Because commercial gourmet and medicinal mushroom growers often consider their knowledge "trade secrets" it can be difficult and expensive to locate instructions for farm cropping mushrooms as part of an integrated farm operation. There are literally tens of thousand of recreational mushroom growers whom are having success in all parts of the world, and many of these are very willing to share their methods. Since these people grow very small quantities, it is necessary to learn their techniques and gain comfort through small successes before trying to scale-up to large volumes. Explore these pages to see how people are using a variety of methods and home fabricated appliances to cultivate their hobby. Obviously I approve of these techniques and the spirit behind them.

www.azarius.net/mushroom/homegrowing.html

www.erowid.org/plants/mushrooms/0~mushrooms_mmgg.html

www.fanaticus.com/index.html

www.fungifun.com/pf/fruiting.html

www.geocities.com/shroomy_z/psilocybecubensis_how_to.html

www.gorsky.com/~pdilley/articles/mushrooms/growmorels.html

www.gorsky.com/~pdilley/articles/mushrooms/composter.html

www.gorsky.com/~pdilley/articles/mushrooms/fruitchamber.html

www.gorsky.com/~pdilley/articles/mushrooms/incubator.html

www.gorsky.com/~pdilley/articles/mushrooms/flowhood.html

www.gorsky.com/~pdilley/

www.gorsky.com/~pdilley/articles/mushrooms/introduction.html

leda.lycaeum.org/Documents/How_to_Grow_Psychedelic_Mu.html

www.lilshopofspores.com/PF Tek.html

www.mv.com/ipusers/dhabolt/dad/linkcultivate.html

www.mycotopia.net/teks/sostek.html

www.mycotopia.net/teks/birdseed.html

www.namyco.org/cult/i-grow-1.html

www.namyco.org/cult/growfoto.html

www.polar.icestorm.com/leprechaun/growem.html

www.salvia-divinorum-scotland.c/shrooms/growing.html

www.shamanshop.net/grain.html

www.shroomery.org/gallery.html

www.spiritplants.com/articles/camel/index.html

www.spiritplants.com/articles/camel/tsstek.html

www.spiritplants.com/articles/camel/0~cameltek.html

www.sporetradingpost.com/index.html

www.stainblue.com/index.html

www.totse.com/en/drugs/psychedelics/ricecake.html

www.thehawkseye.com/outdoortek.html

www.thehawkseye.com/index.html

users.lycaeum.org/~sputnik/Shrooms/MMFAQ.html

Cereal Crop Residues and Plant Nutrients
By Jim Bauder
MSU Extension Soil and Water Quality Specialist

The largest component in cereal crop residues is carbon, about 40 percent on a dry matter basis. Nitrogen is usually less than 1 percent. This ratio of carbon to nitrogen is particularly important with regard to the rate of residue breakdown. If the ratio of carbon to nitrogen is greater than 20:1, which it usually is, breakdown will be relatively slow. Soil micro organisms will use nitrogen already present in the soil to complete the breakdown process. The result is a reduction in the amount of nitrogen in the soil available for plant growth.

With rice straw you can do at least two things:

1. Simple composting, whereby you have to add a nitrogen source to your straw to be most effective. Composting is an aerobic process, which develops a lot of heat. Thus you certainly have to move the straw regularly to let the air in. There is a lot of literature available on composting. If you let the straw sit, it will rot and smell terrible after a while and will be of no good use.

2. You can use the rice straw for mushroom cultivation first. The mushrooms split the lignin from the cellulose and thus the residue will be an excellent fertiliser. If you cultivate from the residue earthworms, as is done in Vietnam, you even improve the quality of the fertiliser.

Mushroom production technology for rural development

Materials and methods for growing mushrooms under natural or field conditions
Growing mushrooms under semicontrolled conditions
Results and discussion
References
Discussion summary

Materials and methods for growing mushrooms under natural or field conditions

The Mushroom Bed Foundation The foundation for bedding material can be soil, concrete, or a wooden bench. A soil foundation is made by raising the soil in the same manner used to build a garden plot to a height of about 12 cm above ground level. It is surrounded by a canal 30 cm wide and 15 cm deep. The earth excavated from the canal is used to elevate the foundation The width of the foundation should be 45 cm, and the length 1 m or more. Sandy soil will not make a strong enough foundation, but this can be remedied by cementing the sides or by constructing a wooden bench 30 cm high with the rest of the dimensions the same.

