shiitake logs

in march of last year i inoculated a bunch of oak logs with shiitake mushroom spawn.  it went something like this:


the logs have to be drilled so the spawn can be introduced.  i bought a special drill bit (as well as all the spawn and inoculation tools and supplies) from field and forest products, a mushroom culture supply company.  the bit is designed to make holes the right diameter and depth for inoculation.

holes get drilled in sort of a diamond pattern 4-6 inches apart along the whole length of the log (my logs are about 32-36 inches long)

after the logs are drilled the spawn is packed into the holes with a special tool.  i chose a thumb inoculator because it only takes one hand to operate leaving the other hand free to manipulate the log as needed.

sawdust spawn and brass thumb inoculator

the inoculator is really easy to use.  the tip is plunged into the sawdust spawn a few times to load it.

once loaded it's placed over a hole and the spawn is pressed into the hole by pushing the spring-loaded thumb trigger at the top of the handle.

drilled hole packed with sawdust spawn

after all the holes are filled with spawn they are sealed with melted food grade paraffin wax.  i used an old crock pot i found at the local spca thrift to heat the wax.

applying melted wax with wax dauber

after i sealed the logs i labeled them with aluminum tags.

these tags are actually meant to be marked with a ball point pen to impress the information into the tag...not sure why i used sharpie but it has not held up in the weather.

then the waiting.  it takes at least several months after inoculation before log grown shiitakes will begin producing mushrooms.  it's important to sustain the moisture content of the logs so i've been watering them since inoculation.  i noticed a few days ago that (after more than a year after inoculation) a few of the logs are starting to fruit.  i suspect that our hot, dry climate contributed to the extra long period between inoculation and fruiting.   i'm curious to see how productive they'll be.   it's definitely been a fun experience.

shiitake mushroom pushing off wax cap at inoculation site

only a few so far but once things cool off a bit more and we get some more rain i think we'll get a pretty good flush from the logs that haven't started fruiting yet.  and then mushroom dinner for us.

hitchhiker

i was out working in the garden today and started feeling like i'd gotten something stuck in my sock at the top of my boot.  i figured it was just some dried plant material but when i pulled up my pant leg to have a look i found this little guy...

out and about

weekly erranding and a stop for coffee at the pony expresso with my two best guys...

first rain

                         

 
summer's fiery trial
in country too long dry
the trees hold their breath
in hot, still air
then
like a fever breaking
fall's first rain
the trees
the soil
all the animals of the forest
even the mountains
exhale together
in a deep collective sigh of relief
sweetening the night air
                                       

 

hi, turkeys!

a group of wild turkey toms passed through while i had the ducks out yesterday.  the little whities were really curious about them and actually walked out a ways to get a closer look at the weird looking birds in their yard.

short video:

'migo

when we bought the place across the street we inherited about nine feral/semi-feral cats that lupe, the previous owner, had been feeding.  i told lupe i'd feed the cats after she moved.  most of the cats have moved on in one way or another.  now there is only one.

'migo

 he used to be called fluff/floof but after a dream i had, in which he appeared as a benevolent figure offering me help, i started calling him 'migo (short for amigo because in the dream he said he was my friend).  i walk over to bring 'migo some breakfast everyday.  usually he is waiting for me on a pine round behind the woodshed.  when i don't see him in his usual place i call him and he comes running out of the blackberries down by the creek and up the slope to me, yowling all the way.
today, like always, i gave him his breakfast and petted him a little until he got interested in eating and then i wished him a good day and went to check some trees and do a little watering.
when i was on my way out the gate to go back home i heard 'migo yowling me and i stopped to ask him what was up.  he kept yowling and walking toward me, pausing a little uncertainly a few times before he made it to the gate.  i bent down to pet him but he was skittish, he seemed to want petting but was not comfortable being so out in the open.  he kept yowling me and leading me back over by the woodshed.  when we got close to the woodshed i bent down again and he allowed me to pet him.  it was more than an allowance.  he seemed to really want and need to be petted.  i stroked his head and back and rubbed his ears and neck and he purred and rubbed his head and body against my leg.  we did this for 5-10 minutes and he probably would have liked more but i had to get back home to some other furry critters who need things from me too.  i thought about how difficult it must be for him to live in the loneliness of not quite being a wild cat and not quite being domesticated.  i told him it was alright as i stroked his soft coat and looked into his friendly yellow eyes.  i told him he could be wild or he could be tame and i'd be his friend either way.

staal's happy birthday feast

beef and veggie spring rolls, long beans and purple pole beans (from the garden), and rehydrated oyster mushrooms from our winter crop

i cooked the beans and mushrooms together with some garlic but didn't get any pictures because we (nick came over and helped) were too busy eating it.

the first few i roll are always a little clumsy but i usually get pretty good at it by the end