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micololo2
Stranger

Registered: 11/05/05
Posts: 388
Loc: Québec, Canada
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old pics of my first trenches
#5278665 - 02/08/06 06:22 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Hi shroomer's friends It's -15C today and suppose to be -25 tonight. So don't have a lot to do. I was looking my old pics and have good memories when I found those ones. I thought some of those pics could interest some of you for who would like to try this. Cheap way like always with me.

The trench is at the sun right in the middle of the field. That's the cover of the 4X8 trench. I cut tall grass to cover it. It's better than straw because straw let dust straw falling on the shrooms and stick on it like cement while shrooms are growing. A mosquito screen cover the frame cover. Usually half inch tall grass is enough. It will let pass light just what it need. You can install in the trench a bug catcher and sticky yellow board.

The cover opened. Looks like Eryngii was growing. The side wall of the trench need to be in cement blocks or something to protect the shrooms from sand dust coming from the side wall when you water. You can water without need to open the cover. If the grass is dry and yellow the droplets coming from the dry grass will give some yellow spots on the cap shrooms but wont change the texture. It's good to put straw or grass in the bottom, it will help you to clean after the flushes.

Here is a part of a 16X4 shiitake trench installed in the forest under trees. No grass needed on the cover. Never got flies problem with shiitake. Just slugs, and they are easy to catch. I found that shiitake are the easiest shrooms to grow outside, to sale, the best yields, better quality when you go on the market and you compare with others being grown indoors, and having the best prices for them. Here on this pic cement blocks on the sidewall are missing to protect the shroom from the sand dust. With this trench technic I can go up to 4-5 flushes if you slow down the infections between the second and third flush.
I wish you enjoyed this post because it took me a lot time to do it.
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poboy
On the bounce


Registered: 03/08/05
Posts: 1,355
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Re: old pics of my first trenches *DELETED* [Re: micololo2]
#5279290 - 02/08/06 09:02 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Post deleted by poboyReason for deletion: d
-------------------- Burn the land and boil the sea but you can't take the sky from me.    
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Owl
Stranger
Registered: 03/20/04
Posts: 178
Loc: Netherlands
Last seen: 9 years, 3 months
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: poboy]
#5280566 - 02/09/06 02:46 AM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Awesome post mycololo, and beautiful mush. I am very jealous.
Do you think that this technique could be easily applied in other areas with different climate and soil conditions? What is the soil type in the field? Sandy? Do you live in a moist climate? Did you ever have problems with high CO2 and a lack of light in the trenches? I think your invention could work great for growing high quality Reishi conks. Did you try this species?
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ohmatic
searcher


Registered: 02/28/04
Posts: 6,742
Loc: europe
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: Owl]
#5280587 - 02/09/06 02:54 AM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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great piost as always mico  
simplicity is key ! peace ohm
--------------------
MONOTUB tek HEATBOMB tek RIP #cultivation! ....can't associate? well FUCK U !
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micololo2
Stranger

Registered: 11/05/05
Posts: 388
Loc: Québec, Canada
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: Owl]
#5280688 - 02/09/06 04:23 AM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Owl said: Awesome post mycololo, and beautiful mush. I am very jealous.
Thank you guys you are generous in your compliments, as always
Do you think that this technique could be easily applied in other areas with different climate and soil conditions?
Why not. The most important is your trench can drain the rain water. Little slopes/hills are the best. Near swamps or on balck earth would be bad. When you start watering you got to check the temp. of the water. The first water coming up from the hose is to hot. Cold water is the best.
What is the soil type in the field? Sandy? Do you live in a moist climate?
Sandy gravely. Between 50-85%. Anyway in dry conditions you just water the trench with a simple hose nozzle for a minute and it's stay humid for all day. Just install a simple temp./hum. gage and adjust to the needs.
Did you ever have problems with high CO2 and a lack of light in the trenches?
You cannot have high co2 problems because it breath thru the grass and it's not a close place it's wide open. With about half inch tall grass only indirect light pass. It could be the opposite too if it missing grass. I remember I had a lack of light problem the first time I made the shiitake trench in the bush. Banches of the spruces were to tight and shiitake didn't want to pin. I pruned the trees and you saw the result on the pic.
I think your invention could work great for growing high quality Reishi conks. Did you try this species?
No I didn't try it yet. Later in spring time I suppose to have a culture from Poboy, then i'll try it.
Now I grow them in wider and longer trenches. Like I said in an older post the research department of the gov. in agriculture suppose to help me to develop my technics for outdoor cultivation.
If some of you try my outdoor methods I would be please to hear about it and the problems you encounter. My fun is trying to find easy and cheap ways to grow my lovely shrooms. Micololo2
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Jeremy_Davis
Mycelial NetworkAdministrator


