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Here I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international mushroom consultants. MEMOIRS about husband Pieter Vedder, who was a SCIENTIFIC PIONEER in Mushroom Cultivation Education. His practical handbook is in 9 languages and is called the MUSHROOM BIBLE: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2020/08/modern-mushroom-growing-2020-harvesting.html
Showing posts with label Mushroom Cultivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mushroom Cultivation. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Big Doors which allow for the Head–End Filling Machine and Mechanical Emptying on a Mushroom Plant

 Last post I mentioned the Head–End Filling Machine so let us explain that a bit more to the readers.
Fig. 58.  The growing rooms at this farm are also equipped with the special made big doors that allows for the use of the head–end filling machine and also makes mechanical emptying of the rooms much easier.
These doors are at the head–end (in Dutch kopeinde) of a growing room!
Hence the word: head–end filling machine...
Some other Dutch/English examples

The work corridor includes the entire width in front of the growing rooms and is covered by the same roof. On the other side of the work corridor, there are separate rooms containing a hot water and steam boiler, water supply, cold store, washrooms, shower rooms, etc. 
For ease of transportation, etc., the work corridor should not be too narrow; the minimum width required is 4 m. In the work corridor itself, tables for weighing, hand washing basins etc. can be placed. 
Page 140 of our book: modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting ←click for link

As in the case of walls and ceilings, the doors should be insulated properly. These doors should seal to the floor with a rubber strip, without a threshold. The doors in the back wass of the rooms should be at least 2.5 m high to facilitate the filling with slanted conveyor belts, etc.
Nowadays, however, as most shelf bed farms are using the so–called, head–end filling machine, the back doors have to be even bigger, e.g. 4.5 m wide and 3 m high. These doors hang in a special frame on rails, so that they can be lifted somewhat and then moved to the left or to the right. There are specialized companies that are making these large, insulated doors. 
Fig. 124.  Principle of the head–end filling machine, developed by THILOT (now GTL Europe) in the Netherlands, to fill full–grown compost and case simultaneously by using nylon nets in shelf beds. When this kind of equipment is used, the growing rooms need to have big or double doors. Drawing done by author (P.J.C. Vedder).

Fig. 125.  Head–end filling machine for filling modern shelf bed rooms with a layer of full–grown compost on a nylon net and put on a layer of casing soil simultaneously. The machine will be fed by 2 conveyor belts with hopper; one for casing material (left) and one for compost. DOUBLE T EQUIPMENT

Te koop wegens inruil: 1 kopvulmachine t.b.v. doorgroeide compost, tevens mogelijkheid tot gelijktijdig afdekken met dekaarde, 2 transportbanden. Thilot Holland BV Lottum.
For sale due to trade–in: 1 head–end filling machine for full–grown compost, also possibility of simultaneous covering with casing soil, 2 conveyor belts. THILOT Holland BV Lottum.


Kopvulmachine or Head–End Filling Machines

THILOT now is GTL Europe and they still produce kopvulmachines or head–end filling machines

Hoping this did clarify one more profound mushroom language word...
But it sure does prove how any error does spread worldwide as one copies from each other with the use of Scraped Content...

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Tuesday, October 31, 2023

PROFOUND MUSHROOM GROWING TERMINOLOGY and its BLOOPERS

 It is indeed a special subject Mushroom Cultivation or Mushroom Growing with its very own PROFOUND MUSHROOM GROWING TERMINOLOGY!
Since over the years numerous so–called consultants and other mushroom gurus have surfaced, it is interesting to see their use of the English language.
Showing you some BLOOPERS:
Guess this one got created by someonw with cramped fingers while typing...
fung ic lim ate soultions including
Was it that hard to type including fungi climatic solutions?
Yep, if you don't date nor label your photos—those image numbers DO SHOW...
At the beginning of flash one...
A flash light might have been used when creating this photo but correctly we say:
First Break.
Flushing is done for the transition from vegetative to generative development.
See link below post for indepth information and explanation.

Just like the use of blow–down instead of cool–down or flushing.
Pinheading should be pinning
Spraying should be watering as spraying indicates the use of pesticides.

supplement, to boost, (impregnated compost)
synthetics, synthetic compost, artificial manure
Guess with impregnated compost they just mean at the moment of spawning or after that — full–grown compost...
synthetics is used for fibers but not in here
artificial manure? Really?!
Synthetic compost means compost made without horse manure but other natural ingredients.

