Growing Shiitake Mushrooms

My parents (who live on Cape Cod, MA) live primarily off the land around their home.  They are avid gardeners, catch lobster, collect oysters, deep sea fish, and grow mushrooms.  They bike to the store to purchase wine to accompany the food they've raised/caught themselves.

My father contributed the following to post on my blog:

The Process:  
- Buy mushroom spores from an on-line merchant, i.e. Oyster Creek Mushroom.
- You can buy the spores alone, the spores and the dowel stubs, or the spores, dowels and oak logs.
- Drill holes in oak logs just bigger than the dowels.  Place the spore infused dowels into the holes.  Seal the holes with a wax.
- Soak the logs in a trash can filled with water for at least 24 hours.
- Hang the logs on a tree in a shady area.  (Hanging them avoids slugs, rolly pollies and other predators.)
- Water the logs occasionally.
- Mushrooms start to grow in the fall.  Cut when large enough to enjoy.
- Logs can produce for several years.
- Do not be tempted to eat Shitakes raw or undercooked.  Toot city.

It’s great fun watching them produce with little or no assistance.