Registered: 04/22/05
Posts: 652
Loc: Florida
Last seen: 11 years, 9 months
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: micololo2]
#5281080 - 02/09/06 09:33 AM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Fascinating! I like that set up. Definitely something people in developing nations could use instead of building huts/houses to grow in. I'm going to send these pics to some of the people on my farm, they'll love them as well. What method of preparation do you use for the shiitake blocks? Sterilization? Many thanks, Jeremy Davis Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization, Inc. www.echotech.org/greta
-------------------- Jeremy Davis Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization, Inc. Check out the ECHO mushroom blog page to see our lab, growing facility, and more-www.echotech.org/greta
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micololo2
Stranger

Registered: 11/05/05
Posts: 388
Loc: Québec, Canada
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: Jeremy_Davis]
#5281598 - 02/09/06 12:27 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Jeremy_Davis said: Fascinating! I like that set up. Definitely something people in developing nations could use instead of building huts/houses to grow in. I'm going to send these pics to some of the people on my farm, they'll love them as well.
If you could see the next way I want to do, it'll be 100 times better. Huts/houses looks cheap and good too. The advantage of my technic is if you have space you can grow a lot of shrooms, like tons per acre at a really low price.
What method of preparation do you use for the shiitake blocks?
Same as Stamets's
Sterilization?
Pasteurize in 45 galons drums. 24X6Pds blocs per drum and 2 drums per propane tank, 2-3 times a day. With 2 tanks you can go up to 1700 Pds subs per day, 2 guys. Alone I can do only 570 pds. subs. Propane tank is $60 gaz and good for a lot of pasteurisation.
Another special technic I have developed is all inoculations are done outdoors, except agar to grain or liquid to grain. That include grain to grain etc. No filters, no blowers nothing, 0 cost, only the table you work on. I have a lot of space to work touh so it's quick done.
Today it's -12C and I'm trying a new experience. I've builted a special drum to pasteurize outdoors in the cold temp. IT's boiling right now by the time I'm writing to you. The next complicated step will be inoculating the subs before it freeze but not to early while his to hot. And taking care to not damage the grain spawn in the cold temp. It's a real interesting challenge to me. I got to go now bye.
Many thanks, Jeremy Davis Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization, Inc. www.echotech.org/greta
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Jeremy_Davis
Mycelial NetworkAdministrator


Registered: 04/22/05
Posts: 652
Loc: Florida
Last seen: 11 years, 9 months
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: micololo2]
#5283201 - 02/09/06 07:52 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Cool I'm intrigued! I'd love to see the trenches optimized by 100x!!
Okay so for the shiitake, you pasteurize in a steam bath for how many hours? 24 six pound bags per drum? You use Stamets recipe for wood lover mix from TMC?
ANd you can inoc the pasteurized sawdust mix out in the open with grain spawn? Do you use liquid for the shiitake or only agar? Light and Love, Jeremy Davis ECHO, Inc.
-------------------- Jeremy Davis Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization, Inc. Check out the ECHO mushroom blog page to see our lab, growing facility, and more-www.echotech.org/greta
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micololo2
Stranger

