Preparing substrate for mushroom production - What's happening in the field?

Today Karly and Makayla prepared the straw to use as substrate for mushroom production in polyethylene bags. The first step was to chop the straw into 3 to 5 inch pieces by running it through a small wood chipper.

The straw is then fed into the mouth of the chipper.

The plunger pushes the straw down past the spinning blade.

Mesh walnut bags are used to catch the straw.

The bagged straw is brought across the road to the greenhouse area.

The bagged straw is set in a galvanized tank.

The tank is filled with water and the straw is weighted down.

The straw needs to soak for 1 - 2 hours. We soaked our for 1 1/2 hours. — The straw needs to soak for 1 – 2 hours. We soaked our for 1 1/2 hours.

After the straw has soaked and has been removed, the water looks like strong tea.

And the bags are put on the greenhouse bench to drain.

Additional bags are filled but only half way in order to fit into the soil sterilizer.

The bags are put into the soil sterilizer.

The sterilizer is set to 170 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours.

After the sterilizer is shut off, we will leave the bags overnight and work on preparing the mushroom bags tomorrow.

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