Where can I find supplies in the USA? (longer list)

This is a short listing of common supplies and equipment used in amateur mushroom cultivation. Each entry includes a description of what the item is used for and where it can be obtained. The list is broken down into sections based on different stages in the cultivation process. Whenever an item's common (non-mushroom) use seemed pertinent, it has been included.

It should be noted that almost any of these items can be obtained from several of the Shroomery vendors. Some of the more specific supplies not included on this list, such as those for culturing, will probably need to be ordered from these suppliers.

1. SpawnSubstrate
2. Bulk Substrate
3. Casing Materials
4. Preservation
5. Equipment

1. SpawnSubstrate

Brown Rice Flour - Used in cooking. Most common use in mushroom growing is as a component in PF substrate. Available at healthfood stores.

WBS (Wild Bird Seed) - Grain substratespawn. Get a kind without fungicides Walmart.

Millet - Grain substratespawn. Healthfood store.

Rye - see above.

Popcorn - not the microwave kind. grain spawn. Healthfood store.

Cracked Corn - Grain Substrate. Pet Store.

Rye Grass Seed - Possible grain spawn, good for growing sclerotia. Hardware store.

Gypsum - This is the material drywall is made of. It helps prevent clumping in grain substrates. You can get it at the hardware store.

Vermiculite - See Casing Materials.

2. Bulk Substrate

Straw - used mainly for crafts and for preventing erosion in newly seeded turf. good as a bulk substrate. You want straw, not hay. Straw is resilient and golden in color. Hay is wimpy and grayishgreen. Sometimes straw is advertized as hay. Can be found at feed stores, farm co-ops, gardening stores, and some craft stores.

Manure - used as a fertilizer or for composting. The older the better for substrate. Get it from a farm, stables, hardware store, gardening store, or horse trail.

Compost - Not all composts work well for mushroom growing. This one does: High Mountain Compost.

3. Casing Materials

Coco Coir - Specially prepared coconut fiber used in water retention for potting soil mixes and as reptile bedding. good casing mix component. Comes in brick form and can be found at pet stores by the trade name Bed-A-Beast.

Peat Moss - Used in water retention for soil mixes and mushroom casings. Can be found at hardware stores and garden centers.

Vermiculite - Used in water retention for soil mixes and mushroom casings, as well as a component in PF substrate. Can be found at hardware stores and garden centers. It is not illegal or carcinogenic, despite what some may tell you.

Crushed Oyster Shell - Used as a calcium supplement for birds. Good as a slow-release pH buffer in casings. Can be found at the pet store.

Limestone flour (Calcium carbonate, CaCO3, chalk (NOT blackboard chalk!)
Acts as a buffer agent in the casing formulation, rises the pH. . Used as feed supplement for cows and horses.

Hydrated Lime - Adjusting soil pH. Used as a faster-acting pH adjuster for casings. Hardware store or garden center.
For details on casing ingredients check this faq.

4. Preservation

Damprid - Used in lowering humidity. Can be found in hardware stores (paint section) or Walmart.

Silica Gel - Used for lowering humidity or as cat litter. Can be found in hardware stores or walmart. Crystal cat litter is usually indicating silica gel. Check the ingredients.

5. Equipment

Pressure Cooker - Cooking or canning food. Needed for sterilizing grain substrates. Available at Walmart and from several Shroomery vendors.

Meat Thermometer - Pasteurizing bulk substrates. You can get one at the grocery store or at Walmart.

Canning Jars - Some grocery stores. Walmart.

Polyfill - Stuffing in pillows, stuffed toys. Used for making filters on substrate jars. Craft store.

Tyvek - Used in envelopes or building siding. Good for filters on jars. Post office, office supply store, hardware store.

Isopropyl Alcohol - drugstore.

Hydrogen Peroxide - drugstore.

Bleach - 1:10 with water makes a cheap and effective sanitizer. You can get it anywhere.

Final Note: Most of these items can be acquired between Walmart, grocery stores, hardware stores, drug stores, and garden centers. Those that cannot can be obtained from several Shroomery vendors.