In case anybody is interested in experimenting with me, here is the procedure I am trying.
1. Prepare the work area by cleaning surfaces, containers and utensils. Materials needed: clean plastic bag, wheat or grass hay, big pot of water (I used my pressure cooker), thermometer, gloves, mushroom spawns (I actually used the extra plug spawns that were intended for inoculating logs). Sawdust spawns could probably be used also.
See
https://www.fungi.com/shop/pure-mushroom ... spawn.html
2. Prepare the substrate by pasteurization. See this link for detailed explanation.
https://oystermushrooms.net/front.htm
How: Pasteurization is heating wet material to 55º to 60ºC (131º to 140ºF) for 30 minutes. No part may be at less than 55ºC (131ºF) or more than 60º (140ºF).
Why: The purpose of pasteurization is not to get rid of all organisms, but to get rid of those that compete with the mushrooms and to INCREASE the organisms that discourage diseases, consume hemicellulose, provide nitrogen, and become food for the mushrooms.
Procedure: On the stove top, boil a big pot with 2/3 full of water close to 140 degrees F. If it gets too hot, I just add some cold water or ice to bring the temp down to around 140. Turn the heat down enough to maintain the water temp between 131 to 140ºF. Add the hay and place a smaller pot over the hay to keep it submerged in the water. Place the thermometer into the hay to monitor water temp. Leave the hay in the hot water for a minimum of 30 min but no more than 60 min. Then drain the water from the pot and let it cool to around 70ºF.
3. Place substrate and spawns in bags. I copied part of the method shown in the link below.
MObeek’s procedure: Place a roll of hay in the bottom of the bag, place several plugs on top of the hay on the outside edge. Add more layers of hay and plugs till you fill the bag. Compact the straw as much as possible, leaving no air pockets within. Leave enough room at the top to loosely seal the bag with ties or duct tape. Cover the hole created by the loose seal with a clean cotton ball to prevent bugs from crawling in. Wipe a pin and the outside surface of the bag with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide (where you want to poke pin-size holes on). Poke several holes (maybe 6 to 12 holes) into the side of the bag. Place the bag in a dark warm room (spare bedroom) until mycelia has completely covered the substrate within – 10 to 25 days. At this stage, cut small horizontal holes (about 1 inch) on the bag (with sterilized razor blade) where you want mushroom flowers to grow through. Move the bag in another place that has good aeration and soft light (i.e., kitchen). Spray with filtered water 2x/day (morning and evening) until mushrooms have emerged and are ready to be harvested.
More links
Good luck.