Hello Heidi,
You don't need to "sustain" the fruiting bodies for two weeks. Mine usually are ripe for picking in about 4-6 days from primordia
formation. Wheat straw is a very productive medium, and I've harvested up to 4 flushes from a small kit- weighing 6 or 7 pounds and up to 8 flushes from a large 70-80 lb "column". Also using Grain spawn as opposed to sawdust spawn will start you out with way more nutrition and increase yield.
Wheat straw is pasteurized in hot water for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Heat water to 175 degrees, add straw, submerge and weigh it down. let sit,
for about two hours, remove to cool and dry. Pasteurizing in a mesh laundry bag makes it easy to handle and remove. Next add spawn, and pack it into your container... A 5 gallon bucket with holes drilled could be reused. Oysters don't require a cold shock in the fridge, like shiitakes.
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