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The cooler and pillowcase seems easier...

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Underhillmaster said:

It's been so long lol, that I am not sure where I 'learned' that this was the way to do it

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agar said:

I am often asked how to properly hydrate;
and pasteurize bulk h/poo, compost or combo substrate.

A MAJOR FAILURE POINT IS HAVING A SUBSTRATE;
TO DRY, OR TO WET AT SPAWNING.

There are a lot of ways to hydrate & pasteurize substrate;
Some right & some wrong.
(not to mention awkward, sloppy, messy and/or just stupid)

I don't care for the pillow case in hot water method.
Soaking h/poo in water leaches out nutrients from it.
When you drain the water away.
On top of that;
Moving, hanging, draining a hot heavy bag of shit, is no fun.

You will also find a 25-40-50 lb bag of hot steaming shit.
Doesn't drain, or cool rapidly.
(plus, most Gal's don't like them in the bath-tub)

Even when fairly well drained & cooled.
Usually, the bottom half the bag content.
Is to wet.
So, it requires hand squeezing, to get right.

How I remedied all that, is this.
I bought 1000 (1K) 18X8X4 inch gusseted 2 mil plastic bags.

http://www.uline.com/ProductDetail.asp?model=S-123&ref=154

NOTE: These are NOT autoclavable bags, they will melt @ 15 psi.

These bags will hold 6 to 8 quarts of hydrated bulk substrate.
Which fills them 2/3rds full.

Next, I fill large bus boy totes:

With DRY shredded h/poo, or compost.
(5 gallon plastic buckets also work well)

Then, depending on the amounts to be hydrated.
I either use a garden hose, or sink spray attachment.
And, spray the tote content with water.
While spraying it, I mix it around with a garden trowel.

Once the h/poo-compost is about fully saturated.
You can tell, when water just starts to pool in the tote bottom.
I mix it around some-more, then do the next one, the same.
Once, I have however many totes full & hydrated.

I load the bags (referenced above) about 2/3rds full.
I load the bags BY HAND.

HERE IS THE IMPORTANT PART OF LOADING BAGS:

Test each handful, as you load the bag.
You test by giving the handful a gentle SQUEEZE.

You want the substrate to be wet, but not soaking/dripping wet.
When squeezed GENTLY, it should only drip a FEW DROPS.

EXAMPLE: Submerge a household sponge in water & fully saturate it.
Remove the fully saturated sponge.
And, give it a gentle squeeze.
WATER POURS OUT IN A STREAM, RIGHT.
You do not want a substrate THAT WET.
Continue to slowly squeeze the sponge (very gently), until;
ONLY, A FEW DROPS ARE STILL DRIPPING OUT OF IT.

That is the same saturation point, you want a SUBSTRATE AT.
(close to 68/72% moisture capacity)

I have a Kelway HB-2 ph/moisture meter.
To accurately test substrate moisture content.


You don't need one.
If you learn the SQUEEZE TESTING procedure properly.
(but, they are nice to have )

Moreover, you have two (2) more opportunities.
In the procedure to correct substrate moisture content.

Both are after pasteurization, but prior to adding spawn.

Now, its time to pasteurize the bag, or multiple bags.

First seal the bags with a rubber band.
Not so tightly, that steam cannot escape.

One method for single bags;
Is to simply fill a pot of water a little more than 1/2 full.
Then, submerse the bag in the water.
With the bag neck well above the waters surface.
(so you don't flood the bag)

Note: the bag will tend to FLOAT.
So, place some sort of weight on it.
Be sure NOT to submerse the bag neck.

Then, carefully insert a probe type meat thermometer into the bag.

(cost about $5 @ any mega-mart)
Be carefully not to PUNCTURE the bag, with the probe tip.

Now, heat the pot on a stove;
Until the internal bag temperature is 165F
(+/- 5 degree's)
Then, allow it to remain there at least 1 full hour.
(I usually go 90 minutes @ 165F)
Then, remove bag, tighten the rubber band.
And, allow the bag to cool overnight.

If you want to do more than 1 bag at a time;
A counter top roaster works GREAT.

(can often be found @ thrift stores for $10)

Most counter-top roasters will hold four (4) bags at a time.
Simply set it around 180F.
Then, monitor progress with the probe thermometer.
Get core bag temperature up to 165F & lower the heat.
Maintain 165F, for 60 to 90 minutes.
Remove the bags, seal & cool.

If you don't have, or want to use plastic bags.
Another method is pot-in-pot.

One stock pot, inside another.
Fill inner pot with squeeze tested substrate.
Insert probe thermometer & cover with a lid.
Fill outer pot 3/4 full of water.
Heat on a stove.
Get substrate core temperature to 165F & maintain 60-90 minutes.
Remove inner pot & allow to cool over night.
(with the lid on tight)

The next check you can do with bags, or a pot full.
BEFORE SPAWNING.
Is to double check the substrates moisture content.


In the cleanest conditions, and still air.
On a sanitized counter-top.
WEARING freshly laundered cloths, gloves, mask & hair cap.
(you are a major source of bacteria & contaminates)

Open a bag or the pot & re-test with the squeeze method.

If the substrate in a bag, feels to moist.
Simply hold the bag over a sink.
And, squeeze out excess moisture through the bag neck.
(then re-seal the bag)

If substrate feels to dry.
Add MINUSCULE amounts of water, you boiled first.
(allowed to cool with a tight lid on it)
Until, the substrate moisture content feels right.

With the pot, if to moist, use a sanitized potato masher.
(or the bottom of a sanitized coffee cup, or glass jar)

To compress the pot content.
Tip pot & drain out excess water.

If substrate feels to dry.
Add MINUSCULE amounts of water, you boiled first.
(allowed to cool with a tight lid on the pot)
Until, the substrate moisture content feels right.

The LAST CHANCE to test the substrate moisture content.
IS AT SPAWNING TIME, when you fill trays with substrate.


Use nested trays, so light cannot penetrate tray sides & bottom.
(to stop bottom & SIDE pinning, later on)

Test the substrates moisture content AGAIN.
Before adding spawn.


(stainless steel trays here)

Fill tray with substrate.
Add spawn a jar at a time & mix in well.
(20/25% spawn to substrate ratio)

Do not press, or compact spawned substrate down.

I cover my trays with clear food wrap.
And, use masking tape around the tray.
To insure the clear food wrap stays in place.
I burn several holes in the covering.
(with a cigarette)
Then cover the holes with alcohol dipped micropore tape.
Then, cover the tray with CRUMBLED aluminum foil.
Holes in the clear food wrap allow gas exchange.
Micropore tape over those holes, keeps out contaminates.

The aluminum foil covering simply serves as a dust cover.
(crumpled & loose to allow gas exchange underneath it)

Do not incubate bulk substrate trays at temperatures over 72F
This type substrate will generate a LOT of heat internally;
As it colonizes.

If you incubate at to high temperatures.
You greatly increase the chances.
FERMENTATION & BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION
Will set in, and contaminate the substrate.
(for which there is NO CURE)


101 % colonized

As a side note, the bag or pot-in-pot pasteurization method.
Also works well for CASING MATERIAL.

If you want to pasteurize 200 lbs of bags at 1 time.
Check THIS OUT:

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coAsTal said:

I sure do miss agar... he's been quiet for quite some time-- he's a true myco-superstar!

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  Had to add this to my favorites.