Grow Your Own.

With the temperature in the mid 90* I need a project for in the pole barn so I got started growing Shiitake mushrooms that I got for a Christmas gift.

Long a symbol of longevity in Asia because of their health-promoting properties, shiitake mushrooms have been used medicinally by the Chinese for more than 6,000 years.
They have a rich, smoky flavor and can often take the place of meat in a meal.

Last spring cleared an oak tree from near our power line and blocked the larger pieces up into four foot lengths.

Supplies:
- logs, 3-4 feet long, 4-6 inch diameter
- ‘dowel’ or ‘plug’ spawn
- high speed drill
- 5/16” drill bits with stop at 1”
- bees wax
- old paint brush
- old can for melting bees wax
- hammer

Drill holes, 5/16” diameter, 1’ deep, every 4 inches along the log. Rotate log and
repeat. To create a diamond pattern, shift the 2” down along the guide for every
other row. Typically 1 row of holes is drilled for every inch of log diameter.

 Place a plug (dowel) spawn in each drilled hole and hammer it into the log.














Each plug should lie just below flush with the log surface.

Apply thin layer of liquid hot bees wax with the brush over the holes and the exposed end of the log.

The ‘laying yard’ which is the place

where the logs are incubated and where routine “maintenance” is performed. Almost
nothing is more important that laying (incubating) the logs under year round shade in
order to keep the logs from drying out due to sun and wind.

Keep an eye out for pests too.