Ardnamushrooms

Making the blocks

First, we have to make the ‘fruiting block’ mixture. Around 50% of our ‘block’ mix comes from oak shavings and sawdust that are waste products generated by various furniture and oak frame building manufacturers around Scotland.

Another 40% of the mix comes from hardwood chips that are sourced on Ardnamurchan Peninsular, often as waste from felling / pruning operations conducted by local contactors.

Around 9% of the mix is organic bran sourced from Doves Farm which provides a valuable nutrient supplement for the fungi and a final 1% of the mix is agricultural gypsum, purchased from Chase Organics ,which acts as a ‘buffer’ to keep the pH level in the mix stable.

The various materials are mixed together in a compost tumbler, transferred to the mixing area with a large wheelbarrow, where it is scooped into special polypropylene bags. We use identical-sized pieces of pipe to ensure the bags get the same volume of mix. The pipes are removed, the bags folder carefully over to protect the breathing patch (like Gortex it allows oxygen and CO2 to pass but not water vapour).

The bags are then sterilized at 125oC for 2 hours to ensure that no ‘weed’ fungi spores, mould or bacteria survive to compete with the introduced mushroom spawn.