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Invisiblesolarity
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Compressed Straw Logs
    #13002256 - 08/04/10 03:37 PM (13 years, 6 months ago)

I have been looking at using these as a possible bulk substrate for Oysters.



They are 10" compressed wheat straw logs which are basically chopped straw pushed through a 2-3" hole. the heat generated (175-250F depending on how small the hole is) binds the straw together (nothing else is added) though they are reasonably easy to break up.
So I guess the inside has been sterilized or at least (over?) pasteurized. I read a few threads on straw pellets (made in a similar way) and people seem to have mixed results.

Got some P. Djamour and Eryngii spawn on the way so I want to do some experimenting, so far I have though of:

1) Weigh a log or 2, break into lumps, put in a bag and add exactly the right amount of 70deg water to hydrate to 75% (I know they are 10% moisture), insulate until hydrated, leave to cool and add P.d grain spawn, shake, punch holes and incubate.

2) Put in a mesh bag, hydrate and rinse, squeeze to approx about right, pasteurize for an hr. put in a tube bag and add  P.d spawn

3) Put in a filter bag, add exactly the right amount of water + sawdust , PC , add Eryngii spawn in front of flow hood.

What else should I try? Anyone had any experience with these?


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InvisibleMonkeyKnifeFight
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Re: Compressed Straw Logs [Re: solarity]
    #13002859 - 08/04/10 05:36 PM (13 years, 6 months ago)

I've never seen this stuff before but out of curiosity why use this over straight straw?  Is straw not available for you? 

As for your options.  I wouldn't recommend #3.  Straw at least seems to work better pasteurized over sterilized and anyway I wouldn't waste the filter bag and bother with the PC and flow hood and all that.  Filter bags work great when you're using enriched sawdust mixes but i don't think it's necessary for oysters on straw.

I guess not knowing much about this stuff I would say do a normal straw type technique.  Pasteurize at 160 for 1.5 hours or so maybe with some lime, cool, pack into container with spawn, poke some holes, wait. 

Will this stuff turn into a brick once you soak it and it dries out some?  That could be a problem.  Oysters are such whores though, I threw some wet newspaper into a plastic tub thing with some spawn and threw it on my back porch, watered it when it looked dry and it started fruiting yesterday.  No pasteurization or anything.  So try different things and see what works.


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OfflineMycelio
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Re: Compressed Straw Logs [Re: solarity]
    #13003043 - 08/04/10 06:15 PM (13 years, 6 months ago)

1 will work fine. I use straw pellets for more than three years with perfect results, though I add alfalfa pellets and coffee grounds to increase yield. Especially P. eryngii will need supplements, unless you use a high amount of spawn.

Carsten


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Invisiblesolarity
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Re: Compressed Straw Logs [Re: MonkeyKnifeFight]
    #13005647 - 08/05/10 05:19 AM (13 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

MonkeyKnifeFight said:
I've never seen this stuff before but out of curiosity why use this over straight straw?  Is straw not available for you? 

As for your options.  I wouldn't recommend #3.  Straw at least seems to work better pasteurized over sterilized and anyway I wouldn't waste the filter bag and bother with the PC and flow hood and all that.  Filter bags work great when you're using enriched sawdust mixes but i don't think it's necessary for oysters on straw.

I guess not knowing much about this stuff I would say do a normal straw type technique.  Pasteurize at 160 for 1.5 hours or so maybe with some lime, cool, pack into container with spawn, poke some holes, wait. 

Will this stuff turn into a brick once you soak it and it dries out some?  That could be a problem.  Oysters are such whores though, I threw some wet newspaper into a plastic tub thing with some spawn and threw it on my back porch, watered it when it looked dry and it started fruiting yesterday.  No pasteurization or anything.  So try different things and see what works.




Thanks for the observations MKF.

Less space and less mess mainly. It is an experiment to see if there are other benefits.

#3 was because it is Eryngii, and I was mixing with wood, but you are right I will give it a go pasteurized as well.

My thinking was that it is already pasteurized by the heat of the forming process and just need hydrating, from what i have seen so far it all falls apart and turns back into finely chopped straw when it gets wet. Though I am worried it might be too dense and need verm or something to open out the structure a bit.


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Edited by solarity (08/05/10 05:25 AM)


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Invisiblesolarity
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Re: Compressed Straw Logs [Re: Mycelio]
    #13005652 - 08/05/10 05:24 AM (13 years, 6 months ago)

Quote:

Mycelio said:
1 will work fine. I use straw pellets for more than three years with perfect results, though I add alfalfa pellets and coffee grounds to increase yield. Especially P. eryngii will need supplements, unless you use a high amount of spawn.

Carsten




Thanks Carsten, useful experience, are you pasteurizing as per #1 even with the supplements?
Does the alfalfa open the texture out a bit as that was one concern that it might be too dense.


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OfflineMycelio
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Re: Compressed Straw Logs [Re: solarity]
    #13007008 - 08/05/10 12:06 PM (13 years, 6 months ago)

Well... my process is different. I soak all the supplements in a measured amount of water, boil for a few minutes, add the straw pellets, mix and let cool slowly. Perhaps boiling is overkill, anything above 60°C should kill mold and its spores. Afterwards I crumble up my spawn or colonized substrate, mix with an equal amount of fresh material, let it colonize and repeat after three to seven days, depending on the species. This way the substrate will be completely colonized, before any contam can grow.

The pelletized alfalfa I have is finely chopped like the straw. Just don't compress fine material. If you ever soak, drain and press out excess water, take care you crumble it up afterwards.

Carsten


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OfflineCryogenicz
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Re: Compressed Straw Logs [Re: Mycelio]
    #13010176 - 08/05/10 11:48 PM (13 years, 6 months ago)

What is this material used for normally?

Where did you get it?

-Graham


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Invisiblesolarity
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Re: Compressed Straw Logs [Re: Cryogenicz]
    #13010542 - 08/06/10 01:43 AM (13 years, 6 months ago)

Burning, there is a farm making them - dont know if they do it in the US - it is pretty new in Europe. Google "strogs"

The same thing is being done with sawdust.


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Commercial exotics farmer for 8 years - now sold up!


Edited by solarity (08/06/10 02:00 AM)


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