Soak cardboard

Place cardboard in water until it changes colour and the cardboard is soaked through.

Note:

• Use cardboard that does not have any ink on it
• User cardboard that is corrugated

Break up grain spawn

Make sure the grain spawn is well broken up so that you don’t have clumps

Add grain spawn to cardboard

Create a clean surface to work on.  Clean with bleach if necessary.

Place grain spawn on the cardboard.  Ensure the grain spawn reaches the edges.

Roll

Roll the cardboard quite tight.  You don’t need to double layer like in the photo.

Preserve humidity

Place rolled cardboard in a container or plastic bag to keep in humidity

Cover and maintain

Once you have put grain spawn on your wet cardboard, you need to keep it moist and provide some air exchange.

While the cardboard is inoculating, you can keep it in a plastic bag or move it to a Tupperware type container.

Each day, you need to check for moisture level and allow for air exchange.

If the cardboard is looking dry, spritz with water (preferably water where the chlorine has evaporated).

If the cardboard is looking to wet (water pooled at the bottom of bag), open up the bag and let it dry out a little or remove the bag and place the roll it in a tupperware container with the lid slightly adjar for a few hours.

Should take around 3 weeks (this depends on the species of mushroom and the size of the cardboard!).

If any cardboard has black or green or pink spots, dispose in compost bin. This is an indication that it has become contaminated.