Head fillers kept rolling off the production lines... 
Mushroom Business is an interesting magazine!
Check out our new head filling machine
All they in fact try to convey is — the head end filling machine!

Interested in mushroom and plactic eating fungus
Interested in mushroom and plastic eating fungus
Do microorganisms really EAT?

Director Fresh food group/Bio Europe
Handel in Biologische en conveniolnele paddestoelen
Handel in Biologische en conventionele paddestoelen or Trade in Organic and Conventional Mushrooms

Trouble shouting and maintenance on Poultry, Pigs controllers, (national)
Guess he meant trouble shooting?! 


Well, if all else fails you can always get this growing assistant based on artificial intelligence.

The problem often is that it is mainly based on 'borrowed' intelligence... and mostly from just scraped content.

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Saturday, September 23, 2023

P.J.C. Vedder on Mushroom Cultivation during Technology Transfer Seminar—Pre–Wet

 Starting off, with our gratitude towards Mushrooms Canada, for allowing us to use their video.
Pieter J.C. Vedder Author of modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting (click link)
For all those that never met him in person, as an educator, see video below.
Don't forget the basics.
The basic is, and you can come up with all kind of machinery and all kind of techniques, but it is as simple as this; pre–wetting means make every piece of straw or material what you are using for making compost, wet as soon as possible—every piece of straw and cover it with some slurry, some type of nutrients for those microorganisms, who are actually doing the job
We will go over the few factors later on. Composting means that we give certain microorganisms the opportunity to do in two weeks, what they normally do in half a year; just break down that material. And you should never forget the role of mushrooms in nature. People sometimes forget what the role of mushrooms in nature is.
Also shortness of the material. Aha, so we said try in an early stage to cover every piece of material with a layer of slurry. I'm not using water—and go back to what David said: if it is a kind of a slurry then there is a better water holding capacity of the particles. Yeah, water would run off easier but if it is a kind of runoff material with already some
food, some bacteria, some germs in it—yeah it sticks better to the pieces of straw. Try to crush them but not chop it because—because for two reasons—because you can't do the same in a tunnel Phase II, as you can do in a thinner layer if that material is short and a little bit on the wet side. That is the contradiction—then you can handle Phase II maybe in such a layer but not in a higher layer
Talking about composting what you are doing is you are burning off carbohydrates—not because our mushroom could not utilize them but it is too attractive for competitors and so on. So here we start pre–wetting. Pre–wetting means more or less prepare the material for the big happening. Here you start biological
activity. Microorganisms are breaking down that kind of material and that material of course is organic material. So if you start here at the beginning with for instance a C/N ratio. Everybody I suppose understands the C/N ratio. The ratio between the amount of carbon and nitrogen. In straw the C/N ratio is more or less 80, that means 80 to 1. 80 parts carbon against one nitrogen; that is straw.

Don't forget to click on 'CC' for seeing English caption...
Best also to view on YouTube as there are clickable points built in—below video in text!

Readers and/or viewers, should realize, that such a Technology Transfer Seminar was done in a 2nd language for us. Always so for the impromptu, without paper or any note points. 
Also, answering any upcoming questions from the audience.
Try doing this, for hours on end...
You must thrive on a lot of knowledge and experience for being able to do this spontaneously, time and time again, and with the same enthusiasm as you did for the very first time!

Being mighty proud of my Pieter as one of the BEST educators. His knowledge can still help numerous mushroom growers.

