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Peterthinks
(Caulking) gun for hire

Registered: 11/10/04
Posts: 2,379
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Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. 3
#13103735 - 08/26/10 01:19 AM (13 years, 10 months ago) |
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You want to try agar work but don't want to order a bunch of strange stuff or expensive stuff. You can order it on-line from a lab supply place or head for China Town. Asian food stores usually have it, just poke around.
 I use the golden cup one myself. Food grade, ready to go, about a buck a pack. Also comes in Flakes, Bricks, and Strips. just grind in a blender and use as needed. Here are some pics of Yeast packages.
 Nutritional supplement yeast and brewer's yeast cost way more. you can just use regular bread yeast.
and here is the recipe to make it all work....
--------snip--------- (Cooking measures for PDA agar) I have access to a scale but got sick of borrowing it to measure this. 1 Liter water 300 G potatoes 17-20 G Agar 2 G Brewers Yeast 10 G Dextrose
Here are cooking measures that make the same measurements. Put 3 cups of water in a 4 cup measuring cup. Cut up one large red potato(unpeeled)and push the chunks into the water till it reads 4 cups. pour it in a pot. Add 1 more cup of water so your 1 cup of potatoes are being boiled in 4 Cups of water. Boil for an hour and drain. Keep the water,eat the potatoes. Add water to bring up the level to 4 and 3/4 Cups. The following are LEVEL measures... Drag the back of a knife over a heaped measuring spoon to make it flat.
2 Tablespoons + 1 Teaspoon of Agar 3/4 Teaspoon (1/2+1/4)Brewers Yeast 1 Tablespoon +1 Teaspoon of Dextrose
mix the dry. Heat the potato water in the microwave or on the stove till hot again. Mix the dry ingredients together then add the dry to the water while stirring. Pour it sterilize it and use it.
What you don't use right away can be put in a mason jar (GET NO AGAR ON JAR LIP!) and "canned", put the NEW pop top lid on rubber side down, screw on the ring loose and it will vacuum seal itself as it cools, snug up ring after cooling.Keeps for years like this, heat and use when needed.
You can use grocery store bread yeast instead of brewer's yeast, comes in little yellow paper pouches. You can get dextrose at places where they sell wine and beer making kits. You can get Agar powder at Asian grocery stores, comes in little plastic pouches you may see Agar sticks, just grind them up fine in a blender or coffee grinder. The amount of agar is not critical, you want at least a minimum amount but you can't screw it up by adding too much, it's just a thickening agent.
pour a little agar in a small jar like a 1/4 pint or a baby food jar and PC it for 15.(lid loose or it go boom) let it set (cool) and tear a mushroom in half, tease a bit of the inner mushroom tissue out with the tip of a flamed empty syringe (size of a piece of rice no bigger) dump it in your agar jar, it's OK to wipe it off on the agar to get it off the end of the syringe. Quickly close the jar and wait....a clone will grow! shoot some sterile water into the jar,rub syringe tip over mycelial mat and then suck it back up....instant LC! cut wedges out with the tip of a syringe, throw into sterile grain or sterile sugar water. Make master slants out of fruitopia bottles, save your cultures for years!
Gloves, glove boxes, still air boxes clean environments will all improve your odds.
Just have fun!
-------------------- Give a man a fire and he will be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life. NEWB NEWBIE NEWCOMER IGNORANT? QUESTIONS? Click HERE HERE HERE HERE For detailed instructions with pictures on how to grow mushrooms. There is a lot of info on the Shroomery and this is what you need to know.
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plurfekt
Finally Grateful


