Recipes
Malt Extract Agar
1 L water
20 g agar agar*
20 g malt extract
10 g dextrose
2 g yeast/marmite/yeast flakes (optional)
1 g petone, soybean (optional)
*For liquid cultures use 4 g agar agar instead.
Put water in a pot on stove and add ingredients.
Heat to near boiling to help dissolve the agar agar.
Some undissolved components may dissolve/gel during pressure cooking in upcoming steps.
Stir well before filling heat resistant containers for pressure cooking (flask to pour petri dishes/jars for liquid cultures): This will ensure any undissolved components are evenly distributed.
Fill containers half volume max to prevent boil-over.
One liter will make 4-8 liquid cultures or 20-100 petri dishes depending on size and depth of fill.
Sterilize closed containers of medium for 20 minutes at 121 C at sea level in a pressure canner/sterilizer, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Overpacked cookers or large volumes will require longer times. Your goal is to fully sterilize without caramelization. During cooling when the pressure is between 0 and 1 psig move the cooker in front of a HEPA filter air source to finish cooling.
*For liquid cultures use 4 g agar agar instead.
Combine water and potatoes in a large pot on stove.
Heat to boiling and boil gently for one hour.
Strain potato chunks for snack/compost and keep liquid part: "potato water", to make growth medium.
Add the dry ingredients to the potato water in a clean pot on stove.
Add dry ingredients and amount of water to make up any water lost in straining.
Heat to near boiling to help dissolve the agar agar.
Some undissolved components may dissolve/gel during pressure cooking in upcoming steps.
Stir well before filling heat resistant containers for pressure cooking (flask to pour petri dishes/jars for liquid cultures): This will ensure any undissolved components are evenly distributed. Fill containers half volume max to prevent boil-over. One litre will make 4-8 liquid cultures or 20-100 petri dishes depending on size and depth of fill.
Sterilize closed containers of medium for 20 minutes at 121 C at sea level in a pressure canner/sterilizer, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Overpacked cookers or large volumes will require longer times. Your goal is to fully sterilize without caramelization. During cooling when the pressure is between 0 and 1 psig move the cooker in front of a HEPA filter air source to finish cooling.
5-6 lb Grain Spawn Bag (per bag)
Soak in hot water in a sanitary pail for 12 hours (overnight)
1400g grain (Soft wheat kernels or hard wheat kernels or rye kernels or wild birdseed)
1/2 tsp CaCO3 (calcium carbonate, calcitic lime)
1 Tbl CaS (Gypsum)
3 L hot water
pour into a strainer and let drain till flow of water is almost stopped
Optional: put 1/4 cup dry Hardwood fuel pellets (HWFP) into each bag (14A or 14T type bag)
scoop drained mixture evenly into 14A/14T bags, roll down to filter patch and clip or stack.
Sterilize for at least 1 hour at 121 C at sea level in a pressure canner/sterilizer, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use sterilization indicators to check for sufficient time. Overpacked cookers or large volumes will require longer times. During cooling when the pressure is between 0 and 1 psig move the cooker in front of a HEPA filter air source to finish cooling.
5-6 lb Sawdust Spawn Bag (per bag)
Mix with hot water in a sanitary pail (optional:let sit overnight)
700-800 g Hardwood fuel pellets (HWFP)
1/2 tsp CaCO3 (calcium carbonate, calcitic lime)
1 Tbl CaS (Gypsum)
2 L hot water
pour into a strainer and let drain till flow of water is almost stopped
Put 2/3 cup dry HWFP into each bag (14A type bag)
scoop drained mixture evenly into 14A bags, roll down to filter patch and clip or stack.
Sterilize for at least 2 hour at 121 C at sea level in a pressure canner/sterilizer, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Make sure to use sufficient water in cooker to provide steam for extended run time. Use sterilization indicators to check for sufficient time. Overpacked cookers or large volumes will require longer times. During cooling when the pressure is between 0 and 1 psig move the cooker in front of a HEPA filter air source to finish cooling.
5-6 lb Bran SUPPLEMENTED Sawdust Spawn Bag (per bag)
Mix with hot water in a sanitary pail (optional:let sit overnight)
600-700 g Hardwood fuel pellets (HWFP)
1/2 tsp CaCO3 (calcium carbonate, calcitic lime)
1 Tbl CaS (Gypsum)
2 L hot water
Pour into a strainer. Sprinkle 100-200 g wheat bran over substrate. Spray surface with hot water to wet bran. Let drain until flow of water is almost stopped. 200g Bran: 600 g HWFP is suitable for species requiring a high amount of supplement (eg. shiitake blocks). 100g Bran: 700 g HWFP is suitable to increase the yield of most species compared to sawdust alone.
Put 2/3 cup dry HWFP into each bag (14A type bag)
Scoop drained mixture evenly into 14A bags, roll down to filter patch and clip or stack.
Sterilize for at least 2 hour at 121 C at sea level in a pressure canner/sterilizer, according to the manufacturer's instructions. More bran will require longer sterilization time. Make sure to use sufficient water in cooker to provide steam for extended run time. Use sterilization indicators to check for sufficient time. Overpacked cookers or large volumes will require longer times. During cooling when the pressure is between 0 and 1 psig move the cooker in front of a HEPA filter air source to finish cooling.