Monday, April 24, 2023

Team Vedder and Our North Dakota Adventure

Yep, Team Vedder as—VEDDERS CONSULTANTS—got all kind of requests.
Our # 10 Consulting trip brought us to North Dakota where we were going to work for a mushroom farm facing bankruptcy.
On Saturday, January 9, we both left by 1:30 PM for the Atlanta Airport (a good 2 hour drive). 
Our flight went via Minneapolis/St. Paul to Grand Forks in North Dakota where we arrived by 8:50 PM.
On one of the Campbell Soup Seminars that Pieter did in October 1992—the owner had begged Pieter to come to his small mushroom farm in North Dakota—he was desperate!
They made their own compost, had 1 tunnel and 5 growing rooms of 400 m² built by the Dutch company Huub Aerts.
More than likely the son of a Pennsylvanian mushroom grower that liked to leave his Dad's old farm—sorry for his Dad—will come to manage the farm.
Don Dusek came to pick us up and together with him, another hour driving the 60 mi (96.5 km) to our Motel in Park River, North Dakota.
We both slept well and on Sunday, January 10, Don Dusek came to our motel and had breakfast with us. We went to Church with him in Pisek, together with his son and daughter—all Catholic Czechs. 
Next we had lunch and went to the mushroom farm till 3:30 PM.
There was a lot of snow and it was –25°F or about –32°C with a daytime temperature of –5°F or –20.5°C. 
By 5:00 PM we went together for supper to Ron (3rd generation Norwegian) & Renae, together with Steve.  
We got an old car from Don and we both returned to our motel.
Monday, January 11, the day started with an empty battery! Someone from the farm came over. 
After our breakfast at the Guest House we head to the farm to work.
Very busy day with the 9 harvesters. 
Pieter does some training  in the afternoon after first going over the farm.
We had supper at the guest house.
Tuesday, picked with the harvesters and visited them individually training and correcting—they opened up and start to follow my training and it goes well!
For lunch we got stuck in the snow with that old car—due to having gotten off road!
No telling where the road ends—with such a layer of snow... We don't live there.
After work we have supper at the restaurant of our motel: Don, Ron & Renae, Steve and both of us.
Wednesday January 13, Steve departed this morning, back to Pennsylvania. 
Both of us continue with our training. Very busy and working over time in room 4...
We both have supper at the motel at Alice's.
Thursday, January 14. Don's old car broke down and he came to pick us up in his pickup. 
Don was quite a figure! He actually has a gravel business! 
He went on to tell us a nice story. They were at the gravel extraction site, stone breaking when suddenly bones and skulls appeared...
They stopped and called the police as they first thought about a possible murder case.
As a result they halted the entire enterprise for days and eventually the investigation led to ancient Indians—no murder case and it all had cost him some US $ 40,000. 
So he gave his people the instruction: Whatever you see, keep grinding!
Another routine work day and we picked off room 4 entirely and cleaned the beds by removing any stumps and debris. Good feeling!
Friday, January 15, we packed and had our breakfast with Don and he drove us around for seeing a potato grading company, to which Ron was connected. That was quite impressive!
In water through concrete canals under the road they transported them into large sheds where they got sorted and bagged—heavy work! 
Too bad we had forgotten to bring our camera for this trip...
It was so huge that for every American they had 2 kilos or 4.4 pounds in stock—so impressive!
By 10:30 we did a slide presentation for the harvesters.
Farewell to a satisfied group.
My ONLY paycheck were red roses with ferns and baby's breath + card!
Thanks!
You went all out...
...and
The results were outstanding!
Training by Pieter for the men till past 7:00 PM.
Then we had dinner with them, including Sherry their daughter.
Saturday, January 16, we briefly went to the farm and Duane is now also caught up.
At 11:00 AM take off from Grand Forks and via Minneapolis/St. Paul to Atlanta.
Home by 7:00 PM and reading our mail with the fireplace on.
Just received one more letter from Ron Monson, dated January 23, 1995...

That was our North Dakota adventure!
It was quite a surprise that on Facebook one of our mushroom friends reacted to this photo from April 23, 1983 when Campbell Soup flew both of us from Camden, New Jersey to Dublin, Georgia in their corporate Learjet—40 years ago!

Still grateful for being able to read such feedback about our training after 40 years.


Related link:

Thursday, March 23, 2023

5th North American Mushroom Conference Pieter J.C. Vedder FROM CASE HOLD TO FIRST BREAK

