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.

P.J.C. Vedder on Mushroom Cultivation during Technology Transfer Seminar part 1 ←click link for watching video

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.

In Memory of my BEST Role Model EVER

 On July 27 of 1969, I lost one of my most favorite people...

Heeroom or Lord Uncle as we respectfully called him.

In my previous post I did already introduce him: {March 14, Written Life Message for me by my Favorite Great-Uncle}

At the age of twelve, he began his gymnastic studies on September 27, 1915 in the mission house Saint Willibrord in Uden. Just two months after he'd lost his Dad who passed away at age 47...

On September 8, 1923, he was dressed as a novice in the mission house Saint Lambertus in Helvoirt. There he also took his first Vows on September 8, 1925. After the novitiate and philosophy, he left for Teteringen in 1926, to the mission house Saint Francis Xavier for the four years of theology. He took the Eternal Vows on September 8, 1928. He was ordained priest by Monsignor Petrus Hopmans, bishop of Breda on February 3, 1929.

On October 12 of that year he left for Rome for higher studies at the Gregoriana and obtained the doctorate in canon law in two years. Back in Teteringen on July 29, 1931, he began teaching morality and law. Overworked, he had to give up his teaching post after four years. He goes to seek peace in Soesterberg, first as an assistant in the parish of Hamersveld. Later he was able to teach Greek.

Father Jan Nelissen on his horse in Timor, Indonesia

(NVC March 23) In the Limburg Illustration of 1929 there was this photo of neomist Nelissen with his family. To the left of mother Nelissen is Dean Creemers. To the right of Father Nelissen (with white choir shirt) chaplain Leesens can still be seen.

Limburger Koerier, April 4, 1929 (Limburger Courier)

Horst,—First Mass. On Easter Day, March 31, the First Mass was celebrated here in the parish Church of St. Lambertus by your Reverence Father J. Nelissen. Preceded by the harmony (orchestration), which for the first time helped to grace such a feast, the newly ordained priest was picked up at the presbytery by brides, shepherds and the clergy of the parish, including Mgr. Hoogers, Ap. Prefect in China, who is currently staying here. The fest ceremony was held by Father v.d. Laar from the Mission House in Uden. After the solemn high mass, the youthful priest was led with the same procession to the parental home, where an appropriate verse was said by one of the brides, after which the neomist addressed a word of thanks to all and gave his first priestly blessing.

Heeroom with family on March 31, 1929 when he did his first Holy Mass in his home town of Horst.

Second row from top his older brother Handrie is seen next to him and his Mother, widow since Heeroom was 12 (my Dad's maternal Grandmother wears a lace toer or poffer), and another Priest. Dad's eldest sister (as a bride) and Dad's Mom, sister from Heeroom. Dad's first cousin Piet Poels to the right with his wooden leg.

Heeroom is holding his hands on the shoulder of Dad's younger sister Nel (as a bride) and the little one next to her is Dien, another of Dad's first cousin I guess.

Seated left to right is Dad's younger brother Jeu and first cousin Jan Poels, Hermans, my Dad with his folded hands, Dad's younger brother Jack and first cousin Nel Poels.

Standing in back is Aunt Anna & Uncle Lei Nelissen, Aunt Ciska (wife of Uncle Handrie), Aunt Bertha (Nelissen), Aunt Anna (Nelissen), Uncle Louis, Dad's Father, Uncle Leonards & Aunt Marie (Nelissen).

September 20, 1938 departure to Timor, Indonesia as a missionary

In memory of my departure to the Mission of Timor

September 1938

P. Jan Nelissen S.V.D. (Society of the Divine Word).

Farewell of all Steyler Missionaries Autumn 1938 as they're sent off into their Mission

Heeroom is 2nd row from bottom, 14th

All names being mentioned here from bottom up and from left to right.

Mooi Limburg 24 September, 1938

Beautiful Limburg published it on September 24, 1938:

Two Missionaries from Horst left this month for their Mission station on the small Sunda Islands. Above the Reverend Father Vostermans S.V.D.; below the Reverend Father Dr. J. Nelissen S.V.D. left for Timor (Indonesia) on September 20.

Yes, on September 20, 1938 it was departure from Antwerp, Belgium on the 'Coburg' a freight ship, for Timor, Indonesia.

He ended up in the station of Lahoeroes. 

After the invasion of the Japanese, all Dutch missionaries from Timor were interned on May 24, 1942 in Atambua and transferred to a camp at Makassar on Sulawesi in early September.

They were first able to return to Timor on November 18, 1945—3.5 years later...

Het Geheugen ←click link

No. 5: Cemetery under the mango (Kali Bodjo January 1945).

After the dysentery epidemic.

Found in a blog post, written by Father Jan Van Zeeland SVD this:

Father Jan Nelissen SVD writes on October 30, 1945: "In the cemetery of Kali Bodjo, under a mango tree, are buried fathers Jacob de Bruin, Henk Greuter, Antoon Hinke, Willem Martens, Leo van Well and brother Crispinus de Wilde".

