FOREST-CULTIVATED MUSHROOM PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Justin O’Dea, Patrick Shults, & Stephen BramwellAgriculture & Natural Resources Extension Unit

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Overview

¨ Forest-cultivated mushroom (FCM) systems–Not indoor bag systems, straw or hay beds etc. ¤ Traditional systems: China > Japan >

eastern, midwestern US early 1980s¤ Cornell U- refining systems for Eastern US

¨ Shiitake (Lentinula) – Most common, reliable¤ Bolt production system> Totem system

¨ Oyster (Pleurotus) – Less common¨ Lion’s mane (Hericium)- Least common

¤ Totem production system> Bolt system

¨ Wine cap (Stropharia) ¤ Wood chip bed system Mudge & Gabriel

Mudge & Gabriel

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Overview

¨ Shiitake (Lentinula) –Most common, reliable

¨ Oyster (Pleurotus) ¨ Lion’s mane/comb

tooth (Hericium)-¨ Wine cap (Stropharia) ¨ All these fungi are

detrivores/saprophytes- consume dead matter

¨ Saprophytic fungi-adapted to consume biomass with high C concentrations

Mudge & GabrielMudge & GabrielMudge & Gabriel

Mudge & Gabriel

NCSU

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Appropriate substrates

¨ Substrates (mushroom food): ¤ Hardwoods only. No softwoods.

¨ Ideal (esp. Shiitake):* Oaks (Oyster?), hard/sugar maples, hornbeams, sweetgum> Beech, hickory > Alder, birch, soft maples, (cherry?) > aspen, willow, poplar (except for Oyster), fruitwoods, white ash, black locust, walnut

¨ Untested: bigleaf maple, Oregon white oak, hazelnut, vine maple, Oregon ash, bitter cherry, tanoak, pacific dogwood, buckthorn

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Quality substrates

¨ Logs must be fresh-cut¤ Old logs: 1) may have lower internal moisture

2) already colonized with other saprophytic fungi*¨ Harvested while dormant- pre-bud-break

¤ Late harvest = risk “bark slippage” ¤ Dormant - cambial cell walls

hardened off¤ Actively growing cambium -

thin cell walls¤ Dormant- unspent carbohydrates.

Tree trunk = food storage organ¨ Bolts = 4-6” diameter, 3-4’ long¨ Totems = 8-12” diameter, 2.5’ long

Mudge & Gabriel

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Preparing to inoculate

¨ Wood must die before inoculation¤ living tissue = parasitic, pathogenic, symbiotic fungi

not suitable for saprophytic fungi¤ Can be anti-fungal compounds produced

¨ Time for wood to die ≥ 3 weeks¨ Inoculation sweet spot:

¤ After the tree dies ¤ Before other fungi colonize it¤ Wood’s internal moisture is still high

¨ Moving logs off forest floor after cutting may reduce risk of other fungi colonizing- Keep out of sun, wind. Humid, but not wet.

¨ When moving logs, mind the bark.

Mudge & Gabriel

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Cutting bolts: 4-6” diam. X 4’ long

Avoid splitting bark, pinching saw

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VIDEO LINK: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2079/2020/04/Bolt-measuring-and-cutting-

demo.mp4

Inoculation

¨ Main spawn types for FCM¤ Hardwood sawdust ¤ Hardwood plugs/dowels

¨ Inoculated with fungal mycelium (rather than from spores) > clone of given strain

¨ Keep refrigerated (up to 6 mo) or store in cool, dark place. Don’t suffocate mycelium.

¨ Early spring is most typical inoculation timing¤ Later can work but increased risk of feral fungi and

reduced yields

Mudge & Gabriel

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Inoculation setup

¨ Preferred: ¤ Adjacent to logs, adjacent to laying yard-

The less you have to move logs, the better!¤ Covered space for the PNW spring, shade

¨ Access to electricity¨ Drilling tools¨ Sawbucks¨ Inoculation tools¨ Food-grade cheese wax¨ Non-flame hot plate + pot

or electric pot for wax¨ Non-poly med. paint brushes/wax applicators¨ Tables that can get wax on them¨ Open container for holding spawn during inoculation

Mudge & Gabriel

Mudge & Gabriel

G. Leatham

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Inoculation setup

¨ Inoc. holes 4” apart in-row, offset rows 2-3” apart

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Drilling bolts

10,000 RPM angle grinder w/ modified ½” x 1” bit

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VIDEO LINK: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2079/2020/04/Bolt-drilling-demo1.mp4

Inoculating bolts

Using sawdust spawn

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VIDEO LINK:https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2079/2020/04/Inoculating-demo.mp4

Inoculating bolts*Not for public distribution*

VIDEO LINK:https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2079/2020/04/Peg-spawn-inoculation-demo.mp4

Using sawdust spawn

Waxing bolts

200°F hot wax. Applying w/brushes, high volume wax dauber

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VIDEO LINK:https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2079/2020/04/Waxing-demo.mp4

Waxing bolts

Alternative waxing technique w/spoon (peg/dowel spawn ex.)

