Start-To-Finish Bulk Mushroom Cultivation
This technique can be used to produce high yields of mushrooms for study or consumption(edible species only). The process below is a concise combination of several well known techniques(many thanks to those original authors) and represents just one path you can take to get from spores to dried mushrooms. You are encouraged to read the FAQs posted elsewhere to fully understand the techniques found in this outline. There is no substitute for learning first-hand from the process, but if you've got your head on straight or have any experience following protocols (laboratory or science coursework), you should be able to have a successful low hassle grow; best of luck! 
 The time course given is approximate and depends on individual conditions. Mycellium should always appear a clean white; discard specific substrate if discoloration appears or contamination is even remotely suspected. Preparing several separate liquid, grain or bulk preparations simultaneously is suggested to allow you to discard suspect substrates while continuing the process.
Phase 1: Spore Syringe  (1 day)
Materials:
Small Sterile Syringe 10 cc
Small glass vessel (Double shot glass)
Metal cooking tray
Spore print
Lighter
Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
Paper wipes
Procedure
1. Clean hands and workspace thoroughly, using rubbing alcohol and wipes.
2. Microwave water in micro-safe bowl or jar for 8 min to sterilize.
3. Suck 10 cc of sterilized water into syringe and allow to cool.
4. Put a metal tray in a clean/sterilized oven with a glass vessel in the middle of the tray. Heat to 400?F for 30 min. Let oven and contents cool completely.
5. Place oven on warm briefly (190?F), to allow air flow upward and away from materials.
6. Open oven door and pull out rack with tray and vessel.
7. Wipe syringe tip with rubbing alcohol and sterilize with flame.
8. Squirt 4 cc of sterile water into glass vessel.
9. Scrape small quantity of spores into vessel with water. 1/5th of a print is adequate.
10. Using syringe and remaining sterile water, mix spores and water with gentle suction, in and out 5 times.
11. Suck all liquid back into syringe, sterilize tip, recap and store in sterile container for 12 hrs prior to inoculation.
Phase 2: Liquid Culture (~8 days)
Materials:
Distilled water
Hydrogen Peroxide: 3% H2O2
Malt extract powder; found at home brew store, use lightest colored malt
Quart canning jars: Two small punctured holes in lid
Tyvek (paper-like packaging material found at post office); place under lid
Pressure cooker
Spore syringe
Incubation chamber: 2 large storage bins, 5 gal fish tank adjustable water heater.
Procedure:
1. Make incubation chamber by stacking two storage bins; place water in bottom bin along with fish tank heater. Adjust to 86? F. Do in advance a couple days to make sure temp is constant.
2. Dilute malt extract in hot distilled water; 1 Tblsp / cup water (4% by weight).
3. Pour malt extract solution into jars. Place Tyvek under perforated lid.
4. Place in pressure cooker at 15 psi for 20 min.
5. Let cool over night.
6. Sterilize spore syringe needle with alcohol and flame.
7. Inject 1-2 cc from spore syringe through Tyveked lid. Swish jar gently.
8. Place jar in incubation chamber at 86? F. Agitate jars daily.
9. After 2 days inject 3-4 cc of 3% H2O2 . This is an extra anti-contam precaution.
10. When milky consistency and floating mycelium (looks like jellyfish) is observed move jar to refrigerator for storage. This is the liquid culture.
Phase 3: Grain Spawn (~12 days)
Materials:
Popcorn
Quart jars; perforate 2 small holes in lid
Tyvek (paper-like packaging material)
Strainer
Large syringe, detachable large metal needle
Pressure cooker
Incubation chamber: 2 large storage bins, 5 gal fish tank adjustable water heater
Distilled water
Procedure:
1. Measure out enough popcorn grain to fill all needed jars 2/3 full.
2. Wash the popcorn grain thoroughly 3 times.
3. Soak the grain 24 hours in water; ? inch water over the top of grain.
4. Simmer grain gently on stove in pot for 1 hour.
5. Drain thoroughly in strainer for 30 min.
6. Pack quart jars 2/3 full of strained grain. Seal with perforated lid over Tyvek.
7. Cook grain jars and large syringe needle (no plastic parts) in pressure cooker at 15 psi for 70 min.
8. After cooling completely shake the jar to loosen grain.
9.Sterilize large syringe tip with alcohol and flame.