Registered: 12/14/09
Posts: 1,919
Loc: USA
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: Peterthinks]
#13103939 - 08/26/10 04:13 AM (13 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Peterthinks said: You want to try agar work but don't want to order a bunch of strange stuff or expensive stuff. You can order it on-line from a lab supply place or head for China Town. Asian food stores usually have it, just poke around.
 I use the golden cup one myself. Food grade, ready to go, about a buck a pack. Also comes in Flakes, Bricks, and Strips. just grind in a blender and use as needed. Here are some pics of Yeast packages.
 Nutritional supplement yeast and brewer's yeast cost way more. you can just use regular bread yeast.
and here is the recipe to make it all work....
--------snip--------- (Cooking measures for PDA agar) I have access to a scale but got sick of borrowing it to measure this. 1 Liter water 300 G potatoes 17-20 G Agar 2 G Brewers Yeast 10 G Dextrose
Here are cooking measures that make the same measurements. Put 3 cups of water in a 4 cup measuring cup. Cut up one large red potato(unpeeled)and push the chunks into the water till it reads 4 cups. pour it in a pot. Add 1 more cup of water so your 1 cup of potatoes are being boiled in 4 Cups of water. Boil for an hour and drain. Keep the water,eat the potatoes. Add water to bring up the level to 4 and 3/4 Cups. The following are LEVEL measures... Drag the back of a knife over a heaped measuring spoon to make it flat.
2 Tablespoons + 1 Teaspoon of Agar 3/4 Teaspoon (1/2+1/4)Brewers Yeast 1 Tablespoon +1 Teaspoon of Dextrose
mix the dry. Heat the potato water in the microwave or on the stove till hot again. Mix the dry ingredients together then add the dry to the water while stirring. Pour it sterilize it and use it.
What you don't use right away can be put in a mason jar (GET NO AGAR ON JAR LIP!) and "canned", put the NEW pop top lid on rubber side down, screw on the ring loose and it will vacuum seal itself as it cools, snug up ring after cooling.Keeps for years like this, heat and use when needed.
You can use grocery store bread yeast instead of brewer's yeast, comes in little yellow paper pouches. You can get dextrose at places where they sell wine and beer making kits. You can get Agar powder at Asian grocery stores, comes in little plastic pouches you may see Agar sticks, just grind them up fine in a blender or coffee grinder. The amount of agar is not critical, you want at least a minimum amount but you can't screw it up by adding too much, it's just a thickening agent.
pour a little agar in a small jar like a 1/4 pint or a baby food jar and PC it for 15.(lid loose or it go boom) let it set (cool) and tear a mushroom in half, tease a bit of the inner mushroom tissue out with the tip of a flamed empty syringe (size of a piece of rice no bigger) dump it in your agar jar, it's OK to wipe it off on the agar to get it off the end of the syringe. Quickly close the jar and wait....a clone will grow! shoot some sterile water into the jar,rub syringe tip over mycelial mat and then suck it back up....instant LC! cut wedges out with the tip of a syringe, throw into sterile grain or sterile sugar water. Make master slants out of fruitopia bottles, save your cultures for years!
Gloves, glove boxes, still air boxes clean environments will all improve your odds.
Just have fun!
I was just about to step up to agar before having to trash my grow.
Either way, I found this useful & informational.
Thanks
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Peterthinks
(Caulking) gun for hire

Registered: 11/10/04
Posts: 2,379
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: plurfekt]
#13126934 - 08/30/10 11:26 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Another one...

They changed the box on me!
**** EDIT ***** Has a bunch of sugar in it, don't get this one! **** EDIT *****
Post your Chinatown agar packages please....so others know what to look for.
-------------------- Give a man a fire and he will be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life. NEWB NEWBIE NEWCOMER IGNORANT? QUESTIONS? Click HERE HERE HERE HERE For detailed instructions with pictures on how to grow mushrooms. There is a lot of info on the Shroomery and this is what you need to know.
Edited by Peterthinks (10/22/10 06:14 PM)
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jokefox
Top of the chain



Registered: 12/22/09
Posts: 6,231
Loc: never where I should be
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: Peterthinks]
#13127401 - 08/31/10 02:10 AM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Gloves, glove boxes, still air boxes clean environments will all improve your odds.
or a 6 foot flow bench
nice write up i think im going to try this
any home antibacterial agar recipes?
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Peterthinks
(Caulking) gun for hire

Registered: 11/10/04
Posts: 2,379
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: jokefox]
#13130987 - 08/31/10 08:52 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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LOL, I poured clean without it! It's just easier now!
Open windows and air out the house, Hide the vacuum, kill the furnace, Shut the windows Get up at 5 am, Cook, pour, clone before anyone gets up and starts walking around. All to avoid dust
Now it's turn on bench, wait 15 do whatever I want.
Nothing antibacterial except my methods. Keep it clean. anything will grow in this stuff, that's good and bad.
-------------------- Give a man a fire and he will be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life. NEWB NEWBIE NEWCOMER IGNORANT? QUESTIONS? Click HERE HERE HERE HERE For detailed instructions with pictures on how to grow mushrooms. There is a lot of info on the Shroomery and this is what you need to know.
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cloudwalker
Sonic Tinkerer


