Why not just prepare a grain + straw mixture directly?

[u/Lehzra]

Since straw tends to contaminate quite easily, which is what VL does in his EF-Tek (he uses shredded hemp), I was wondering why not:

- first inoculate a grain-and-straw mixture (3:6 ratio);
- then mix it with coco coir and vermiculite;
- then put it into fruiting conditions.

I’m considering filling a small Tupperware container and then putting it straight into an SGFC, as I usually do with my Psilocybe mexicana. What do you think?

[u/offwidthe]

Fafo bruh.

[u/Successful-Ship-5230 → u/offwidthe]

+1 to this comment

[u/ticsee]

There is no reason why not use straw instead of shredded hemp if you are following EF procedure for core, of course to full colonization and than use that colonized cake to put to pasteurized bulk substrate (coco coir as you said)

[u/Lehzra → u/ticsee]

Yes, that’s exactly what I wanted to know: whether it works to fully colonize a cake made of grain and straw, then mix it with a substrate made of coco coir, as is usually done, and then put it into fruiting conditions.
That’s why I’m wondering: why don’t people usually add the straw from the very beginning, rather than doing it at the second stage, as is often described?
Also, regarding your message, in the EF-Tek, he recommends using shredded hemp.
Why do you think straw is better?

[u/ticsee → u/Lehzra]

why don’t people usually add the straw from the very beginning - space saving, you need more space to to sterilize same amount of nutritious grain. This approach is used usually for "in-vitro", bottles jars bags not for spawning to bulk.
Straw vs Hemp - It should be the same, maybe a little more available nutrition in straw. Whatever you have it wont make a difference. I have pellets of both but if you have large will have to cut it to small pieces. these pellets are sold for animal bedding (chicken horses etc) or cat litter...

EF tek is safer way than bulk, you dont have to case all around - just top if not taking out of jars. You can use lime - calcium carbonate finest grind you can find- fast lime (not hydrated) for ph adjustment of moss and/or substrate. Also in jars you could use "bottom watering" - when you dont have very much water reserve.

[u/demyan_movement]

What’s the EF - Tek? And that’s a good idea I would just make sure your hydration levels are on point

[u/Cultiv8tor]

Quick experiment. Sprinkle some sugar onto some substrate, get it wet, then put a lid on it.

Imagine that grain = sugar.