Manure as substrate?

[Somaholic]

So, I learned via craigslist that someone nearby is offering 'free' horse manure, now I ask if someone can give some good, authoritative (ie, you've used it before) advice on using it. Since there is a continuous supply, would it be better to just use all manure, without straw as an additive? How would I best prepare it? I've never worked with dung before and am truthfully a little reluctant to, but since it's nature's way...

[Freaky]

Manure, especially horse, works great for magik fungus.

Read up on pasteurizing techniques in the Vaults to help find the way that will work best for you. Start building some spawn via grain or pf jars while you work on reading about spawning teks and pasteurizing.

If you need some links to vaulted threads let us know and we'll throw some up for you.

[Lazlo]

More than likely that manure has straw in it, along with sawdust. When you go to pick it up, look for areas in the pile where there's a lot of manure. Some places just let you go there to shovel it for yourself, so you can be more picky while you're shoveling.

[TastyBeverage]

If the poo is very fresh, you're going to need to let it age/compost first or it will be too 'hot' for use.

[sandman]

yea the best is a pile of dried 100 % nuggets. most piles are heavy in bedding, woosdhips, and urine. Find a good source and dont lose it.


shred it, mix 70/30 with verm for da best sub imo.

[Somaholic]

Well, I sent the lady an email, and she says she has "plenty," an endless supply, some composted, some fresh, I can take as much as I like. Does straight manure work better than straw/ straw mixed with manure? Also, I'm living in an apartment right now, are there any feasible ways of doing it in this setting (ie with no yardspace)? I have an offer for a house to move in, a little cheaper than the apartment in fact, so if the yardspace makes a big difference, I'll probably end up moving...

[chill]

I'm using straight hpoo in an apartment right now.

http://forums.mycotopia.net/fungi-gr...ice-rocks.html (Whole Brown Rice rocks)

To pasteurize I use my oven (don't tell the girlfriend). Water baths are too messy for my liking since I can't go out in my backyard to rinse the stuff out.

You need very little water to bring it to the right moisture level (field capacity). I used only two cups in that grow.

For oven pasteurization use a meat thermometer in the centre of the substrate. Keep it in the oven until the centre of the substrate reaches 150 then turn off the oven. Leave it in the oven overnight. It will cool for several hours at the right temperature to pasteurize.

Burn incense and good luck

[Somaholic]

How badly does the oven method stink? Steeping in a big pot seems like it'd be less risky...

[chill]

Not so bad. It does smell different but not putrid or anything like that. Like I mentioned, just burn incencse and you're fine.

I find water is a bigger problem as it creates a huge mess with all that liquid poo running around. Not so bad in the back yard but in an appartment it's a real pain.

[Somaholic]

Does it matter what the horses have eaten to determine substrate suitability? Also, would I be better off going with composted manure, or the 'fresher?' I thought about asking the lady some more questions, but I don't really want to make her too suspicious when I drive by to pick up several pounds of manure for "gardening projects." Just to clarify, manure straight works better than straw, or manure/ straw compost?

[TastyBeverage]

You definitely want the composted stuff. You would for gardening as well, so don't be afraid to ask questions.

IME manure works better if you fluff it up with something like straw or coir. That improves the water retention as well as making the texture less dense. The mycelium will move through it easier and get better air exchange.

[livewire420]

Originally Posted by Lazlo

More than likely that manure has straw in it, along with sawdust. When you go to pick it up, look for areas in the pile where there's a lot of manure. Some places just let you go there to shovel it for yourself, so you can be more picky while you're shoveling.

now im a bit confused saw dust is fine?

[livewire420]

guess this answers my question

Psilocybe cubensis Specimen

Mycelia growing through sawdust.

[Somaholic]

A few more long-winded questions-within-questions...

1. I'm leaning towards oven pasteurization now, oven bags seem to be the most commonly prescribed way, but I thought, maybe it'd also work to use the cheap aluminum deepdish baking pans, "heap it up" so that it sort of forms a dung dome and then wrap with foil? Then, I could stick a meat thermometer through the foil... I think I'd prefer this, because with oven bags, I'm afraid I'd have to invest more $$$ on big pans which would support the bags; at least, I guess it isn't safe to leave them on the oven racks naked, since they're plastic...

2. I inoculated quite a few quart wbs jars, and a few of them are colonizing much faster than the others. They, five or six I'd say, are over half finished, whereas all the others aren't even 1/4 done, and a few haven't done anything yet. I want to do greenhouse grows, but I'd also like for the growing cycle to be "synchronized." Maybe if I took the early bloomers and put them in a rubbermaid tote... if I mixed the manure up in a tote with 5-6 spawn jars, what would be the best depth for filling? Also, shouldn't I drill holes in the tote lid and micropore tape, for ventilation? And, if I did the earlybird tote like a ghetto incubator, with a fish tank heater... would the heat generated by the heater be sufficient, if it's in the same room as the greenhouses? I'm going to heat the room with a portable heater/ac, and I'm afraid that the heater/ac might "override" the fish tank heater...

[karmakraze]

A tub of horse poo with nothing else added and its takeing a very long time My advice is to add something to it wether it be sawdust straw verm or coir try ne of each as an experament to see just what will work best for you the best way to learn is trial and eror if you fail you just learned one way not to do it. Keep on trying never give up.


Karma.K

[Somaholic]

Yeah, I think I'm going to make it 30% vermiculite like sandman and others suggest, I've heard that manure fruits well by itself, so I think I'll try that, if it's composted, then hopefully that will do...

[stimpy]

Well don't use fresh manure because it hasn't been aged and leached. I've heard only good things about composted manure (for shrooms :P)

[Somaholic]

If I store the manure in a rubbermaid tote for a week or so prior to use, it should be ok, right, so long as it's dried out? I really hope it won't reek, since it looks as though I may have to keep it in my apartment...

[sandman]

i would put it on your patio area if you have one and leave the lid loose or off if possible

[Freaky]

Originally Posted by sandman

i would put it on your patio area if you have one and leave the lid loose or off if possible

Good point Sandman! If your plastic tote has some holes for breathing it would be fine in there as well.

I used to find spreading it out in a garage or small area, it'd dry out quicker.

[Somaholic]

Is it okay to leave in dried pine needles? I'm sure bugs are a no-no, but I'm not sure how I'll remove all of them...

[mdbnkc]

not for sure but probably want to pick out the pine needles. Dont worry about the bugs. If you properly pasteurize the sub it will be ok. Might wanna give it an extra 30 to make SURE you get those nasty little fuckers

[Somaholic]

Well, it's been 5 days since spawning, and rhizomorphic tufts are poking through... when would be the best time to case? Am I waiting for the entire substrate to be engulfed with mycelium? Also, what would be the best depth for the casing layer, assuming that the substrate is between 5 and 5 1/2 inches deep? Would it be okay to microwave the casing for sterilization? I don't have an oven right now, plan on casing with plain vermiculite. How long should I microwave, if that would work (hope it does)! Thanks again everyone, I couldn't possibly have come this far without your help!

[Hippie3]

Am I waiting for the entire substrate to be engulfed with Mycelium ?

the sub should have been colonized before casing
but if you mean the casing layer
then no, you don't want full coverage

[chill]

My bulk subs generally take 10 to 14 days to fully colonize. Since it's been only 5 days since spawning I'd wait until the sub is fully colonized before casing.

If you are using straight verm then I'd go with no more than a 1/4 or a 1/2 inch for the casing.

I've DEC cakes b4 with straight verm that hasn't been steralized. I think that you would be ok but you might want another opinion.

good luck

[Hippie3]

better safe than sorry,
cannot un-do a fuck-up eh.