Totem Inoculation Process

When inoculating a log with lion's mane or oyster mushroom spawn, the log must first be cut be cut in half with a two inch cookie cut from the top half of the log. Cut the log where you intend to place it so that the order of the log's sections are not mismatched with other cut logs. A paper grocery bag is folded and put on the very bottom to avoid contamination with the soil. The first handful of spawn is then broken up and spread on the bag. After the first half of the log is placed on top of the spawn and bag, another handful of spawn is broken up and spread to the length of the diameter on top of the log. The next half goes on top of that and creates the totem. Finally, a third handful of spawn goes on top of that log, is spread and is covered with the two inch cookie. A paper leaf bag is then put over the totem and held down with rocks. This is to keep animals away from it and to trap humidity as colonization of the logs take hold over roughly 18 months. A coniferous forest is the preferred location for mushroom farming as it maintains a lower temperature and provides more shade. Mushrooms can also be grown within the shade of a deciduous forest, but a shade cloth should be used to cover the logs once the leaves fall in autumn.