Het Geheugen ←click link

No. 6: Entrance in our barack of block IV in Kali Bodjo: a bamboo construction, with lines of laundry inside: museon omniversum ←click link

No. 10: 2 Baracks in Kali Bodjo. Little street between block 5 and 6. February 1945: museon omniversum ←click link

Father Jan Nelissen to the right in 1947 in Lahoeroes, Timor/Indonesia

Jan Nelissen arrives on leave in The Netherlands on March 24, 1948 and leaves for Timor on April 27, 1949 from Rotterdam with the passenger ship m.s. 'Sibajak'.

Meanwhile he did marry my Parents on Saturday, February 26, 1949. 

Second departure to Timor on April 21, 1949

Jan Nelissen did not only work in ordinary soul care. He participated in the administration of the region and from 1957 was spiritual leader of the minor seminary of Lalian. 

It is currently impossible to determine which mission stations he had due to a lack of data. In any case, he was pastor in Kupang from 1962 to 1966. Together with Father Cor Kooy, also from Timor, Jan Nelissen lands at Schiphol on November 30, 1962.

That is when he wrote Life Message for me in my poetry album on March 14, 1963.

In an informative Pdf by Van Klinken The Making of Middle Indonesia: ←(click on link) I found the following on page 211:

'If some time I were to tell you to kill the Catholic priest would you do it?³

³ Interview with Eleanor Toma, Buraen, 21 June 2009. This could refer to the then 65 year old SVD priest Johann Nelissen.

The above is quite shocking to read!

July 27, 1969 in Manila, Philippines

Father Dr. Sjang Nelissen SVD

Petrus Johannes Hubertus Nelissen was born in Horst 11 June 1903. After studying in Uden, Helvoirt and Teteringen, he was ordained a priest on 3 February 1929. Study in canon law in Rome complemented his education. As a professor in Teteringen he trained missionaries, but he asked too much of his strength and was only able to fulfill that function for four years. In 1938 he left for Indonesia and was a missionary in Timor until his death; in all kinds of positions — pastor, spiritual director at the minor seminary, leader in the Timor region, advisor to several bishops — he gave his best efforts. The last work that called him to Manila was also for the mission, which he served with all his strength, meticulousness, devotion to duty, and priestly devotion.

We pray that the Lord may lead this quiet worker, who did not allow himself rest, to find peace in His Kingdom.

And then suddenly this working life comes to an end.

At the request of the General Chapter, Jan left for the Philippines as a member of the Legal Committee to prepare a new mission statute. He arrived in Tagatay, 60 km from Manila, on July 12. He did not look well and complained about pain in the kidney area. He was taken to Lourdes Hospital in Manila, a hospital of our Blue Sisters (SSpS). It was not possible to remove a large stone by natural means.

Surgery was necessary: a kidney did not work or hardly worked because of stones. On Saturday, July 27, 1969, the day he was to be operated on, he died suddenly. "Because his kidneys were no longer working properly, the whole body was gradually poisoned and his heart, which was already not strong, could no longer process it" (Father Wim Vergoossen S.V.D, SVD-niews nr. 235, p. 9).

"I was standing next to his bed in the last moments and he could only shout twice: "Oh, my God" and then a little later: "Pray for me". 

He died at ten o'clock in the morning. 

Later we heard that Father Nelissen had died of pulmonary embolism (Letter from Father Jos Diaz Viera S.V.D.).

Because it was Saturday, he was being buried the same day on the cemetery of our Mission House in Manila. On Sunday there were 8 Masses in that Church!

In the Seminary chapel with the sisters from the island of Flores/Indonesia, priest and Dutch Ambassador family

Dad showed me these photos in 2019 with text on back, explaining.

Coffin still open and Florinese sisters, Father and Family of Dutch Ambassador gave him the last salute...

On the way to the cemetery and the celebrant was me... (wish he'd filled his name!).

At the cemetery Christ the King, Manila

Before the tomb was closed.

A family of the Dutch Ambassador in Manila was there.

R.I.P.

ONE DAY WE WILL MEET AGAIN!

With lots of respect, your great–niece 💞

Related links:

{My OPA - GRANDDADDY} | Previous post by me also showing things from Heeroom that I still keep!

Dad Sang Solo on Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary | previous post by me

{My Paternal Great-Grandmothers wearing their Lace Toer} | previous post by me

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:

Arriving at Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel, San Diego, California for 5th North American Mushroom Conference | previous post by me

Special Mushroom Friends Don and Donna Richards | previous post by me

Fond Memories of our 1st Trip into México - Tijuana | previous post by me

Update After my Biking Accident and Our Exodus from Pennsylvania, USA to Start Our Life in Italy | previous post by me

{Antique 19th Century Silver Toast Rack Replica, Made in Kotagede, Indonesia} | previous post by me with Geoff Price...

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