Rice Straw as Bedding Material

Thoroughly dried, long rice straw is preferable. Properly prepared straw produces a better yield of mushrooms compared to the yield when care is not taken to provide a strong base.

The straws are bundled to a size of about 8 cm in diameter, tied at the middle with abaca twine or any good substitute, cut to a uniform length of 45 cm and soaked in water for three hours. The soaked straw bundles are laid crosswise side by side on top of the bed foundation until the whole length of it is covered. All the butt ends are placed on one side in a layer, alternating between layers. If the butt ends of the first layer are on the left side, the butt ends of the second layer must be on the right side. This manner of arrangement is continued until four to six layers are made. About 240 bundles are needed for a six-layer, 4-metre-long bed. Each layer must be pressed firmly to make the surface level, and should be watered.

Simultaneously with the bed preparation, several crumpled newspapers are soaked in a container with 3 grams of urea per gallon of water. This "fertilized" paper is planted along with the mushroom spawn or seed. The mushroom spawn and soaked paper are first distributed on top of the layer in thumb-sized pieces. The plantings are 5 - 8 cm from the edge of the straw and 5 cm apart. For every six-layer bed 4 m long, three bottles (16 fl. oz.) of spawn are used. One-half bottle of spawn is apportioned to plant one layer. The spawn is buried with the paper 4 cm deep in the layer. The same procedure is repeated on the remaining layers. Any left-over straw is mounded on top to a thickness of about 10 cm at the centre.

The straw bed is protected by an elevated, transparent plastic sheet immediately after the planting. The cover is attached to a bamboo frame to prevent the moisture that accumulates on the plastic from spilling onto the straw.

During the dry season, a four-layer bed is recommended because of lower relatively humidity. Beds of six or more layers are possible in the wet season.

Banana Leaves as Bedding Material

Dried banana leaves, still hanging on the plant, are gathered and cut to a uniform length of 45 cm, bundled to a diameter of 8 cm, and soaked in water for three or four hours

The leaf bed is made in a manner much the same as that used for straw; i.e., the bundles are laid side by side crosswise on the bed foundation, watered, pressed, and planted. Four or sixlayer beds are constructed, depending on the season. The leaf bed also requires the elevated plastic sheet on a bamboo frame immediately after planting.

Care of the Bed

For both rice-straw and banana-leaf beds, no water should be given for the first five days after the bed preparation. During the dry season, the bed may be watered gently but generously on the sixth or seventh day after planting, and this should be repeated once a day until the mushroom pin-heads have developed. During the rainy season, the bed may not need further watering, or at least not as much as during the dry months. Water is applied more along the sides of the bed in the rainy season.

When the mushrooms are at the pin-head stage, the bed should not be watered. Water should be applied only when the mushrooms reach the size of corn seeds and the bed has become somewhat dry.

Harvesting

Under normal conditions, the first harvest of mushrooms is taken 10 to 14 days after planting. The harvest usually lasts for three consecutive days. This is the so-called first flush. The average daily production is 1.2 kg. The bed rests for five to seven days, and another crop is harvested over another two- to three-day period. The average production for the second harvest is 0.42 kg. This manner of production may continue for a month or even longer.

During harvest, the mushrooms must be carefully pulled out whole from the bed. Any portion left behind will decay and permit bacterial soft-rot to spread in the succeeding crops, causing a drastic reduction in yield.

Yield

For a standard 4-metre, six-layer bed, a harvest of 7 kg of buttons or 12.6 kg of fully mature mushrooms can be obtained. This quantity represents the total from the entire productive life of the bed.

Advantages and Disadvantages of These Methods

Both rice-straw and banana-leaf beds are highly adaptable and inexpensive for growing mushrooms as a family project in the rural areas, where labour and materials can be obtained free. Sudden changes in weather conditions do not materially affect production.

