Beau M. Davidson wrote:As part of the 2024 Permaculture Technology Jamboree, we conducted expirements in growing giant, interlocking lego-shaped mycelium blocks, for structural and insulative applications. Materials requirements dictated that we purse natural form boxes and natural/reused/reusable liner possibilities. Lots of long-shots and wildcards in this one, resulting in lots of success in wisdom gained and lessons learned, while ultimately arriving at 83.33% objective failure.
We can expand on this as needed, but for now I just want to jot down some notes and post some pictures while it's fresh.
Paul has been talking for a couple years now about making giant mycelium legos. So this year we gave it a go.
We custom-fabricated 12 cedar boxes with hinged sides and removable tops & bottoms to expirement with different lining materials. Those materials were:
- beeswax, rubbed on
- beeswax, brushed on
- clay
- fresh linseed oil
- cured linseed oil
- dust (top/bottom) & fabric (sides)
- parchment paper
- no liner (wood only)
- first-use plastic, 6-mil
- reused plastic, grocery sacks
- reused plastic, mushroom grow bags
- reused plastic, Dave's Killer Bread bags
Full disclosure, I was skeptical about all of these except the plastics, both due to adherance/release issues and biocontamination. Furthermore, I was skeptical about any advantages about using a lego shape in general, because I foresaw trouble in getting the mycoblocks cleanly out of the nubby bits, and because I see the advantages of mycelial properties of blocks growing together as negating many structural advantages of interlocking. Nevertheless, we persisted, knowing that even if we experience large-scale failure as I expected, that we would: a. learn some things, and
b. maybe get a few solid lego-ish blocks out of the deal, for cool-factor if nothing else.
In the end, several boxes failed due to structureal isssues like adhering to the box/liner, several boxes failed due to biological issues like contamination or anti-fungal liner properties, and several boxes just didn't come together very well for a variety of reasons. We had 5 boxes that were inadequately coalesced, or contaminated, but nonetheless in largely lego-shapes. Those we stacked as a wall for further experimentation. And 2 boxes came out in quite decent shape, showing promise of retaining full lego-shape with no known contamination. These 2 best samples, we observe and record as they dry out independtly to see if they will "lock" together in any way, shape or form.
Cool, that's the nutshell. Here's some pictures.
Special thanks to PTJ Attendees Mike, Krista, Angela, and Jason, as well as boots Stephen, Brian, Rio, Carissa, & Ben for making it happen.
And an extra-special thanks to Sam & Becca at Blood Veil Fungi for providing innoculated substrate from their wonderful mushroom farm in Ronan, MT. You guys rock.
Jeremy VanGelder wrote:I've brewed several new batches this winter. I pick new leaves on occasion and add them to the bucket on my porch. The system works when I remember to brew a new batch.
Anita Martin wrote:
I have eaten natto and all kinds of fermented stuff, but have never eaten a typical northern German "Grünkohl mit Pinkel", a dish made with kale and some kind of sausage.