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VIDEO LINK:https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2079/2020/04/Peg-spawn-inoculation-demo.mp4

Inoculation setup

¨ 2 x 1’ pieces + ~2” cap. 3x ¼” spawn layers between

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Inoculating totems *Not for public distribution*

VIDEO LINK:https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2079/2020/04/Totem-demo-edit-2020-lo-res.mp4

~ ≤ 5 mins/totem

Place totem on permeable ground barrier, cover with leaf bag after

The laying yard

¨ Shaded forest canopy¨ Protection from direct sun¨ Protection from drying winds¨ Sufficiently well-drained ¨ + north-facing¨ + near source of humidity (wet

area, pond, etc.) ¨ + evergreen shade ¨ Protective layer between forest

floor and logs¨ Access to water¨ Optimal- 59-82°F and 80-85% relative humidity

¤ Log moisture <30-25% = in danger of becoming non-viable

Mudge & Gabriel

NCSU

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On the road to harvest

Shiitake¨ Spawn run = 6-12 months ¨ Harvest timing depends on strain

¤ Cool weather- Fall & Spring¤ Wide range – Summer (forced) or

Fall & Spring natural fruiting¤ Warm weather – Summer only (forced)

¨ Forced fruiting–24 hr. water immersion¤ Bolt should be immersed- best for

saturation¤ Uniform, predictable fruiting,

3x per season (7-8 wks between fruitings)¨ Average log production = 3-5 years (can be - or +)

Mudge & Gabriel

NCSU

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Harvest

¨ Shiitake¤ Fully ripe = cap curled

under slightly stillunder still Mudge & GabrielMudge & Gabriel

UVM

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Harvest

¨ Oyster & lion’s mane/comb tooth¨ Spawn run:

¤ Oyster = 4-12 mo. ¤ Lion’s mane = 12-18 mo.

¨ No forced fruiting. Natural, sporadic¤ Oyster: Fall and spring but depends on

strainn Ripe before caps curl upward

¤ Lions mane: generally Falln Ripe when “icicles” fully extended,

before any browning or dessication begins

Cornell U

Cornell U

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Quick notes on Stropharia

¨ Chip leftover logs, branches from bolts & totems ¨ Mix fresh cut wood chips and partially composted

wood chips. Apparently tolerates >20% softwood also.

¨ Minimum 4x4 bed size¨ More adapted to partial

shade, ideal unknown¨ Can irrigate in driest parts of

summer¨ Sporadic harvest; make sure

to correctly identify

Cornell U

Mudge & Gabriel

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As a business enterprise

¨ Not really intended to be sole enterprise-¨ A better bet: 1) supplemental side-income 2) add-value to business

¤ Increase palette of crop offeringsn Additional draw for CSA, farm market, etc.

¤ Market as “forest-grown”¤ Market as ecologically low-impact ¤ Market nutritional benefits¤ Premium market tier to complement wholesale indoor production

enterprise? Compliment to wildcrafted mushroom business? ¤ Local markets¤ Restaurants¤ Value-added products- dehydrated, jerky, etc. (probably needed anyway…) ¤ Straightforward organic certification?¤ Spawn production, strain development¤ Selling whole inoculated logs for home use

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Why do it then?

¨ You’ve got a forest. And so do your neighbors. This is a way to produce income from it.

¨ Fits in with comprehensive forest mgmt. planning-Often, thinning hardwoods out is part of that.

¨ Low impact: No land clearing. Limited timber required. ¨ Relatively low barriers to entry

¤ Low capital needs¤ Low equipment & infrastructure demands

n The lower the investment, the lower the risk¤ Low maintenance¤ Not much land needed¤ Complimentary with beginning farmer “gateway” markets, fits in

with produce arrays & other specialty ag products¤ Can be done alone or with a few people. People also enjoy

volunteering for a bit. That said, labor may be a barrier for some.

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Labor, material investment estimates

= 17.4 mins/logWSU Est. for 1 well-oiled person inoculating: ~4.84 holes/min = ~16.1 mins/log

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Mudge & Gabriel

Inoculation setupInoculation procedure

~ 4-5" diameter x 4' long log@ 2" row spacingDrilling ≤ 4 min. 30%Inoculating = 5.2 min 38%Waxing = 4.3 min 32% } 70%

= 13.5 min. total

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VIDEO LINK: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2079/2020/04/GH010045-Time-lapse-

inoculation.mp4

Unknowns

A lot!¨ Optimal PNW log species?¨ Log production longevity?¨ Optimal mushroom strains for PNW?¨ Potential yield in PNW?¨ Competition from PNW feral fungi (i.e. “weedy fungi”)? ¨ Compromising PNW pests?¨ Optimal systems for PNW - Moisture managed? How much?

New methods need to be developed? Pest & disease management needed?

¨ Food safety issues? Nutritional/quality differences from FMC? ¨ Market- market saturation point, competition from indoor-

grown & wildcrafted mushrooms, latitude of premium markets and value-added opportunities?