Both types of bed require a large quantity of bedding material Yields depend on the volume of bedding material used. Either kind of bed may be hard to manage. Because of side exposure, they easily become infested with pests and diseases.

Mushroom production training for disabled people: a progress report
Buildings, tools and equipment

Not only did the design of buildings need to be adapted, but also costs needed to be revised. Modern and state of the art equipment cannot realistically be used by farmers. Alternative construction designs were developed for trainees when they set-up their own mushroom houses and facilities. Trainees learned how to make simple inexpensive mushroom houses. Grass rice straw, dried leaves and other materials can be used efficiently.

Pasteurization systems using readily available and appropriate material and technology can be built for those new entrepreneurs who wish to make their own mushroom bags as to generate higher income.

Special formulation for medium in mushroom bags was developed to ensure low cost, high yield and sweet tasting mushrooms.

Mushroom production training for disabled people: a progress report
Why mushrooms?

Mushrooms are part of the daily menu for people of Thailand. Most people love mushrooms; to collect them; to seek wild mushrooms; people love to eat mushrooms. Mushrooms can be cultivated on a small and larger scale to allow personal consumption or commercial enterprise. This can serve as supplemental or major source of income, depending on the size of the farming activity and the number of mushroom houses. People with physical disabilities are fully capable of accomplishing all required tasks necessary in mushroom cultivation, although sometimes some modifications in techniques, handling, tools and equipment may be required. Furthermore, mushrooms grow under the shade thus reducing physical exertion associated with open cultivation such as rice and small fruits. It can also be performed by mentally disabled people since it requires repetitive activities that can easily be learned. Research and development can be further included for those people capable of conducting research!

Mushroom cultivation offers a wide range of activities that can be suited for people with various needs, interest and capabilities.

Mushroom cultivation can be started at a very low cost.

Cultivation of Edible Mushrooms
Volvariella volvacea, Paddy Straw Mushroom

The Paddy Straw Mushroom is probably one that all of you have consumed if you have ever dined in a Chinese restaurant. Many recipes call for this particular species of mushrooms. The mushroom is large. The cap, if allowed to mature, often exceeding 5" in diameter, and is light to dark gray. When young, the mushroom is entirely enclosed in a white, egg-like structure called the volva. As the mushroom develops, the stalk will elongate and push the cap upward, thereby rupturing the volva, leaving only a cup-like structure at the base of the stalk. The origin of this species' cultivation is unknown, but it is thought to be Chinese, in origin, and is still cultivated mostly in the subtropical to tropical parts China or Southeast Asian countries, where Chinese have migrated. As the common name implies, the Paddy Straw mushroom is usually grown on paddy straw, but other species of straw would probably suffice. Here in Hawaii, it is most commonly found in compost piles of sugar cane bagasse or sawdust.

Paddy straw is practically the only material used to prepare the substrate for cultivation of the Paddy Straw Mushroom even though other substrate has been successfully used. These include rice straw, cotton waste, dried banana leaves and oil pam bunch waste. However, the yield utilizing the latter substrate is substantially lower than with paddy straw. The cultivation method of this species does not differ appreciably from Agaricus bisporus since both are grown on compost. The Paddy Straw Mushroom differs in not utilizing horse manure as part of the substrate.

The Paddy Straw Mushroom is presently grown in a number of Asian countries and the methods vary because of availability of technology to the growers. In Indonesia and Malaysia the mushroom growers just leave paddy straw, that has been thoroughly moistened, under trees and do nothing more until it is time to harvest the mushrooms. If you wish a more complex method, the paddy straw, prior to laying, are thoroughly soaked in water and placed in piles for 12-24 hours. This step is analogous to composting in Agaricus bisporus. The straw is then laid in small palm sheds to protect the mushrooms from excess rain and heat. Ditches are dug around the beds to keep the humidity, within the shed, high. In 10-14 days mushrooms will appear.