Registered: 07/04/10
Posts: 195
Loc: in the studio
Last seen: 6 years, 9 months
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: Peterthinks]
#13131169 - 08/31/10 09:17 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Awesome guide. Thanks for sharing.  Now I just need to pick up some bottles that will fit in my PC...
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Peterthinks
(Caulking) gun for hire

Registered: 11/10/04
Posts: 2,379
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: cloudwalker]
#13131325 - 08/31/10 09:42 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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375 ml bottles are shorter, and the screw top caps can be PC'd!
I drilled a hole in my cap and made an injection port on it with silicone....Nice!
-------------------- Give a man a fire and he will be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life. NEWB NEWBIE NEWCOMER IGNORANT? QUESTIONS? Click HERE HERE HERE HERE For detailed instructions with pictures on how to grow mushrooms. There is a lot of info on the Shroomery and this is what you need to know.
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jokefox
Top of the chain



Registered: 12/22/09
Posts: 6,231
Loc: never where I should be
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: Peterthinks]
#13134581 - 09/01/10 04:19 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Peterthinks said:

375 ml bottles are shorter, and the screw top caps can be PC'd!
I drilled a hole in my cap and made an injection port on it with silicone....Nice!
i know who has a hangover
all in the name of science
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ninja cat 09
A paranoid android



Registered: 10/11/09
Posts: 4,189
Loc: Mexico
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: Peterthinks]
#13134641 - 09/01/10 04:29 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Thanks for the tek mate, gonna be mighty useful soon!
-------------------- Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
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Pfffffff
I am sofa king we todd ed
Registered: 10/02/09
Posts: 486
Loc: Somewhere that is fiction...
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: ninja cat 09]
#13135082 - 09/01/10 05:28 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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FYI if you ask the nice folks at the asian market about agar they are going to look at you like you grew a 2nd head. I recommend storing it on your phone so you can show a pic to them. The one I went to had the exact brand (Telephone) that was in my pic and once I showed the pic they took me right to it. Otherwise I'd have wandered around for an hour trying to find it.
-------------------- **************************************************** I am part of this community as a role playing character. All information is gathered on the internet. In no way, shape, or form is any of what I say truthful or real life experience. Any advice given or received is purely for entertainment value and not intended for any kind of illegal activity. ****************************************************
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jokefox
Top of the chain



Registered: 12/22/09
Posts: 6,231
Loc: never where I should be
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: Pfffffff]
#13135327 - 09/01/10 06:23 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Pfffffff said: FYI if you ask the nice folks at the asian market about agar they are going to look at you like you grew a 2nd head. I recommend storing it on your phone so you can show a pic to them. The one I went to had the exact brand (Telephone) that was in my pic and once I showed the pic they took me right to it. Otherwise I'd have wandered around for an hour trying to find it.
this is true
i never seen an asian look more confused even the white people laughed at me
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: jokefox]
#13135337 - 09/01/10 06:25 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Have to say it right - "auger-auger".
Also, it really didn't take much work to find, my place has a whole shelf of agar in different styles and flavors.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
Edited by Doc_T (09/01/10 06:27 PM)
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Pfffffff
I am sofa king we todd ed
Registered: 10/02/09
Posts: 486
Loc: Somewhere that is fiction...
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: Doc_T]
#13135429 - 09/01/10 06:43 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said: Have to say it right - "auger-auger".
Also, it really didn't take much work to find, my place has a whole shelf of agar in different styles and flavors.
I live in a very large metropolitan area with a bazillion different cultures, stores, ethnicity, etc. So far I know of 1 health food store with it, 1 asian market, and 1 whole foods market. I haven't seen a single grocery store/mega mart that has it. The asian market had the best price at a 25g packet for $1.29. As of now, I've seen 2 kinds...the health store/whole foods market that usually has a small pill bottle type of container and the asian foods market that had the packets.
-------------------- **************************************************** I am part of this community as a role playing character. All information is gathered on the internet. In no way, shape, or form is any of what I say truthful or real life experience. Any advice given or received is purely for entertainment value and not intended for any kind of illegal activity. ****************************************************
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Peterthinks
(Caulking) gun for hire