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WSU Extension efforts

Evaluating Commercial Specialty Mushroom Production Feasibility for Diversified Farms and Small Woodland Owners in Western WA¨ 2-year project supported by BioAg grant from WSU’s CSANR

Trial location Replications Mushroom

species Sample units Main treatment plot Sample units Split-plot Sample units Split-split plot Sample units

(Site) per site (System) per replication Moisture management per treatment Substrate per substrate Strain per strainControl (unmanaged moisture) Red alderTarped + passive irrigation Bigleaf mapleTarped + active irrigation Wild cherry24-hr immersive soak > tarped* Paper birchControl (unmanaged moisture) Red alderTarped + passive irrigation Bigleaf mapleTarped + active irrigation Wild cherry24-hr immersive soak > tarped Paper birchControl (unmanaged moisture) Red alderTarped + passive irrigation Bigleaf mapleTarped + active irrigation Wild cherry24-hr immersive soak > tarped Paper birch

Wide range shiitake strain 1Wide range shiitake strain 2Warm weather shiitake strainCool weather shiitake strain

*Originally tarped + passive irrigation treatment using polyethlene tarp. Poylethlene trap replaced with breathable, spun polyester tarp in July 2019. **Production systems for lion's mane and oyster mushrooms are identical, but are not intended to be compared to one another in statistical analyses.

3

NA

NA

Wide range shiitake strain

Cool weather shiitake strain 2

2

48 12

4

1

1

Red alder

Bigleaf maple

NA

NA

64

16

16

16

4

4

24Control (unmanaged moisture)

Tarped + passive irrigation*

Main (Vancouver)

Satellite (Lacey & McCleary)

4

4 (2 per site)

Shiitake (Bolt)

Lion's mane (Totem)**

Oyster (Totem)**

Shiitake (Bolt)

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Schlepping logs. A lot of them.

More than once.

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Initial log moisture content measurements

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Inoculating logs. A lot of them.

A great variety of them.

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Sattelite trial site. Up and running. *Not for public distribution*

Sattelite trial site. Change of plan.

Out with the poly tarp. Reemay’s the new tarp.

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Vancouver. Moisture mgmt.

Old tarp logs get reemay and a good soaking.

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Rep 2 (& R1, not pictured) wetter, protected, valley location

Rep 3 (& R4, not pictured) drier, more open, hilltop location

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Ithaca, NYVancouver, WA

And just why are we managing moistureagain?

Doesn’t thewestern PNW guarantee a steady drip?

Kind of. *Not for public distribution*

Managing moisture in summer

¨ Managing moisture content in dry, warm weather conditions means managing relative humidity to minimize low equilibrium moisture content conditions.

¨ …and soaking is likely an important part in replenishing internal log moisture.

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Pests & feral fungi, oh my…*Not for public distribution*

Surprise harvest lion’s mane, Oct.

Likely from spawn. Cherry & pre-soaked trtmts. > rest. (What it means? Stay tuned!) Quality better under reemay.

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Heads up.

¨ Felling timber and moving logs is dangerous. Be careful. ¤ Chainsaw safety, chaps, helmets, gloves & faceguards, steel-toed

boots*¤ Keep a sharp chain. ¤ Know the danger pitfalls of felling a tree. ¤ You’ll trip a lot in the woods & curse trailing blackberry.

¨ Move logs with respect for their weight-¤ Watch your fingers, feet, head and your helpers’ too. ¤ Watch your back. Lift with the legs.

¨ You’ll get in shape if you’re not already. ¨ Take breaks, rotate jobs when inoculating a lot of logs to

avoid repetitive stress¨ Be careful with hot wax and flammability. ¨ Know that there’s a lot to learn about this still!

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Happy Shroomin’!

Select Resources: ¨ Cornell Small Farms Specialty Mushrooms:

https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/mushrooms/¨ Cornell Cooperative Extension Guide, 1997:

guerillagreen.wagn.org/files/Growing_gourmet_mushrooms_Cornell-2147.pdf¨ NC State Mushrooms:

https://newcropsorganics.ces.ncsu.edu/specialty-crops/mushrooms/¨ UVM Shiitake Production Guide (Cornell collaboration):

https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/media/ShiitakeGuide.pdf¨ Penn State Handbook for Commercial Mushroom Growers:

https://extension.psu.edu/penn-state-handbook-for-commercial-mushroom-growers(agaricus-focused)

¨ Book: Farming the Woods (Cornell-U authors): https://books.google.com/books/about/Farming_the_Woods.html?id=1WdpBAAAQBAJ

¨ Book (out of print): Shiitake Growers Handbook: The Art And Science Of Mushroom Cultivation:https://books.google.com/books/about/Shiitake_Growers_Handbook.html?id=aqicb3lREdcC

¨ WSDA mushroom sales regulations & marketing resources:https://agr.wa.gov/getmedia/e8ada76f-adfc-4a66-b8a6-5bcc3a583891/32.pdf

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