CULTIVATION OF EDIBLE MUSHROOMS ON COTTON WASTE
Volvariella volvacea - the Chinese or straw mushroom

S T Chang, of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, pioneered the development of cotton waste as a substrate for the indoor cultivation of V. volvacea. Traditionally this species has been grown outdoors on rice straw in several S.E. Asian countries and the reported mushroom yields have varied between 1.5% to 14.7% biological efficiency (B.E.) which is defined as the ratio of fresh weight of mushrooms to dry weight of compost at spawning expressed as a percentage. In 1971 cotton wastes were first introduced in Hong Kong to serve as a kind of 'heating material' to raise the temperature of mixed beds of cotton waste and rice straw so that mushrooms could be produced indoors during the winter months. In the event the average mushroom yields from the cotton-straw beds were much higher than the yields of straw-only beds and by 1973 cotton waste had completely replaced rice straw for indoor cultivation. In Hong Kong it had the advantage of being much cheaper and more readily available than rice straw as well as giving a higher and more stable yield of mushrooms (generally 30-40% B.E.) and earlier development (pinheads appearing 5 days after spawning and the first harvest 3-5 days later) than that obtained on straw under the same conditions. Taiwan mushroom growers prefer to use a 2:1 mixture of rice straw and cotton waste as substrate, presumably because of the greater availability of rice straw in Taiwan.

The basic procedures for cultivating V. volvacea on cotton waste compost are described as follows. The cotton waste is usually mixed with 4-5% rice or wheatbran and about 2-6% limestone (or calcium carbonate). It is important to partially compost the mixture and this process, following the addition of water, is carried out in a wooden frame for about six days with mixing at 2 day intervals. The compost is then made up into beds and pasteurized by introducing steam into the mushroom house. An air temperature of 60-62°C is maintained for 2-3 hrs and the mushroom house is then cooled down to 52°C by the introduction of fresh air. This temperature is maintained for up to eight hours with a continued stream of fresh air. The steam valves are then closed and the air temperature allowed to drop gradually to 34-36°C for spawning. This latter step takes about 12-16 hrs depending on the outdoor temperature. The temperature of the room is maintained at 32-34°C during the period of spawn running.

The preferred spawn substrate in Hong Kong is a mixture of used tea-leaves, collected from local restaurants, and cotton waste in a 1:1 ratio supplemented with 2% calcium carbonate and 2% rice bran. Spawn produced on this medium has the advantage of being less prone to contamination than grain spawn. Small pieces of spawn are inserted into the compost and the beds are then covered with thin plastic sheeting to maintain a high humidity. Under good composting and pasteurization conditions, unidentified species of Actinomycetes and Humicola develop in and on the beds together with mycelium of V. volvacea during the spawn running period. There is convincing evidence that this microflora can stimulate the growth of V. volvacea and at the same time prevent the growth of harmful fungi. Growth of mycelium of V. volvacea is complete in about four days after which the plastic sheets are removed and water is sprinkled on the bed surface; this prevents further growth of Actinomycetes and Humicola and stimulates fructification. After watering the air temperature is kept at 28-32°C. Light is also introduced into the room at this stage by means of fluorescent lamps. It usually takes a further five days for fruit bodies to develop to the stage of harvesting.

Straw mushrooms are not usually left to grow to their maximum size but are picked at the stages before the volva enclosing the cap breaks or just after rupture. The former is referred to as the 'button stage' and the latter the 'egg stage'. The first flush lasts for about four to five days and is followed by a second flush about a week later. However, the yield of the second flush is only about 10% of that of the first one and most mushroom growers harvest only the first flush.

Straw mushrooms are highly perishable and must be marketed within 1-2 days. They tend to liquefy when refrigerated but have a shelf life of about 3 days when stored at room temperature. Mushrooms for export are normally canned. Hong Kong is not self sufficient in straw mushrooms; the major exporting countries are mainland China, Taiwan and Thailand. Canned straw mushrooms can be bought from Chinese supermarkets in the UK.

Pleurotus spp. - oyster mushrooms ...

Specialty Mushrooms
Daniel J. Royse
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

Auricularia spp.
Flamulina velutipes
Grifola frondosa
Hypsizygus marmoreus
Lentinula edodes
Pleurotus spp.
Pholiota nameko
Tremella fuciformis
Volvariella spp.
MARKETING
FUTURE OUTLOOK

Volvariella spp.

