BenJamin Harder

Blacksburg, VA, United States

Started log pro in 13 then straw. Used covid money to built a container fruiting chamber and lab. Now trying to master LC-> liquidity.

Jan 02 at 12:23 AM

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Omg so epic!! I love this discussion!! I feel like I’ve ghosted y’all, I’m sorry.  Life, farm, baby all dat shit has been Cra cra.  But I need this community!! 

As far as kings go, I had put the breaks on them really and been messing with block size 4a, 11 idk the small ones and other bs with no luck. I thought I’d be good in the winter. So I’ve just been focusing on BK/BP. I’ve seen a video with TR having plastic over the shelves and I didn’t get it or do it yet but now I want too. And Erik when you said strip I thought the pins but I get you now and I’ve had some BS crops from side and bottom fruiting, which I guess is like stripping. 

Mad props on the Black oyster BK,BP video. I even had my head knocker watch it. Also props on getting some of the content up on YouTube def easy to share. 

I will try to catch up some and at least go thro all my old shit. 

Erik and the Myco team, I’ve got a special video, episode idea to send your way that I will work on getting together both in snail mail

Sep 20 at 10:22 PM

I thought I said something and maybe I did but I would love a short write up on each culture like where it's from, any production notes, tricks or lessons learned...

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Sep 20 at 10:19 PM

So cool!! I guess I got my homework for the winter!

Sep 20 at 10:09 PM

Tyler N Allen. Hell yeah! What strain did you do? 

Did you do LC or grain spawn?

I'm interested in pillow fruiting it in grow bags, ever tried it?  I'm all about streamlining! 

I bought all the supplies and my employee did it one time as a trail before the season got crazy but never went forward on production.  That shit is pretty expensive; have you just thought about drying, extracting and powdering for mushroom powder.... We are making our own mushroom coffee/tea but that's the one thing I haven't been able to grow as much as we sell!  I just got a LC from Root Mushroom Farm and had my first from MycoLabs but no clue the strains on those.

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Posted

Sep 17 at 12:07 PM

Those little bastards are a pain! When I first started buying blocks I left like I was better at fruiting but my room density was a lot lower and the op was bran new. I’d love to know more about strains, fruiting styles… anything else… helpful. I got some smaller bags and wondering if those would help….

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Sep 17 at 12:00 PM

David Medlock Holy COW!  Do you grow them commercially or just for person?

I don’t know shit about horses. Is that a standard thing?

Do you stir those 14lb blocks again  after inoculation?

Yeah I just let reishi fruit outside here in VA Appalachia. 

I got the white and yellow VA strains. I can’t remember but one is better if you’re a drinker. It’s kinda my employees thing. 

Posted

Sep 08 at 12:21 AM

Thanks Erik and C&S for the super clean and affordable culture!

I had the thought to make plug spawn for yuppies to grow out but I was wondering if anyone knows what type of wax (and where to get it) that people are using as room temp pliable plug spawn wax?

I was also wondering if people have experience growing it commercially?  I know about plugging logs and burying them colonized and seen F&F talk about sterilizing logs to inoculate.  Seems like a hobby thing to do tho. 

I'm guessing it would be a gold mine to figure out how to grow it in bags commercially like Maitake.  Does anyone know how that strain went from being foraged to block production and why that hasn't been done with COW?

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Sep 07 at 10:13 PM

David Medlock F&F is the bomb. I’ve been growing shiitakes on logs from their spawn for almost a decade. When I started the lab then I started branching out and finding out how deep the rabbit hole goes. I wish I had know about C&S sooner! Is S75 and straw shiitake strains the same. 

Sep 01 at 12:55 AM

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Hell yeah Erik!! That’s killer. Don’t get me going or I’m going to be asking a question every day!  I’m going to grab me some LC tomorrow to play with unless wink wink that’s going to be the next culture… just messin!  

Also weird question but do you know what the type of wax people sell as plug spawn wax that is pliable at room temp?

And one of my team inoculated plug spawn with a block strain from NS. Can you grow block strains out on logs? 

(Today)3790 clone on masters from F&F my old shiitake and oyster supplier before I started the lab in 20. 😘 

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Posted

Aug 31 at 11:09 AM

Thanks Eric for all the great info on shiitakes with the new episode and deep dive.  Anyone having much luck with shiitakes on masters mix, if so what strain? 

It sure would be easy for my production system and bagger.

I thought it was interesting the ultra pasteurizing not being enough and explaining the duds.  

I did some autoclave bran experiments yesterday but I didn't have much luck with that when I first started.  Seems like 20% bran is crazy... is that for midds? Trad talked about 1/2 cup per 5lb... generally speaking...

Is it weird to ask suppliers where their strains come from or are?  I have two from NS, and about 7 others that have come my way.  I worry they might all be 3790, which I have for sure and 3782 which I don't know if I have or not... or junk...

Eric, I'm definitely down for Shiitake this winter, or Bears Head or any good winter producers!

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