Totem Inoculation Process

When inoculating a log with lion's mane or oyster mushroom spawn, the log must first be cut be cut in half with a two inch cookie cut from the top half of the log. Cut the log where you intend to place it so that the order of the log's sections are not mismatched with other cut logs. A paper grocery bag is folded and put on the very bottom to avoid contamination with the soil. The first handful of spawn is then broken up and spread on the bag. After the first half of the log is placed on top of the spawn and bag, another handful of spawn is broken up and spread to the length of the diameter on top of the log. The next half goes on top of that and creates the totem. Finally, a third handful of spawn goes on top of that log, is spread and is covered with the two inch cookie. A paper leaf bag is then put over the totem and held down with rocks. This is to keep animals away from it and to trap humidity as colonization of the logs take hold over roughly 18 months. A coniferous forest is the preferred location for mushroom farming as it maintains a lower temperature and provides more shade. Mushrooms can also be grown within the shade of a deciduous forest, but a shade cloth should be used to cover the logs once the leaves fall in autumn.

[@mayafischer1711]

i used wet Clay to cover the area where the Logs meet ,this way no Bugs get in . It worked amazing !!!

[@NewTwistYarns]

I am getting ready to inoculate logs in the totem style. Can I leave these prepared logs outside in the northeast winters?

[@Garysopinion]

I have no problem growing shiitake totem style.

[@lanarichardson6623]

iii gg

[@KnottNutts]

How long do you keep that totem covered with the bag?

[@davidafenderson1262]

Love your channel and all the info.
Quick question, how long are you waiting to inculate after felling your tree and what species of tree do you use? Some trees, like oak and mapel, can have an active imune response which kills our spawn mycelium for months after being felled. Getting the time right is a pain so I normally go with Alder as it only takes two days for it's imune response to die after being felled.

[@davidafenderson1262]

Just rewatched and heard that it's poplar, now I just have to ask how long you wait after felling before you inculate. Thanks

[@lavahike3279]

Yes, please tell us how long

[@PolishSoul]

Hi and thank you for the informative video! Is this method analogous to the drilled/plugged log inoculation method? The totem method is obviously much quicker and so I was wondering if it can be used for all fungi species.

[@nevduv9990]

I’m not an expert, in fact I’m a beginner when it comes to mycology.... but it seems to me like the plug tek is designed for faster colonization where this is a natural process. From what I read it can take up to a year or more to see your first fruits on the totem method

[@natsonwang5241]

Can I use a heart rot maple trunk to do this? Or shall I clean the rotten part of the trunk first. The log was fresh cut but the center has rotten

[@jha5301]

Can the oyster be grown better in a bag with some substrate or in our local trees namely willow.

[@willkolek1847]

would a peice of cardboard work on the ground under the first log?

[@exforestfarming]

+sherpa will Yes, cardboard would work just as well.

[@ThePunitiveDamages]

Hello. Can you tell us where you source your spawn bags? I'm in NE Canada and trying to find a source for hericium erinaceus spawn to make totems. Thanks in advance.

[@craftingcat536]

I purchased from grow Canada mushrooms in Sayward BC. They ship in Canada

[@brunosulikowski]

Is maple or poplar good for for a totem?

[@jenniferg6818]

I have that saw. I love it.

[@jahpickney2640]

Can I do this in the winter with oyster mushroom

[@markpasquarella3223]

Wouldn’t it be better to make v shaped cuts deep into the logs instead of cutting all the way through ? That way the logs would stay together in a rough winter and rain would drain into the log keeping it moist. I’m going to try both ways. It might work for tree trunks too that have been left standing from downed or cut trees instead of using plugs

[@MrBazz420]

it work, i drilled back the V piece

[@mushroomsnotesandtravel7579]

Where can you buy lion's mane mycelium?

[@krisztian7897]

Works with Reishi too?

[@nicholasforti9948]

Great video. Please tell your camera person to not zoom in so much. Thank you.

[@protruth100]

Does this method work better than drilling holes in the logs?

[@exforestfarming]

Hi Mona, This is the recommended method for these mushroom species. If you are growing shiitake, drilling holes is recommended. If you would like to talk to an extension expert, please visit this link: ask.extension.org/groups/1727/ask A qualified expert can answer further questions. Thanks for checking out our channel!

[@blenderbenderguy]

@@exforestfarming Shiitake works just fine using the totem method provided you use oaks, hard maples, or beech.

[@seabuckthorniran1]

Hello Dear colleague

[@graysonweaver1780]

What if you want to cultivate from spores?

[@HeyTonAshCat]

You'll want to start the spores in an agar dish, and keep separating until you have a pure strain (only one mycelium strain growing. each spore will be a different strain and there are COUNTLESS spores.) Then once you have that you can cut a piece of mycelium from the agar and put it in sterile saw dust or oats etc until it is fully inoculated. Then use the method in this video.