The straw mushroom derives its name from the substrate on which it originally was grown (San Antonio and Fordyce 1972). Cultivation of Volvariella was believed to have begun in China as early as 1822 (Chang 1977). In the 1930's, straw mushroom cultivation began in the Philippines, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries (Chang 1982). Production of the straw mushroom decreased from 207,000t in 1990 to about 180,800t in 1997-a 14.5% decrease. Volvariella accounts for approximately 3% of the total world-wide production of edible mushrooms.

Many agricultural by-products and waste materials have been used to produce the straw mushroom. These include paddy straw, water hyacinth, oil palm bunch, oil palm pericarp waste, banana leaves and sawdust, cotton waste and sugarcane waste (Chang 1982, Ho 1985). Volvariella is well suited for cultivation in the tropics because of its requirement for higher production temperatures. In addition, the mushroom can be grown on nonpasterized substrate-more desirable for low input agricultural practices. In recent years, cotton wastes (discarded after sorting in textile mills) have become popular as substrates for straw mushroom production (Chang 1982). Cotton waste give higher and more stable biological efficiencies (30 to 45%), earlier fructification (four days after spawning) and harvesting (first nine days after spawning) than that obtained using straw as a substratum. Semi-industrialization of paddy straw cultivation on cotton-wastes has occurred in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia as a result of the introduction of this method (Chang 1979).

Volvariella volvacea

Analysis of numbers of papers/mentions over time (Agricola database 1970-1996):
References (Biological Abstracts 1988-2000):
[These references are from the Biological Abstracts database

These wonderful mushrooms are called Volvariella volvacea. Their common name of paddy straw mushroom comes from the rice straw on which they are grown. The straw mushroom is cultivated by small independent rice farmers in the hot, steamy climate of Southeast Asia. In subtropical and tropical Asia, many farmers rely on the cultivation of V. volvacea as a secondary source of income, making use of their waste rice straw. This mushroom has become an economic and nutritional mainstay in the agricultural economies of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and China.

Feasibility of Biodegradation in Brewing Practice
...
Growing mushrooms on spent grain is not just theory, it is practice. It has been tested by the Chinese University in Hong Kong and by the Tokyo and Kyoto Universities in Japan. It is in use at breweries in Namibia, Tanzania and Fiji. Step Back MycoBrewers will pioneer the process in the United States. We will be the first brewery in the world to combine mycological biodegradation with the brewing process right from the planning stage. The MycoBrewery® was conceived and designed for mycological biodegradation in synergy with our brewery.

Gunter Pauli, the Belgian businessman who started ZERI, states "We know that with beer brewing we can use all of the nutrients, and we can have seven times more food and four times more jobs." Pauli believes that all waste can be put to use and he is calling on industry to utilize the high volume of presently discarded biomass. There are now at least ten known strains of specialty mushrooms able to be grown on spent brewers grains including Pleurotus species (the oyster mushroom) and Volvariella volvacea (the paddy straw mushroom).

At present four varieties of mushroom are being cultivated in Pakistan.

1. Oyster mushroom: These are called so since they look like oysters. They can further be classified based on colour as gray and white oyster mushrooms. It can be grown at moderate temperatures ranging from 20-25 degrees Centigrade during the months of September to November and February to April. However, it can be grown throughout the year in controlled conditions.

2. Paddy straw mushroom: These are extensively grown on paddy straw, hence are known by this name. However, it can also be grown on cotton waste, banana leaves and other agricultural residues as well. It is less attractive commercially owing to very low yield potential per unit weight of the substrate and an extremely short shelf life. However, it is preferred as a kitchen garden crop because it is very delicious and nutritious.

Volvariella volvacea : The 'chinese' or 'paddy straw' mushroom. Volvariella volvacea is a high temperature mushroom grown largely in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia e.g. China, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Madagascar. This mushroom can be grown on a variety of agricultural wastes e.g. paddy straw, water hyacinth, oil palm, banana, cotton or wood waste. Mushroom production is encouraged by heavy watering, temperature reduction and light. Volvariella mushrooms account for 16% of total production of cultivated mushrooms in the world.

