Chain oil fungus inoculants

[Patrik Schumann]

Hello, Is anyone out there using NE forest-specific species chain oil inoculants when thinning, logging, fuelwood cutting, after Paul Stamets' mixes for the NW?

[Lewis E. Ward]

Patrick,

 I don't think the technology has been adapted in the northeast, because of the cost of laboratory to grow the fungus.  Which species mushrooms are you trying to grow?

 I've considered trying some antagonists to Armillaria mellea because it is in my woodlot.

[Patrik Schumann]

Hello Lewis, 

I haven't started on developing my own mix, but I did contact Fungi Perfecti about theirs, simply to have confirmed that they're only doing NW species for their forests.  I met Paul Stamets privately this summer, and he said he was coming to my part of NY in Sept and offered to do a mycological survey on my woodlot.  Alas, he did not respond to my follow-up.  

I'll have to start studying up, collecting spores, and switching to inoculant veggie oil for the chain, all by myself.  However I'm fearful because a couple of years ago the CA State Mycologist killed himself mis-identifying an edible fungus.  

Do you think your Armillaria is attacking healthy trees or simply pushing weak ones over the edge?  I would certainly be interested in a paced collaboration on something like this over the next few years.  I have a lot to learn.  Patrik

[Lewis E. Ward]

Well not sure. I definitely see it on dead downed trees. I haven't seen any fruiting bodies.

I'm in a valley (north facing slope) in the Finger Lakes which has plenty which has plenty of humidity and moisture. I see turkey tail and many other fungi. Are you looking for medicinals, trying to diversify your fingal flora or trying to break down woody material? 

[Patrik Schumann]

My first interest is speeding decompostion and nutrient cycling of heavy TSI debris, second improving forest health and productivity through the soil microbiome, third fostering populations of culinary fungi.

I'm based in high desert NM where growing any productive plant comes down to a lot of building and culturing soil (and praying for rain).  

My NY site is southern Catskills/ upper Delaware rocky upland with thin soils of mixed quality, and my project is subsistence-orientated.  After my 30-year transition I'd like my baby son to be able to pull out enough furniture-quality logs each year, harvest all the mushrooms, nuts, fruit, etc, his family could use, and if desired or needed find places to fence off and grow a garden.