New wild Hericium trialing out from 2023 clone collection.

Can we talk about the pungent odor of substrate when growing COW for a bit? I have heard others mention it but wow its rank, I was convinced it was bacterial but plates are all clean and I can't find it. Anyone else experienced it?

Hey y'all hope you enjoy our first of many sterile technique videos!! There was a minor yet important detail that wasn't mentioned. So whenever working in front of a HEPA filter be sure to never spray the isopropyl directly at the filter (due to damage). Always keep the spray bottle very slanted or even perpendicular to the filter. Also spraying with a downward angle and close to the object helps prevent the large spread of harmful isopropyl spray. Lastly, with an open culture these rules have to be followed to ensure no damage by isopropyl occurs to our live open cultures. Sorry about that and let me know if any other questions arise!

Alright, new equipment recommendation request. As we are scaling up spawn production here, we want to upgrade from the impulse sealer to a continuous band sealer to go on the table in front of the HEPA. 

We are looking at this cheap one:

https://m.vevor.com/sealing-machine-c_10462/automatic-continuous-band-sealer-vertical-bag-sealing-machine-stainless-steel-p_010685043733?adp=gmc&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_id=19406661104&utm_term=&gad_source=4&gclid=CjwKCAiA5L2tBhBTEiwAdSxJXwHhY5B2RBvsMVAdIfjGoxalvBFDFio2A0A1WQpfX1N-UfcBnDE5JBoCz6gQAvD_BwE

What's been y'all's experience with them?

 Any thoughts or othersmodels/brands  to recommend? 

Thanks 

I grew cordyceps on Jeff's egg sub for the first time year ago, dove down the rabbit hole pretty fast since. Really interested in what you guys are able to share on cordyceps strain maintenance/breeding/cultivation. I have gleamed what I can but right now cordyceps growers seems to be looking down on sharing more than ever. A lot of "figure it out for yourself" especially with seemingly simple things like...

-What is the general lifespan of a new strain? Like on the plate, then in the master LC and then subsequent production LC. 

-What are the storage options like? I assume cryo is a no go but no one will say. I like hyphae suspended in sterile distilled water for gourmet and am trying that for cordy now, will test 6mo/1yr for viability. 

Where I spend my summer here in the dense Appalachian forests I can find hundreds of wild militaris easily and started collecting them last season for cloning/breeding. Most went to waste but I want to try again this season better equipped (with knowledge more than anything. Appreciate anything you guys can share!

Love the simplicity of eggs and rice, gives me a tax write off for the free range ducks and is a selling point for the cordy I grow*

Thank you so much Eric for that latest episode on Stroma – seriously, it confirmed some suspicions I've been nursing. Specifically, I noticed this whole issue mostly kicking off with a certain strain of blue oyster, especially when the spawn got a bit too carried away. Once that stuff grew into these big, melted chunks, boom, Stroma was practically guaranteed. Thanks, Eric, for breaking it down!

Hi there! Regarding your coroplast HRV deep dive: Do you think a 2'x4' coroplast HRV unit, 40 layers thick be sufficient for regulating a 8'x10' size grow room?

Hey. What bag/ tray combination do you guys use for your cordyceps? Most importantly, what micron filter is it? Thanks.

I'm about to watch the coroplast HRV podcast for the 5th time cause I'm trying to cook up a way to integrate them into my warehouse build. I mostly understand it, however I get a little confused with how the air is being pulled in from the bottom as well as being exhausted out the bottom. Is that bottom 'spore dump' zone walled off below the vent to keep the air systems separate?

Lion’s Mane

My lions mane was growing nicely. Picture 1. 

Some of the blocks started to have some slightly yellow softer spots. Pictures 2-3. 

What  causes this and how do I avoid in the future?