Abstract
Compost preparation is not commonly practiced in the cultivation of Volvariella volvacea, the paddy straw mushroom. Compost from paddy straw has a favorable effect on the production of the mushroom. Fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes were isolated from compost materials. Emphasis was placed on thermophilic microorganisms. The effects of these microorganisms on the growth of the mycelia of the mushrooms were tested. The results were discussed in relation to the practice of cultivation of the mushroom

Material Flow Analysis of Integrated Bio-Systems (2000)
4. Mushroom production:

Trials to produce mushroom in TCRAR was concentrated on producing shell mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). Spawn was produced on barley seeds. After 2 weeks incubation spawn was mixed to 10-15 times its volume of pasteurized rice straw (or mixture of rice straw & rice bran). Inoculated plant residue with 65% r.h., was kept in plastic bags (3Kg for each bag) incubated at 20-25 oC. After 3-4 weeks bags were opened to allow generation of fruiting bodies. After 1-2 weeks, fruiting bodies were harvested, followed by harvesting more 4 flushes within one month. Collected fruiting bodies were packed in polyethylene kept in refrigerator, for marketing within 10 days.

About 500g fresh mushroom were obtained from each Kg of dry straw. Dry spent compost was used either for feeding or mixed in compost piles as soil conditioner.

Production of microbial protein foods on edible substrates, food by-products, and ligno-cellulosic wastes

Mushroom Production on Ligno-Cellulose

It is possible, also, to use cellulose or ligno-cellulosic wastes such as waste paper, cotton waste, straw, wheat, or rice bran and go directly to a food. This idea has already been developed to a high degree in Asia in the production of mushrooms such as Volvariella volvacea, the padi mushroom, and Pleurotus ostreatus, the oyster mushroom, on cellulosic and ligno-cellulosic wastes (13-15). Mushroom contain 2 to 5 per cent protein on a fresh weight basis, but from 30 to 47 per cent on a dry weight basis (16)

As much as 1.25 kg of fresh mushrooms can be produced on 1 kg of straw. In Hong Kong there is an estimated 30,000 tons of cotton waste per year. This could serve as a substrate for producing approximately an equal weight of fresh mushrooms.

The padi mushroom is grown by many farmers in Asia, using rice straw as a substrate. Thus, the Asians have demonstrated to the world a practical way to transform ligno-cellulosic wastes directly into highly acceptable food for man. They are literally growing a type of microbial protein (SCP) directly on cellulosic waste as a nutritious, delicious food.

The padi and oyster mushrooms can be grown under rather simple conditions. Paper or cotton substrates are shredded. Straw can be trimmed, coarse ground, or used directly. Five per cent wheat or rice bran and 5 per cent CaCO3 are added, along with sufficient water to raise the moisture content to about 60 per cent. This requires that approximately 1,500 ml of water be added per kg of ligno-cellulosic waste. The substrate should then be steamed for 30 minutes.

Alternatively, the substrate can be composted in heaps where microbial activity results when the temperature rises to about 55°C. The substrate is then cooled and inoculated with the mushroom spawn. The spawn is the desired mushroom species grown on soaked, sterilized wheat, corn, or rice straw, Approximately 160 9. of spawn are added to each kg of starting (dry weight) substrate. Within a few weeks, under tropical temperatures and humidities, several flushes of fresh mushrooms are produced (15).

Mushroom Cultivation on Agricultural Residues

Volvariella volvacea is probably the most suitable type of mushroom for cultivation in Indonesia. It has been grown here for a long time, largely on paddy straw, and a yield of 6 per cent is not unusual. Studies that have been conducted in many Asian countries show that V. volvacea grows well on:

• paddy straw, giving a yield of 4.6 per cent,
• oil palm pericarp waste, with a 4.7 per cent yield,
• cotton waste, with a 28.7 per cent yield,
• sugar cane waste, with a 12.4 per cent yield.

In order to maximize the use of available agricultural residues, the most appropriate technique and substrate for a particular environment should be selected. Of the many residues, attention should be given especially to paddy straw, oil palm pericarp, dry maize stems and leaves, sugar cane bagasse, dry soybean shells, dry peanut shells, coconut husks, and sawdust.