Registered: 11/05/05
Posts: 388
Loc: Québec, Canada
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: Jeremy_Davis]
#5283590 - 02/09/06 09:16 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Jeremy_Davis said: Cool I'm intrigued! I'd love to see the trenches optimized by 100x!!
I don't have pics of that yet. It's because the trenches are a lot wider so you use more land to grow shrooms than alley for walking.
Okay so for the shiitake, you pasteurize in a steam bath for how many hours? 2 hours24 six pound bags per drum? YesYou use Stamets recipe for wood lover mix from TMC? What is TMC?
ANd you can inoc the pasteurized sawdust mix out in the open with grain spawn? Yes Do you use liquid for the shiitake or only agar? I use liquid spawn only for the Lion's Mane. And in this case I do not use grain. All the rest of the 14 shrooms I grow I use agar to grain. Light and Love, Jeremy Davis ECHO, Inc.
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Jeremy_Davis
Mycelial NetworkAdministrator


Registered: 04/22/05
Posts: 652
Loc: Florida
Last seen: 11 years, 9 months
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: micololo2]
#5288611 - 02/11/06 12:48 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Okay so for the shiitake, you pasteurize in a steam bath for how many hours? 2 hours
24 six pound bags per drum? YesYou use Stamets recipe for wood lover mix from TMC? What is TMC?
TMC=The Mushroom Cultivator, or did you use Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms for the woodlovers' mix?
ANd you can inoc the pasteurized sawdust mix out in the open with grain spawn? Yes Do you use liquid for the shiitake or only agar? I use liquid spawn only for the Lion's Mane. And in this case I do not use grain. All the rest of the 14 shrooms I grow I use agar to grain.
Why agar to grain only? Do you see better results or yields? Thanks! Light and Love, Jeremy Davis ECHO, Inc.
-------------------- Jeremy Davis Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization, Inc. Check out the ECHO mushroom blog page to see our lab, growing facility, and more-www.echotech.org/greta
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micololo2
Stranger

Registered: 11/05/05
Posts: 388
Loc: Québec, Canada
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: Jeremy_Davis]
#5290188 - 02/11/06 09:48 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Jeremy_Davis said: Okay so for the shiitake, you pasteurize in a steam bath for how many hours? 2 hours
24 six pound bags per drum? YesYou use Stamets recipe for wood lover mix from TMC? What is TMC?
TMC=The Mushroom Cultivator, or did you use Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms for the woodlovers' mix?This recipe:dry weigth, 25% chips of sugar maple or yellow birch or oak or elm, 25% weat bran, 50% sawdust of the same wood named before, 1% gypsum, 1% crushed shells
ANd you can inoc the pasteurized sawdust mix out in the open with grain spawn? Yes Do you use liquid for the shiitake or only agar? I use liquid spawn only for the Lion's Mane. And in this case I do not use grain. All the rest of the 14 shrooms I grow I use agar to grain.
Why agar to grain only? If there is some contamination I can see it and I loose only a bit, in liquid you can scrap every thing and then loosing a lot of time. Do you see better results or yields? NoThanks! Light and Love, Jeremy Davis ECHO, Inc.
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mattymonkey
Feel Like aStranger...


Registered: 11/07/04
Posts: 973
Last seen: 11 years, 23 days
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: micololo2]
#5294165 - 02/13/06 09:49 AM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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WOW awesome post! thanks so much for all the info micolo, and thanks for asking questions guys to get a bit more out of em!
this really has me thinking, it seems like this is the way of mush cult these days.. getting lower and lower tek, simpler and simpler... being able to produce quicker with less investment... its nice to see, thanks for the inspiration
-------------------- "listening for the secret.. searching for the sound.."
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micololo2
Stranger

Registered: 11/05/05
Posts: 388
Loc: Québec, Canada
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: mattymonkey]
#5303508 - 02/15/06 03:17 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Don't forget Matty if you want to grow in trenches, you'll have to adjust your strategies for the species to the environment from where you live. Don't forget some species attract flies others more molds problems etc. If you can control that, no indoors growers can approach the quality of the mushrooms you'll get from trenches. But nothing is free and easy. Bye +
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Jeremy_Davis
Mycelial NetworkAdministrator