 On March 10, 1985 after getting back from Tijuana, México we got ready for the reception of the 5th North American Mushroom Conference in San Diego, California
See below post about previous posts.
Reception where we met Pieter's Campbell Soup colleague Aron Kinrus (l) and his wife Shyfra (r).
The couple where both of us stayed for a couple of weeks before our Exodus from Pennsylvania, USA...
See post below.
Aron took this picture from the three of us...
On March 12 lectures about CROP MANAGEMENT
Pieter presented at 11:10 till 11:30—CROP MANAGEMENT FROM CASE HOLD TO FIRST BREAK
Pieter did very well and got lots of applaus and there were many in the audience.
Pieter to the left before being introduced as the next speaker by Jim Yeatman.
Jim Yeatman did visit us in Dublin, Georgia on August 10 the next year, with someone from South Africa, see post below.
Always a very interesting schedule...
On March 12 we woud end the day with DINNER AND DANCE in the Grand Ballroom
SPEAKERS & PARTICIPANTS
CONFERENCE SPONSORS
Feeling relaxed after Pieter's presentation and enjoying the Dinner–Dance
Lots of glare and even Pieter's suit got totally affected...
Again lots of glare...
But Pieter sure felt happy and relaxed after having given his presentation in the morning...
Grateful to Chairman Geoff Price for providing us with this Mushroom News September 1985 publication!
Thank you letter to Pieter:
Your presentation, "Crop Management From Case Hold to First Break," was well received and certainly contributed to the success of the conference. Your personal time and effort in preparing your talk were evident and appreciated by the committee.
Again, thank you for your contribution.
Sincerely,
Edward A. Leo
Vice Chairman, 5th NAMC
~
Casing to First Break
Pieter J.C. Vedder, Camsco (Campbell Soup) Produce Co., Dudley, Georgia
Presented at the 5th N.A.M.C. in San Diego.
In a short time I just can give you some ideas about what I think is important to reach the goal (not an easy goal) of a high yield with a good quality. Whatever growing system you have, what we all need first at the moment of casing is a good full grown compost with a moisture content of 63–66%, a pH of around 6.5 and a total nitrogen of let's say 2.2%. Because of the variation in ash content we maybe better talk about a C/N ratio of about 16 at spawning.
The plastic which was protecting the surface of the compost during spawn run from drying out and from contamination, has to be removed one or two days prior to casing to give the condensation water the opportunity to disappear.
Green molds on the surface are a sign that the compost is not selective enough, they show us that there are more easily degradable carbohydrates available because of an improper Phase I and/or Phase II, or we brought them in with the spawn grains or supplement. For that reason I don't like a heavy surface spawning; that means more as 10%. In spite of the development of different so–called slow release supplements, I prefer supplementing at spawning (if possible, of course). It is also much easier to manage the compost temperature if there is a wet casing layer on top, because we can create evaporation, which means cooling. We know that the best protection against competitor molds is a strong antagonism, buit up by the mushroom mycelium during a vigorous spawn run. I suppose that for the same reason we will have less problems with nematodes, molds, etc. and the yield will be higher after a 14 day spawn run as compared with e.g. 10 or 11 days.
I prefer a not too fluffy, somewhat heavy, casing material with a certain "body," because that has, in my opinion, a positive effect on the quality of the mushrooms. Very important also is that the material has a good water holding capacity. A mixture of not too fine peat moss and e.g. 20–25% spent lime, a by–product of the sugar industry, gives nice casing material. We prefer a pH in the 7.2–7.3 range for our casing material. It is much easier to maintain the right, high moisture content if the casing layer has a depth of at least 1 ½ inch (3.8 cm) or even better 1 ¾ of an inch (4.5 cm).
To produce a good quality mushroom with a better shelf life and also to avoid blotch, etc., we don't like to water the beds for a certain period of time prior to harvesting. That means that we need a moisture reserve in the casing layer, especially for a heavy first break. Growers often talk about the need for material with a better water holding capacity. The easiest way to increase the water holding capacity is to make the casing layer somewhat thicker. (This will change maybe with the new synthetic polymers recently available on the market).
Although it is known that the mushrooms take most of the water out of the compost, a firm casing layer with a good water holding capacity is very important.