Commercial Cultivation of Exotic Mushrooms
Outdoor Bed or Mound Cultivation

This method is suitable for species that require an outdoor stimulus to produce mushrooms and involves the preparation of outdoor trenches or mounds located in a shady area. Substrates such as wetted straw, sawdust, wood chips and compost are used. The substrates are sequentially layered in the trenches or mounds with spawn added between layers. A final layer of soil is placed on top. These beds or mounds are then thoroughly watered and are then covered with cardboard or plastic until the mycelium has run through the substrate. At this point the cover is removed and mushrooms will start to come out. Species that are cultivated using this method include Paddy Straw mushrooms in warm Southeast Asian countries and Blewit and Stropharia in Europe.

Method Chopped the straw either manually or mechanically into bits of 3-5cms in length and pack in gunny bags. Boil water in a drum. When the water comes to boiling, place the gunny bag along with the straw in the boiling water and boil as such for 15 to 20 minutes. Then remove the gunny bag from the drum and leave as such for 8 to 10 hrs. to drain the excess water and also allow the straw to cool. Care should be taken that the bag is not open till the time of block-making as this will contaminate the boiled straw. The desirable moisture content of the straw can be tested by squeezing the straw in between the palms, and see that droplets of water do not trickle out from the straw. Another method of pasteurisation of the straw is by steaming. This method requires little modification of the drum. (Punch a small hole in the lid of the drum, and while boiling the straw, seal the surrounding of the lid with a rubber tube). The chopped straw should be previously wetted and excess water drained off. Place a few stones in the drum and pour water only at the level of the stones. Boiled the wetted straw by keeping it in a bamboo basket and place the basket over the stones inside the drum. Close the lid of the drum and seal the rim of the lid by means of a rubber tube. The steam generated from the boiled water will pass through the straw and pasteurise it. After boiling, transfer the straw into a previously sterilized gunny bag and leave it as such for 8-10 hrs. to let it cool. Take a wooden frame and place on a smooth floor. Place jute ropes, two vertically and one horizontally. Line the frame with a plastic sheet, previously sterilized by dipping in boiled water. Fill approximately 5cms of boiled straw and compress it with the help of a wooden lid and sprinkle spawn over the whole surface. After the first layer of spawning, put another 5cms of straw and again sprinkle spawn over the surface, compress it as in the first layer. In this way, continue to sprinkle spawn over the layer of straw for 4 to 6 layers till the straw is in level with the top of the frame. Only (1) one packet of spawn should be used for one cube or block. The plastic sheet is now folded over the top of the frame and tied down with help of jute ropes previously placed below the plastic. After tying, the frame can be remove and what is left behind is a rectangular block of straw. Punch holes (2mm diameter) on all sides of the block for aeration. Place the block in an incubation room, side by side in shelves in single layer only taking care that they are not place directly on the floor or on the top of each other as this will generate excess heat. The temperature of the block should be maintained at 25oC. This can be noted by inserting a thermometer into the holes of the block. If the temperature rises above 25oC, it is advisable to aerate the room, and if the temperature falls, the room should be slowly heated up. It takes 12 to15 days for the spawn to spread throughout the straw and when the entire block has been completely white, it is a sign that spawn running is over. After spawn running, remove the ropes as well as the plastic sheet from the block. Tie the block vertically with coconut rope and hang it in a cropping room. From this stage onwards, the relative humidity of the room should not be less than 85%. This can be maintained by periodically spraying water on the walls and floor of the room. If it is a cemented floor, it is advisable to pour water on the floor so that water always remains on the floor. If the block shows signs of drying light, spraying can be done with help of sprayer. Within a week to 10 days, tiny pin-heads will be seen on the surface of the block and these will grow into full-size mushrooms within a day or two. When fruits bodies start forming, the requirement of air is increased. Therefore, once fruit bodies start forming, it is essential that there is an exchange of fresh air every 6 to 12 hrs, by opening the ventilator provided at the front and back side of the room. The fruits bodies (mushrooms) are ready for picking just when the periphery of the caps starts turning upwards. This will be evident as small crinkles appear on the side of the pileus (cap). To harvest the mushrooms, take hold of the stipe (stalk) at the base with thumb and forefinger and with a gentle anti-clockwise twist, detach the mushroom from the straw without disturbing the straw or any small mushroom growing alongside. Do not use knife or scissors for harvesting. The block will again come to fruiting after about a week.