Registered: 04/22/05
Posts: 652
Loc: Florida
Last seen: 11 years, 9 months
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: micololo2]
#5307234 - 02/16/06 02:21 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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I can wait to see/hear more about this. Thanks! JD
-------------------- Jeremy Davis Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization, Inc. Check out the ECHO mushroom blog page to see our lab, growing facility, and more-www.echotech.org/greta
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phalcon005

Registered: 12/21/05
Posts: 217
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: micololo2]
#6201136 - 10/23/06 09:22 AM (17 years, 3 months ago) |
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Mico, I've got a couple more questions on your technique. What exactly are you using to cover the trench to support the tall grass layer? At first I assumed it was screen or mesh of some sort, but it looks like in your second pic that it's a solid sheet of plywood. If it's solid, why do you add the grass on top, and how does any light get in? Also, how deep do you cut your trenches, about two feet or so? And ff you don't have to remove the covering daily to water, how often do you check on the blocks? One of the benefits I'm sure of growing buildings is the ease to spot a contaminated log so you can quickly remove it, etc.
This technique looks awesome, just like something I would like to pull off. I'm tempted to try to have one constructed by next spring. Mine will have to be small, I don't have the luxury of lots of open land unfortunately.
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jlocke85
Stranger


Registered: 12/05/05
Posts: 113
Loc: MI
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: phalcon005]
#6201783 - 10/23/06 12:50 PM (17 years, 3 months ago) |
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>but it looks like in your second pic that it's a solid sheet of plywood.
"A mosquito screen cover the frame cover". At first glance I thought it was solid, too. Looking closer, though, you can see its a wooden frame with a screen attached to it.
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phalcon005

Registered: 12/21/05
Posts: 217
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: jlocke85]
#6201806 - 10/23/06 01:01 PM (17 years, 3 months ago) |
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Ahh, I'm slow. I was thinking the 'mosquite screen cover' was the orange line in the first pic. That orange line is surely what one would first guess, simply a bright rope to say "Don't step here or you're falling into my mushroom trench".
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micololo2
Stranger

Registered: 11/05/05
Posts: 388
Loc: Québec, Canada
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: phalcon005]
#6202100 - 10/23/06 02:42 PM (17 years, 3 months ago) |
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You're funny guys.
There's lot to say about trenches techniques. The one you're specially looking at is an experience I've tried growing shiitake, eryngii ... in an open field, on a hill in front of the south, in summer time. Wind comes S-W. The trench is 14'' deep, 4X8'',with thin cement blocks for walls. The cover is a frame with a plastic mosquito screen.
The tall grass act for creating shade, let good air circulation and let pass the water. I imagine cardboard, in some ways could work too. Important: You have to adjust the thickness of the grass cover for good level of lighting. With time the grass comes yellow brown and when the drops fall on the mushrooms, it does make some yellow spots on these ones. The mushrooms are still good, but they have a "freak" color appearance with those spots. So you have to change the grass if a weird looking mushroom is bothering you.
I prefer the trenches under trees but got anyway surprising positive results doing that experience.
Lot of interesting things left to try with that technique. Try some and share with us.
Growing mushrooms in a natural way with good yields and getting the best quality is my passion.
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shirley knott
not my real name

Registered: 11/11/02
Posts: 9,105
Loc: London
Last seen: 7 years, 28 days
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: micololo2]
#6202176 - 10/23/06 03:02 PM (17 years, 3 months ago) |
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lolo, you're an inspiration to many of us
-------------------- buh
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phalcon005

Registered: 12/21/05
Posts: 217
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Re: old pics of my first trenches [Re: shirley knott]
#6202239 - 10/23/06 03:16 PM (17 years, 3 months ago) |
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I second that, Micoloco is a stud.
If the grass water staining the mushrooms bothered anyone, I wonder if something like some thin cloth would suffice? A thin layer of white cloth would probably let in some light, but also do very well in retaining moisture. The location I'm thinking of will have no shade and it is very sunny where I live, so this might prove valuable. I'll have to tinker with it...
Micoloco, how low do temps have to get before you stop operating the trenches? I'm wondering if they retain a little more heat being underground, and if you can squeeze in a later and earlier grow season.
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