amberntallman Community, Culture, Garden, Kitchen, Nature, Niagara, Travel

An afternoon Cultivating Shiitake Mushrooms(Day 1)

Yesterday we spent a few hours helping out at the Boyter Family Farm in Fonthill to learn about the process of cultivating mushrooms by working hand in hand with them. Here are a few photos from the first stage of cultivating shiitake mushrooms with a brief description below each as well as a link with more in depth information if you’re interested.

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Violet and the pile of cut Maple logs, we used for cultivating. It’s recommended to use a hard wood for Shiitake Mushrooms such as oak, birch and beech along with a few others are also options for  the process. 
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Drilled holes for inoculation approximately 1 inch in depth.
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Drilling the holes to later fill with shiitake spores.
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Melting bees wax using an old crock pot as a double boiler. 
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Hardened block of bees wax that was later melted for capping the holes filled with spores.
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Using a bent spoon to cover the holes.
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 Maple logs filled with mushroom spores and capped with bees wax.  
amberntallman Community, Culture, Kitchen, Niagara

Shopping Waste Free in Niagara

Our Favourite Waste Free Grocery Shopping in Niagara

  1. Farmers Markets 
  2.  Roadside Stands & Farm Stores
    Bring your own cloth/reusable bags
  3. Bulk Barn
    The Bulk Barn provides many organic options and will  allow you to bring your own  cloth bags when you stock up on dry goods. Their plastic containers for wet items are 100% recyclable.
  4. Health Food Stores such as The Healthy Cupboard, Rosemary’s Natural Choice & Health Wise