diff --git a/README.mdown b/README.mdown index 88da293..5eca678 100644 --- a/README.mdown +++ b/README.mdown @@ -130,23 +130,26 @@ Skipping testing on [agar slants](#agar-slants) works well enough as long as you - [ ] food scale, grams -- [ ] distilled water - - [ ] 16 oz wide mouth mason jars with lids -- [ ] electric pressure cooker, stove top, or [autoclave](#autoclave) +- [ ] 50 to 100 ml syringes with hollow needles, [autoclavable](#autoclave) + +- [ ] distilled water + +- [ ] light corn syrup + +- [ ] diammonium phosphate with urea (optional) - [ ] aluminum foil +- [ ] electric pressure cooker, stove top, or [autoclave](#autoclave) + Imperial | Metric -------- | ------ 16 oz | 450 ml ## Liquid Cultures -- [ ] light corn syrup -- [ ] diammonium phosphate with urea (optional) - Mixing liquid culture is similar to [agar slants](#agar-slants) without needing to cool the test tubes in any particular position. A simple sugar like light corn syrup is dissolved in distilled water to provide mycelium calories for reproduction. @@ -181,16 +184,12 @@ simple sugar | 15 g | 5 g - [ ] agar -- [ ] light malt extract - -- [ ] 30 to 50 ml test tube with screw cap, [autoclavable](#autoclave) - -- [ ] 50 to 100 ml syringe with hollow needle, [autoclavable](#autoclave) +- [ ] 30 to 50 ml test tubes with screw cap, [autoclavable](#autoclave) Agar agar is a plant gelatin that solidifies at room temperature, providing a physical surface that mycelium to colonize. -When mixed with a simple sugar like malt extract this provides mycelium calories for reproduction. +When mixed with a simple sugar like light corn syrup this provides mycelium calories for reproduction. Malt Extract Agar (MEA) is available premixed fairly cheap online. -Mixing 2:3 grams ratio of malt extract to agar powder is good for saving money by buying in bulk from a homebrew shop. +Mixing 2:3 grams ratio of light corn syrup to agar powder is good for saving money by buying in bulk from a homebrew shop. Scale the following recipe as needed to fill 1/3 of each test tube or 10 ml: @@ -198,7 +197,7 @@ Ingredient | Mason Jar | Ratio ---------- | --------- | ----- water | 300 ml | 100 ml agar | 9 g | 3 g -malt extract | 6 g | 2 g +light corn syrup | 6 g | 2 g 0. [Sanitize Your Workspace](#sanitize-your-workspace). @@ -208,7 +207,9 @@ malt extract | 6 g | 2 g 2. Microwave with a safe cover until boiling, about 1 minute. -3. Add 9 g of agar and 6 g of malt extract to the warm water and stir well for 1 minute with a sanitary utensil. +3. Add 9 g of agar and 6 g of light corn syrup to the warm water and stir well for 1 minute with a sanitary utensil. + + - Optionally add no more than 1 gram of diammonium phosphate (dap) with urea for yeast nutrients. 4. While the MEA solution is still warm, fill a sanitary syringe with the solution. @@ -256,8 +257,6 @@ This will allow you to walk through the methods without fear of wasting a spore ## Cloning -- [ ] paring knife or scalpel - - [ ] 50 to 100 ml syringe with hollow needle, [autoclavable](#autoclave) Taking mycelium samples from mushroom tissue is called cloning. @@ -267,7 +266,7 @@ Piercing the mushroom tissue with a hollow needled syringe is enough to collect - Sanitize the outside of each [culture medium](#culture-media). -1. Cut the stem off the mushroom with a sanitary knife, . +1. Cut the stem off the mushroom with a sanitary knife. 2. Pull the plunger of a sanitary syringe to halfway out. @@ -370,7 +369,7 @@ These are usually sold as > Instant Microwavable Whole Grain Brown Rice -For your first time I recommend you try this method to learn the process. +For your first time I recommend store bought sterilized whole brown rice to learn the process without worrying about contaminated grain. Simply cut a small hole in a corner of the sterile container and follow the instructions for [spawn inoculation](#spawn-inoculation). Tape the small hole closed. @@ -385,8 +384,6 @@ These general instructions are the same for most [grain spawn](#grain-spawn) but - [ ] colander -- [ ] ladle - - [ ] boiling pot - [ ] aluminum foil @@ -414,19 +411,18 @@ Imperial | Metric 4. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. -5. With a ladle, carefully add one scoop at a time to the boiling water. +5. Carefully ladle scoop of the grain into the boiling water at a time until all the bird seed is added. + Let the water return to a boil for no more than 5 minutes. -6. Once all the bird seed is added let the water return to a boil. +6. Strain again with a colander for 1 hour to dry, stirring occasionally. -7. Strain again with a colander for 1 hour to dry, stirring occasionally. +7. Split evenly to each 16 oz wide mouth mason jar, about 1 cup. -8. Split evenly to each 16 oz wide mouth mason jar, about 1 cup. +8. Cover jar opening with aluminum foil and [autoclave](#autoclave) for 2 hours. -9. Cover jar opening with aluminum foil and [autoclave](#autoclave) for 2 hours. +9. Lightly screw lid over the foil to secure it in place without sealing the jar and allow to cool to room temperature. -10. Lightly screw lid over the foil to secure it in place without sealing the jar and allow to cool to room temperature. - -11. Store in a dark cool place until inoculation. +10. Store in a dark cool place until inoculation. # Spawn Inoculation @@ -545,25 +541,21 @@ Harvest mushrooms after their gills are exposed but before they dump their spore - [ ] food scale, grams -- [ ] 16 oz wide mouth mason jars with lids - - [ ] distilled water -- [ ] 50 to 100 ml syringe with hollow needle, [autoclavable](#autoclave) +- [ ] 16 oz wide mouth mason jars with lids -- [ ] 30 to 50 ml test tube with screw cap, [autoclavable](#autoclave) +- [ ] 50 to 100 ml syringes with hollow needles, [autoclavable](#autoclave) - [ ] electric pressure cooker, stove top, or [autoclave](#autoclave) -- [ ] agar - -- [ ] light malt extract - - [ ] light corn syrup - [ ] diammonium phosphate with urea -- [ ] paring knife or scalpel +- [ ] agar + +- [ ] 30 to 50 ml test tubes with screw cap, [autoclavable](#autoclave) - [ ] inoculation loop @@ -575,8 +567,6 @@ Harvest mushrooms after their gills are exposed but before they dump their spore - [ ] colander -- [ ] ladle - - [ ] boiling pot - [ ] aluminum foil