Forest Fungi

We grew these super Shiitakes on eucalyptus logs that weighed 163 grams and measured 20cm in width. The logs were inoculated with Forest Fungi Shiitake Grain Spawn and have absolutely boomed. We inoculated the logs with a sawdust spawn inoculator to make life easier. When you are using grain spawn to inoculate your logs, it is important to cover the grain with bees wax or food grade wax as soon as inoculated. After several weeks the mycelium will have taken to the log. Insect may eat out the grain which will have no adverse effect on the mushroom fruiting as the mycelium...

Here is a basic Forest Fungi supplemented sawdust substrate formula for growing many wood loving mushrooms. The ratios of ingredients can vary. 40 Litres hardwood sawdust (I use Eucalyptus sp.) 10 Litres oat chaff (optional, aids colonization with longer fibres) 10 Liters bran (or other Nitrogen supplements) 2 Litres Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) A supplemented sawdust mix Mix with enough water to bring close to field capacity-where if you squeeze a handful hard enough, you'll just get a drop of moisture. I just mix in a cement mixer, then tip the lot into a bin. I tip the bin on its...

The return of the mighty King - King Oyster that is! Growing mushrooms at home, with the seasons, means autumn is the time for abundance of Pleurotus eryngii - the delicious King Oyster mushroom. Although they can be grown throughout the year, we find they produce in abundance during Autumn and Spring. When Will first grew the King Oyster I thought it was called the King due to its remarkably large fruiting body. I soon learnt it is actually due to its superior flavor and texture. Other names include Abalone mushroom, and royal trumpet.We now grow small ones, like the Italians prefer (they...

How to Use Forest Fungi Oyster Grain Spawn Have you just purchased a two kilogram bag of Forest Fungi organic wheat grain spawn? Here is a simple guide to learn how to grow gourmet mushrooms using Forest Fungi Grain Spawn. The grain spawn is ready to be used to inoculate your fruiting substrates.  Once the substrate is inoculated, in a matter of weeks you will be eating delicious gourmet oyster mushrooms! To prepare your fruiting substrate, you will need to either pasteurise, sterilise or lime wash it. Please read below to select a technique best suited for you. CHOOSING YOUR SUBSTRATE...

Summer means myrtle orange hunting time in Tassie... In Tassie, summer is the time for hunting down the mesmerizing Cyttaria gunnii, commonly known as the myrtle orange or beech orange. What an amazing day. Will and I took a road trip to the myrtle forests (Nothofagus cunninghamii) in Tassie - hunting down the myrtle oranges until we found the mother load on the very top of the mountain!  The sweet nectar inside was a very cool welcomed treat for our efforts. These tasty little morsels have to be one of my favourite wild mushrooms for various reasons. One - I...