Casing after 6 days

The straw is still damp and showing a few fluffy bits on the surface. Not much change. I will place a heating pad under the box and check again in a few more days.

Casing after 4 days

Mycelium is already beginning to show on top of the straw casing. I will check again in two days and then mix or proceed to the next step.

Casing the mushrooms

The mushrooms have been in the rye for 33 days now...much longer than anticipated. I'm starting out on the second phase now, ready or not.

The second phase is sterilizing the straw (casing) and introducing the developed mycelium to it. This involves boiling the straw in a large pot and then letting it cool down to room temperature while minimizing contact to outside contaminants.

Sterilized straw, cooling.

Then the mycelium needs to be broken up with a sterile knife. It's pretty much solid white stuff halfway down by now.

Next, mix the straw with the mycelium culture in a large plastic bag and pat it into the "mushbox", which is basically a cardboard box with a plastic dome which fits inside. Wait 5-10 days before the fruiting period...we shall see.

Mycelium mixed with sterile straw, 02NOV2013