In my opinion, in most of the cases the disadvantages of steaming the casing material are still bigger than the advantages. Steaming makes the casing material more sensitive for a new contamination; is affecting the water holding capacity and structure negatively and cost a lot of money on top of that. If the casing material is heavily contaminated with bubble, nematodes, or something like that, we should search for another source or revise the farm hygiene. With a good sanitation program and a vigorous spawn run there is most times no need for this costly technique.
The consequence of filling the trays or beds with fully grown compost or supplementing at casing is that we disturb and damage the mycelium in the compost. We have to give the mycelium some time to recover and re–colonize the compost surface, so better we don't water heavily just after casing. I prefer therefore a casing material with a moisture content of at east 75% or even more. (Of course if we are able to handle such a wet material).
The objective for the first couple of days after casing is to get a good inter–connecting mycelial growth between the compost and casing. As long as the casing material is not really saturated we have to water the beds several times in the days after casing. It is very important however that excessive water is not added which will run through the casing and rest on top of the compost, thereby causing a delay in mycelial growth and creating a somewhat greasy layer ideal for e.g. nematodes. This is possibly the main reason for a well wetted material at the time of application to the beds.
A somewhat sealed surface the first week after casing seems to be preferable. A high level of metabolics, produced by the growing mycelium, seems to stimulate the micro–organisms in the casing layer, which have a positive effect on fructification. After casing, we should manage the air temperature that way that the main part of the compost and casing material is in the 76–80°F (24.4–26.6°C) area. For the vegetative stage, we prefer a high relative humidity and also a high carbon dioxide concentration; high means above 3000–4000 PPM or even higher. Ventilation, that means supplying fresh air, is therefore only necessary if the compost temperature is rising too high. 
This sometimes creates a problem. If the temperature, for whatever reason, is rising too high 6–7 days after casing, one has to open the vents to bring the bed temperature in line. This however often is initiating fructification rather deep in the casing layer. If we flush again, then we initiate a second layer of pins over the deeper formed first layer, thus the so–called double pinning. To avoid this problem we should have the opportunity for internal cooling without using fresh air. What we can do if we do not have that possibility is cool down the beds till e.g. 70°F (21°C) at day 5–6 so that we have some extra time to keep the room closed prior to flushing.
Very important in relation to this problem is a good selective compost and spawn run of at least 14–15 days. For this reason, it possibly will be better to stay away from supplementing during the summer. High temperature spots are normally not the result of the growth of the mushroom mycelium but are most times showing the activity of competitor molds, indicating a lack of selectivity as the result of an improper Phase I and Phase II.
We all are looking for a good first break, say around 2.5–3.0 lbs per square foot, and at the same time, a good quality mushroom.  You can only have this if the mushrooms are spread very even over the bed surface; no clumps, or heavy clusters and no bare spots. With traditional casing methods, the arrival of the mycelium at the surface 6–7 days after casing tends to be uneven, and a compromise between advanced and backward parts must be reached. Shallow patches will show mycelium at the surface well in advance of deep areas.
In relation to this problem, we have good experience with the deep scratching or ruffling technique. As soon as the mycelium has developed about three quarters of the way into the casing layer, which is most times the case 5–7 days after casing, we mix in the mycelium and by doing so, simultaneously break up the surface compaction. An equal distribution of mycelium throughout the casing layer ensures that all mycelium at the bed surface is at the same stage of development. As a result, competition among mushroom initials is equalized, allowing even development without clumping or under pinning.
We have to realize that deep scratching or ruffling cannot compensate for an uneven compost and/or casing layer. Lack of evenness at the bed surface is most times created at filling or spawning. Patching or dust–covering is in my opinion not a good solution for this problem.
The modern shelf beds with metal side boards give of course the best opportunity for leveling and deep scratching and as the result of that, an even break. Even watering can be mechanized then.
After scratching, we have to give the mycelium the opportunity to restore and come up to the surface of the casing layer. To reach that goal, we maintain the optimum climate for the vegetative growth, so high CO₂ level, high relative humidity, and temperature in the mid 70's (24°C) for another 24 or more hours.
Fructification is the result of a combination of different factors as there are; temperature, CO₂–concentration, relative humidity (that means evaporation rate), micro–organisms, etc.

To ensure the occurrence of clean mushrooms, initiating of fruit bodies should occur on or near the surface of the casing layer. The flushing technique depends not only on the strain, but also on the ability to control the environment. With the strain we grow, we prefer a somewhat soft flush.
We don't like over pinning, 66 pieces per pound instead of 30, but on the other hand, to get the necessary quantity in the first break, let's say between 2.5 and 3.0 lbs., we need a certain number of fruit bodies. As a rule of thumb, we can say that lower temperatures and lower CO₂ concentrations give more fruit bodies. Stroma is most times the result of high CO₂ concentrations, high relative humidity, and too late flushing.


Related links:
Part III - Highveld Mushrooms in Bryanston, South Africa | previous post by me with photo of Jim Yeatman visiting us at our home...

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