It turns out that the ideal log for inoculating with mushroom spawn are exactly what we have from the tree that came down in the March storm. It is Oak, felled in late winter when the nutrients are rich and flowing, but not yet spent on new growth. The oak logs are now about a month old which happens to be the right age to reduce the chemical defences the trees have for fungi, but not so old to be already invaded by wild fungi and bacteria. And now is the right time to inoculate with several varieties of mushroom. How lucky!
I never would have known this but there was a NY Times article about mushroom cultivation this past week which got me interested, and I read more about it online. So the pile of logs which were becoming a tiresome eyesore out front (waiting for the town to collect) now look like a pile of perfect hosts for mushrooms.
This morning I hauled five 12" diameter logs to the back, and ordered Shiitake, Maitake and Winesap 'plugs' which will be hammered into holes drilled into the logs.
added: a week has gone by and the spawn have not yet arrived.
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