SVIMS Log Inoculation Workshop 2024

by SVIMS events

Approximately 25 SVIMS members gathered in morning and afternoon classes held at Steve Fischer’s home in the Blenkinsop Valley. Their goal was to learn how to create mushroom-bearing logs.

In the days leading up to the workshop, Steve got ready for the class by gathering and cleaning fresh-cut alder, preparing all the equipment, and ordering fresh oyster and shiitake spawn. Steve and his assistants–Andrew Anderson, Bob Jeffs, and Steve Strybosch–drilled the logs and helped participants inoculate them. Steve introduced the group to a new log-sealing technique using bentonite clay.

The weather was quite rainy in the morning, but Steve was prepared for it. He had set up tarps to keep class members relatively dry and comfortable. The rain subsided in the afternoon, but the wind picked up and temperatures dropped. In spite of the weather, everyone left the workshop happy and satisfied, carrying their own logs freshly inoculated with oyster or shiitake spawn.

Steve shows the group his mushroom log collection.
The morning class was thankful for the tarps that Steven had set up.
Leya happily sealing up her inoculated log.
Steve teaches the people the next procedure, the bentonite clay application
Sawdust spawn used to inject into the alder logs.

SVIMS Annual Survivors’ Banquet

by SVIMS events

January 13th, 2024

Open to active members plus 1 guest per member

Sign up via link on January 2 email.

Sign up by January 10.

 

Where?

St Luke’s Anglican Church Hall

3821 Cedar Hill Cross Rd

Victoria

 

Schedule

  • 4:45pm arrivals begin
  • 5:30pm main course  
  • 6:30 approx – Gift exchange
  • 8:30pm – Take down – volunteers needed!
  • (4-4:45pm set up – volunteers needed)

 

What to bring?

  • Your own: cutlery, napkins, mug/cup, bowl, plate. BYOB/Drinks, tea or coffee.
  • One dish (main or dessert) that will feed avg 6 people.
    • Must include a displayed list of ingredients!
    • May or may not include edible mushrooms. 
    • Serving utensils for your dish.
  • A gift for the raffle/gift exchange
    • Handmade, refurbished, new or regifted gift baskets or individual items.  Examples: books, puzzles, survival gear, soaps, teas, libations, squashes, dried mushrooms, walking sticks, artwork …
  • Cash or card for the raffle/gift exchange tickets
    • 2$ each ticket, 3 for 5$ and 10 for 15$. This is a fundraiser and a funraiser.
    • It is not mandatory to participate in the gift exchange
    • There is a draw for gifts, but the gift you win is likely to be exchanged by a later winner (the fun part).

 

 

The kitchen will be available for use of minor items, such as:

  • Sink 
  • Water
  • Kettle
  • Coffee maker
  • Fridge
  • Stove top

 

Please clean what you use.  The club pays extra for the use of the kitchen. 

Thank you!

 

SVIMS Mushroom Show Returns to RBCM

by SVIMS events

Newcombe Conference Hall in the Royal BC Museum became the site for the SVIMS 2023 mushroom show. This was a return to RBCM for SVIMS–the show was at the museum in the 1990s. The 2023 show was the capstone event of a wide-ranging RBCM Fungi Fest that included the opening of a new IMAX film on mushrooms, a mushroom walk, and two noontime lectures.

This year’s event was, without doubt, the most stylish show ever, thanks to some new table signage prepared by Leya Costa, the species cards created in 2022, and elegant posters coordinated by show runner Andrew Anderson.

In the days before the show, SVIMS colllectors ranged far and wide to harvest the show mushrooms. Setup for the show was on Saturday, October 21. Workers arrived about noon and quickly assembled the displays.  The mushrooms were arranged on small paper boats and plates. Identifiers worked to put names to the more than 200 species that were brought in.

After the doors to the show opened at 10 am on Sunday, nearly a thousand visitors streamed through the displays, smelling and touching the mushrooms, asking questions to the SVIMS members behind the tables, and lugging in mushrooms to be identified. Visitors were able to buy the new SVIMS calendar and take out SVIMS membships. Displays at the edges of the room attracted children and foragers. Beginning at noon, short illustrated talks by five different SVIMS members–to capacity audiences–took place in the room next to the bookstore. 

Visitors walking through the doors of the RBCM were guided to Newcombe Conference Hall by a series of posters.
A big thanks to the many, many SVIMS members who contributed their time and effort to make the show a success. And also the the staff from the RBMC, who worked throughout the day to ensure that everything worked smoothly. (Photos by Steve Strybosch).
As the mushrooms were brought in on Saturday, SVIMS volunteers identified them, attached ID cards, and arranged them on the display tables.
The final display sat overnight at the museum, waiting for the morning rush of visitors.
A new addition this year--wooden pedestals to hold some of the specimens above the table.
The show in progress.
The show featured more than a dozen good edibles, such as this Bleeding Milk Cap.
People also learned that some mushrooms found around Victoria should never be eaten.
Andy works the ID table behind one of the new tent signs. Is it Andy or the mushroom that is "currently unidentified?"

SVIMS President’s Picnic, 2023

by SVIMS events

The 2023 SVIMS President’s Picnic was a big hit this year. It was hosted, as custom dictates, by the current president (Mel Hesz). This time it took place at the home of ex-president Andy MacKinnon. Forty to fifty people showed up at Andy and Mairi’s beautiful property overlooking Metchosin’s Witty’s Lagoon. People brought an amazing variety of creative dishes for the lunch.

Finding the best shade on a warm day
Early birds get the table.
Maggy McGee's cupcakes

SVIMS Log Inoculation Workshop

by SVIMS events

Svims members met for a log inoculation workshop on Saturday March 18, 2023. It was graciously hosted by Steve Fischer on a beautiful, almost official spring day in the lovely Blenkinsop Valley. There were morning and afternoon classes of eager SVIMS members. They started with a couple of piles of fresh-cut alder and cottonwood. 

During the classes, attendees learned about log inoculation techniques. They asked questions about the different methods of inoculation, the spawn, types of substrate, and the best habitat for storing the logs. Everyone then went to work, inoculating oyster and shiitake spawn into their logs using the drill-and-fill method. Steve Fischer demonstrated different inoculation techniques, including the curve-cut method and the totems-sealed-with-clay method. 

Participants hope to see some fruitification of their efforts next spring or fall! Thanks to all who helped out procuring logs, equipment and assistance.

The setting
The end result, brought back in a time machine from a year in the future.
Happy pluggers.
Logs waiting for inoculation
Steve demonstrates