10. Shake Liquid Culture vigorously and inject 3-4 cc into grain jars swirling liquid around the sides of the jar.
11. Place jars in incubation chamber till completely colonized, shake every 4-5 days as necessary. This is your grain spawn.
Phase 5: Bulk substrate (~10 DAYS)
Materials:
Horse/Cow dung: aged, dried
Wheat Straw
Plastic oven bags
Oven safe thermometer (external display and temp alert suggested)
Grain spawn
Lime (gardening Supply)
Tin Bread pans
Procedure:
1. Hydrate straw/dung in oven bags mixture to ?field consistency? (a little more wet than damp). When squeezing moistened substrate in hands, a little trickle of water should come out.
2. Tie off the oven bag with string, thermometer inserted through the tied opening.
3. Place bag in oven heated to 300?F.
4. Watch thermometer often during first hour. Keep temperature below 185?F. When thermometer read 170? ? 180? F turn oven temp down to 190?-200?.
5. After a total 3 hr cooking time remove bag from oven.
6. Remove thermometer and retie opening to seal it.
7. Let cool 6- 10 hrs.
8. Mix grain spawn, cooled bulk substrate, and a dash of lime in sterile bag or container, using sterile gloves and work area. This is your bulk substrate.
9. Add an even layer of bulk substrate into pan to about 1 inch from top.
10. Place black plastic tightly over surface of bulk substrate.
11. After a week check for complete colonization of mycelium. Then case.
Phase 5: Casing (~5) days
Materials:
Lime (gardening Supply)
coco coir (i.e. Bed-A-Beast found at pet stores)
Vermiculite (gardening Supply)
Bulk substrate
Procedure:
1. Hydrate coco coir in warm water completely.
2. Mix to 60/40 ratio by volume of Vermiculite to coco coir.
3. Add lime, 5% by volume.
4. Heat mixture in sterilized microwave for 5 min and allow to cool completely.
5. Ring out excess water to reach field consistency for this casing mixture.
6. Coat bottom of pan with thin layer of vermiculite as drainage layer.
7. Add even casing mixture as top layer; approx 2/3 - 3/4 in.
8. Place a perforated tin foil or black plastic lid loosely on top; this is your cased pan.
Phase 6: Cultivation (~6 days)
Materials:
Spray bottle, fill with water and 3% H2O2, 10% by volume.
Procedure:
1. Place cased bread pans in dark, room temperature area.
2. Check daily. As mycellium appears on the top of the casing add thin layer casing mix to these white areas until even white distribution is observed.
3. To initiate pinning remove foil/plastic lid twice daily and/or slightly reduce temperature.
4. When pins appear, lightly mist with spray bottle and expose to low light for a few minutes daily.
5. In an arid environment, it may be cover pans with black plastic (garbage bags) to hold in moisture, throughout cultivation.
Phase 7: Harvest and storage ( ~3 days)
Materials:
Desiccant, found at paint store
Wire mesh, or rack
Storage bin
Fan
Procedure:
1. With twisting motion pull almost mature mushrooms from casing surface. Pick when the veil is almost pulling away from the stem but mostly attached.
2. Continue to mist-hydrate cased pans generously with spray daily for further flushes.
3. Air dry mushrooms on rack with a fan until ?cracker? dry.
4. Place dried mushrooms in storage bin on rack above a layer of desiccant.
5. Dry over night.
6. Package in air tight container and store at reduced temperature to increase life.
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not very, indiv teks suffice
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somewhat
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no opinion
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useful
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essential
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Votes accepted from 02/15/05 12:00 PM until 02/15/06 12:01 PM
You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.
Edited by erags (02/15/05 07:09 PM)
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erags 
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... but with a little elaboration and maybe some pics, would be nice... 
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