Method for culture of fungi including shiitake (Lentinus edodes)

A method for culturing tree mushrooms on a substantially cellulose free medium, comprising:

• preparing a grain mixture by mixing water in approximately one to one-fourth parts by weight per part of a dry mixture containing a major portion of grain and minor portions of starch, protein and nutrient sources;
• boiling said grain mixture for approximately 1 hour;
• cooling said grain mixture for approximately 8 to 24 hours;
• introducing said grain mixture into a microorganism impermeable sterilizable container;
• sterilizing said container and said grain mixture;
• introducing tree mushroom spawn into said grain mixture;
• shaking said container to mix said tree mushroom spawn throughout said grain mixture;
• incubating said tree mushroom spawn in said container to allow said tree mushroom spawn to consume said grain mixture and to form mycelium;
• chilling said container and said mycelium for 7 to 9 days at a temperature of approximately 45 degrees fahrenheit;
• removing aid mycelium from said containers;
• intermittently misting said mycelium with chilled water until tree mushrooms of the desired size are gown, whereby tree mushroom fruiting bodies are formed;
• and
• harvesting said fruiting bodies.

A method for culturing mushrooms, comprising:

• boiling between 25 and 35 gallons of water;
• adding between 5 and 20 pounds of Russet potatoes, between 2 and 35 pounds of brewer's yeast powder and between 1/2 and 4 pounds of garlic to form an intermediate mixture;
• boiling said intermediate mixture using a heat source;
• mixing said intermediate mixture to break clumps into small pieces;
• adding between 150 and 300 pounds of whole sorghum grain and between 1/2 and 15 pounds of rolled barley grain to form a grain mixture;
• adding a sufficient amount of water to immerse said grain mixture;
• boiling and stirring said grain mixture only until the water level falls below said grain mixture level;
• removing said heat source;
• approximately one hour after removal of said heat source, draining said grain mixture;
• approximately 8 to 24 hours after said draining step, mixing said grain mixture with between 12 and 37 pounds of limestone powder and 50 to 100 pounds of gypsum powder until said grain mixture is completely coated;
• introducing measured portions of said grain mixture into sterilizable microorganism impermeable containers;
• sterilizing said sterilizable microorganism impermeable containers and said grain mixture;
• introducing mushroom spawn into said grain mixture;
• mixing said mushroom spawn throughout said grain mixture;
• incubating said mushroom spawn in said container to allow said mushroom spawn to consume said grain mixture and to form mycelium;
• and
• inducing said mycelium to fruit.