Shitake Logs Explained* (Lentinula edodes)
At the 6th Annual Farm to Table Conference I was fascinated by the Shitake Logs Display. Quiet Creek Herb Farm and School of Country Living was doing a brisk business with just one Shitake Log left to sell. There were quite a few with SOLD tags on the logs, propped up against a table. I was shooting unobserved and then noticed and that is how the pose came to be. Got a good laugh and was granted to permission to blog it anyway. He said, “You didn’t get that did you?” and I said “Yes, I did.” He didn’t think I was that quick.
And here is the explanation how to to choose a log, choose spawn,inoculate,soak and thump(thumping triggers fruiting), stack, incubate, and harvest. I will count on Rufus- Shitake and Garlic Scapes and Chicago John’s Dad’s Puffballs (not Shitake) to tell you how best to use them in recipes. Shitake - Lentinula edodes- are originally from Japan.
*(Obviously I don’t really know how to explain Shitake Logs but the kind people at quiet creek(at)windstream(dot)net know everything about the process and will be happy to assist you with all your Shitake questions in addition to herbs, soaps, salves and bags of Worm Wonder for all your worm composting needs.
This has intrigued me for some time but I’ve always been afraid of a stray spore bringing in a foreign (read poisonous) mushroom. I don’t know enough about ‘shrooms to attempt this. I’ll just harvest my mushrooms the old fashioned way: from the produce aisle of the grocery. Thanks, Ruth, for the mentioning my blog.
March 26, 2012 at 2:00 am
Wow! That is so amazing! Beautiful logs!
Yeah, people are quite surprised when they do see how quick we can take a photo. LOL!
Stunning shots once again Ruth and thanks for sharing.
March 26, 2012 at 5:27 am
He looks straight out of the school of country living.
March 26, 2012 at 7:26 am
Very interesting…. and very handsome young man!
March 26, 2012 at 7:38 am
It’s like a J-Crew shoot, that first one.
March 26, 2012 at 7:44 am
I’m such a city girl I never knew anything about shitake logs. Like Chicago John, I get my mushrooms from the produce isle of the grocery store. For me, this was an especially interesting post.
March 26, 2012 at 8:44 am
Love that shitake log! Very cool.. but isn’t he just the cutest young man? Love that hat and vest:) I’d buy logs from him any day!!
March 26, 2012 at 9:59 am
Cool dude! What was the post about again?
March 26, 2012 at 10:31 am
I have a feeling that the comments will be more from women than men here! I agree with Madhu – what was the post about? Seriously though, this is worth investigating. I wonder how many mushrooms you get from one log, and how long from start to finish?
March 26, 2012 at 7:28 pm
Going to forward to a CSA friend ….. loves mushrooms, so maybe this is her next “project!!??” XOXO
March 26, 2012 at 8:46 pm
I love the “GQ” look, followed by the authentic (laughing) one. You’re super-quick on the draw!
March 26, 2012 at 9:05 pm
seems to be a difficult science!
March 31, 2012 at 9:03 am
Fantastic! I love shiitake mushrooms.
May 31, 2012 at 4:15 pm