Registered: 11/10/04
Posts: 2,379
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: Pfffffff]
#13135475 - 09/01/10 06:54 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Pfffffff said:
Quote:
Doc_T said: Have to say it right - "auger-auger".
Also, it really didn't take much work to find, my place has a whole shelf of agar in different styles and flavors.
I live in a very large metropolitan area with a bazillion different cultures, stores, ethnicity, etc. So far I know of 1 health food store with it, 1 asian market, and 1 whole foods market. I haven't seen a single grocery store/mega mart that has it. The asian market had the best price at a 25g packet for $1.29. As of now, I've seen 2 kinds...the health store/whole foods market that usually has a small pill bottle type of container and the asian foods market that had the packets.
I used a whole 25 G packet for my last batch a few days ago.
Just dumped in the whole thing in, usually I measure out 20 grams but all those part packs kicking around were starting to piss me off.
Long story short, 25 grams of agar in above recipe works just great!
I think I even have less condensation than usual!
13 out of 15 worked just fine, 2 are contamed but I was pretty drunk by the time I was done cloning. I blame my fumble fingers on that one.
-------------------- Give a man a fire and he will be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life. NEWB NEWBIE NEWCOMER IGNORANT? QUESTIONS? Click HERE HERE HERE HERE For detailed instructions with pictures on how to grow mushrooms. There is a lot of info on the Shroomery and this is what you need to know.
Edited by Peterthinks (09/01/10 09:33 PM)
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: Peterthinks]
#13135509 - 09/01/10 07:00 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
So far I know of 1 health food store with it, 1 asian market, and 1 whole foods market. I haven't seen a single grocery store/mega mart that has it.
Exactly what everybody else has found. Every asian market, most (nearly all) health food stores have agar. Pretty cheap, though bulk at the health store may be a bit more.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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cloudwalker
Sonic Tinkerer



Registered: 07/04/10
Posts: 195
Loc: in the studio
Last seen: 6 years, 9 months
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: Doc_T]
#13136299 - 09/01/10 09:33 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Just checked my local asian store today. 170g packets for $1.70 each. 
Just brewed up my first batch of agar... Using 1/2 pint jars (meh...it's all I've got right now) Sealed them with regular lids and PCed for 80 min. Just waiting for them to cool now. We'll see how it turns out...
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Peterthinks
(Caulking) gun for hire

Registered: 11/10/04
Posts: 2,379
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: cloudwalker]
#13140484 - 09/02/10 09:15 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
cloudwalker said: Just checked my local asian store today. 170g packets for $1.70 each. 
Just brewed up my first batch of agar... Using 1/2 pint jars (meh...it's all I've got right now) Sealed them with regular lids and PCed for 80 min. Just waiting for them to cool now. We'll see how it turns out...
LOL! make some master slants too!
 baby food jars and glad PP containers and PP #5 deli containers work too.
If you do agar in jars have the lids upside down so they don't vacuum seal as they cool!
It's great if you're storing extra but it's a bitch to get the lids off when they seal!
-------------------- Give a man a fire and he will be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life. NEWB NEWBIE NEWCOMER IGNORANT? QUESTIONS? Click HERE HERE HERE HERE For detailed instructions with pictures on how to grow mushrooms. There is a lot of info on the Shroomery and this is what you need to know.
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EvilMushroom666
Heretic




Registered: 11/18/09
Posts: 10,289
Loc: Canada
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: Peterthinks]
#13140619 - 09/02/10 09:48 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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I need to source some agar from asian food marts. Spent 10.23 Canadian for 28Grams of agar flakes from a health food store was all I could find at the time. Im all out now so before the next pour ill be doing some shopping.
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Peterthinks
(Caulking) gun for hire

Registered: 11/10/04
Posts: 2,379
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: EvilMushroom666]
#13140692 - 09/02/10 10:09 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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What city?
I've lived in a few, I may know one near you. me
-------------------- Give a man a fire and he will be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life. NEWB NEWBIE NEWCOMER IGNORANT? QUESTIONS? Click HERE HERE HERE HERE For detailed instructions with pictures on how to grow mushrooms. There is a lot of info on the Shroomery and this is what you need to know.
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Peterthinks
(Caulking) gun for hire

Registered: 11/10/04
Posts: 2,379
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Re: Where to get agar ingredients locally, PDA agar for beginners. [Re: Peterthinks]
#13140701 - 09/02/10 10:10 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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If you can't find it I'll send you some, cost plus ship or trade, I'd like some Petris
-------------------- Give a man a fire and he will be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life. NEWB NEWBIE NEWCOMER IGNORANT? QUESTIONS? Click HERE HERE HERE HERE For detailed instructions with pictures on how to grow mushrooms. There is a lot of info on the Shroomery and this is what you need to know.
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