Boiling Drum with a Bag of Chopped Straw for Pasteurisation Wooden Frame for Preparation of Blocks Plastic Sheet placed over the Wooden Frame Layer of Pasteurised Compressed Straw sprinkle with spawn Prepared Blocks of Paddy Straw inside the Incubation Room Blocks ready for hanging inside the Cropping Room Flush of Mushroom Crop

I Grow Mushrooms
By Lawrence Weingarten
I will try to leave out most of the technical names and terminology. I will be talking only about the oyster mushrooms, as others will use somewhat different techniques. ...

See other high-yield

integrated biological systems webpages:

• http://efn.org/~lkuntz/microfarming.html
  Source of references to illustrate an integrated micro-farming concept of growing all your own fertilizers-IPM-herbicides while producing meat, fish, vegetables as cash crops on small plots of land.
• http://efn.org/~lkuntz/index.html
  A unified conceptualization of perpetually sustainable microfarming, with emphasis on saving endangered species by human retreat from unnecessarily wasteful and polluting practices. Includes many scientific references to the size of the ongoing species extinction tragedy. [Not frequently updated -- see alternative page below.]
• http://lionkuntz.mybravenet.com/castings_01.htm
  LINKS to references for the fertilizer values of cultured earthworm castings and vermicompost.
• http://lionkuntz.mybravenet.com/earthworms_01.htm
  LINKS to references for the fertilizer values of cultured earthworm castings and vermicompost.
• http://lionkuntz.mybravenet.com/growing_earthworms.htm
  Growing Earthworms: an overview of the sources and methods for using earthworms to increase fertilizer values of agricultural wastes, and other beneficial aspects of castings.
• http://homepages.msn.com/VolunteerSt/lifesaviors/chicken_manure01.htm
  LINKS to references for the fertilizer values, and animal feed values, of waste byproducts from raising chickens on the farmstead. Beyond the value of meat/eggs, these links illustrate the contributions of a chicken flock which is processed on the farm.
• http://lionkuntz.mybravenet.com/sms_01.htm
  LINKS to references for the fertilizer values of using Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS) as feed for earthworms, or as animal feeds for chickens/pigs/cattle, and its contributions as fertilizer to the wormery or compost bin.
• http://lionkuntz.mybravenet.com/mushrooms01.htm
  LINKS to references for medicinal and edible Mushroom Cultivation which can be used as an integral (and profitable) part of a farm wastes recycling program.
• http://homepages.msn.com/VolunteerSt/lifesaviors/low_tech_mushrooms01.htm
  LINKS to references for low-tech mushroom cultivation, with special emphasis on Paddy Straw and Oyster mushroom cultivation, based of recycling farm wastes like grain straw, corn cobs and corn stalks, or pond water hyacinths you can grow for nothing.
• http://homepages.msn.com/VolunteerSt/lifesaviors/rabbit_manure01.htm
  LINKS to references for the fertilizer values of waste byproducts from raising rabbits on the farmstead.
• http://homepages.msn.com/VolunteerSt/lifesaviors/index.html
  The most currently updated copy of the Life Saviors endangered species rescue and protection concept by human retreat from unnecessarily wasteful and polluting practices. Includes many scientific references to the size of the ongoing species extinction tragedy.
• http://homepages.msn.com/VolunteerSt/lifesaviors/synergy1.html
  Summarized overview of strategies for high-yield, intensive farming productivity by using the Integrated Biological Systems approach. Includes exposures of widespread myths. Links to further detailed information.
• http://homepages.msn.com/VolunteerSt/lifesaviors/MarketGarden.html
  Practical ideas for growers with small fields to increase productivity. An illustrated description of raised bed intensive cropping which can increase yields 20% higher, to over 1,000% in some cases, compared to conventional row-cropping. Includes links to extreme productivity sites from several continents showing the reality of using these kinds of high-yield intensive ideas.