered: 03/29/09
Posts: 846
Loc: south
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
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there is a utube video of a guy pasturizing in a 50 gallon plastic drum turned on its side. it has a water heater element in each end. looks like a good idea. if u go to utube and put in oyster mushroom it will come up i'm pretty sure.
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artizen
JEFFERSONIAN
Registered: 12/16/08
Posts: 1,996
Loc: HOME SWEET HOME
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Re: Mountain mushroom farm [Re: SOUTHERN]
#11861518 - 01/19/10 06:32 PM (14 years, 2 months ago) |
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-------------------- HCA AMU IN LOVING MEMORY 1.6.1917 - 4.3.2010
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ratdog
wild capture trader
Registered: 08/16/09
Posts: 959
Loc: Colorado mount. top
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Re: Mountain mushroom farm [Re: artizen]
#11861616 - 01/19/10 06:47 PM (14 years, 2 months ago) |
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i use a crawfish pot or for you northern guys crab pot a big one with a basket that fits inside. i use rocks to keep the bottom up out of the water and steam the straw to 170 deg F then turn it off and on to maintain temp.
i then make my own bags
i prefer the smaller kind so it does not go bad in the middle so easy.
i use a homemade misting system and wet dry bulb too.
anyway the crawfish pot works well and the rocks seem to maintain the temp well too.
-------------------- some people just don't get it http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/11241796 so here is a video or two or three for you guys
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure
Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: Mountain mushroom farm [Re: ratdog]
#11861947 - 01/19/10 07:39 PM (14 years, 2 months ago) |
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What size is that crab pot? I like the insert. It looks like it was made for our use.
I'm making a basket frame out of angle iron and covering it with hardware cloth, to fit in my 55 gallon drums. I'm making a lower basket and an upper basket, since I'm too wimpy in my old age to lift 50 gallons of wet straw all at once. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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artizen
JEFFERSONIAN
Registered: 12/16/08
Posts: 1,996
Loc: HOME SWEET HOME
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Quote:
RogerRabbit said: What size is that crab pot? I like the insert. It looks like it was made for our use.
I'm making a basket frame out of angle iron and covering it with hardware cloth, to fit in my 55 gallon drums. I'm making a lower basket and an upper basket, since I'm too wimpy in my old age to lift 50 gallons of wet straw all at once. RR
that's part of why i want to do steam pasturizing, the weight. you probobly got 15years on me but, i'm 140 soaking wet, 2 slipped disks and an artificial knee.
i looked at some of those crab pots, they were mostly 30qt. what do think of this?
-------------------- HCA AMU IN LOVING MEMORY 1.6.1917 - 4.3.2010
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure
Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: Mountain mushroom farm [Re: artizen]
#11862132 - 01/19/10 08:17 PM (14 years, 2 months ago) |
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Even with that, you'd still have to soak the straw for at least a few hours to hydrate it, so it would be heavy to lift out. I'll be using my barrels in a similar method to sterilize sawdust bags. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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ratdog
wild capture trader
Registered: 08/16/09
Posts: 959
Loc: Colorado mount. top
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i think its 80 + qts
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loggin shrooms
Stranger
Registered: 08/19/09
Posts: 40
Last seen: 14 years, 2 months
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Re: Mountain mushroom farm [Re: ratdog]
#11869896 - 01/20/10 11:51 PM (14 years, 2 months ago) |
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RR You got the fire brick and mortar - well maybe I should pop down and build that sucker for you. I've just retired from 40 years of building them (brick stone tile etc.)for other people. I want to do a mixed market garden/mushroom organic thing as a retirement project. Who knows, maybe even a little aquaponics. I've had pretty good success with all my shroom projects and attempts so far but figure I got just a little bit more to learn, maybe. Cowlitz, I like the link to the Farmery. I have read a bit about vertical farming lately. Integrated small scale farming can offer some real opportunity. Like any other business it will take the skill to produce the products and at the same time require diligence and acumen to produce a working business plan. Not to mention start up cost etc. Maybe that is where RR's model might have a benefit for others down the road. Association and cooperation with people producing other crops or products could yield some good results. Local farmers institues or such might be a place to start meeting others. I have just talked to a local flour mill about getting their bran (organic), they have just been giving it away to get rid of it! Plus the chickens love it = free eggs - sell those- buy more materials. Sort of similar to the two coffee shops where I pick up grounds for my compost. Did you know that worms love coffee grounds and that worms are very high in protein and that chickens love worms? =MORE FREE EGGS! I have an arrangement to clear the lake weeds, really easy, from the beach of a near by RV park, that too goes on the compost, and of course there is always cleaning up the cow and horse and sheep poop from farms around here. Not exactly federal grant stuff but it is the basics and it all adds up. See what's available and how it can be utilized and then start working on it. Small projects have a way of growing.There are business models out there. Noobie mentioned that he is going to talk to restaurants. I am always pleased by peoples acceptance of farm gate or local products. Locally produced food is getting a lot more press and acceptance all the time. Lots of people are willing to pay for good quality and locally produced. Anyway, bunny man I love the idea you are working on. And, if you ever need a hand, I know an old retire guy with 40 years of building experience that wants to learn a little more about what grows on shit.
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Jef
Out-of-work Sex Slave
Registered: 12/02/08
Posts: 764
Loc: near Duncan, BC
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-------------------- I am my own lab rat. Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Involve me and I will learn.
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artizen
JEFFERSONIAN
Registered: 12/16/08
Posts: 1,996
Loc: HOME SWEET HOME
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Re: Mountain mushroom farm [Re: Jef]
#11871801 - 01/21/10 11:50 AM (14 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Jef said: .
-------------------- HCA AMU IN LOVING MEMORY 1.6.1917 - 4.3.2010
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Jef
Out-of-work Sex Slave
Registered: 12/02/08
Posts: 764
Loc: near Duncan, BC
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-------------------- I am my own lab rat. Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Involve me and I will learn.
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure
Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: Mountain mushroom farm [Re: Jef]
#11874438 - 01/21/10 06:12 PM (14 years, 2 months ago) |
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The fire brick is under three feet of snow, and I have a full pallet of mortar mix covered with plastic sheeting that looks like a giant snow drift. That project will have to wait for June.
I may have posted this link to conservation innovative grants already, but it bears repeating. You guys need to write up some abstracts and submit them. The worst they can say is 'no' and you'll have learned something about the process. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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