This is an extension of the lab. It is the place where we make bulk substrate, inoculate it with the grain spawn, and where the ‘bags’ incubate.
- Once a grow bag is made, Oyster mushrooms usually take about 2-4 weeks before the bag starts pinning.
- However, shiitake can take longer than 3 months to incubate.
- Once a bag starts pinning, we move them into the grow rooms.
- The incubation area is well insulated. In the winter the heat generated from the colonising bags will warm the space so that only a small amount of supplemental heating is required.
- Our bulk substrate is made from Pine wood pellets and Soy Hull. This is mixed with water to which we add some hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) to push the pH to about 12. This is done instead of pasteurisation or sterilisation but will inhibit the growth of undesirable things like mould or bacteria.