Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) grow on various kinds of substrates. They are saprotrophic, meaning they feed on dead organic matter like wood and other plant debris which are made of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The decomposition of these substances releases nutrients and minerals. There are a few parasitic oyster mushrooms that eat bacteria and nematodes. Oyster mushrooms are used in mycoremediation and are known to remove contaminants in soil, water, and wastewater. In this video, we used spent corn cobs as the substrate or medium. The substrate and grains provide nutrients to the mycelium to grow and establish to produce fruiting bodies 🍄🍄. This structure allows exposure to air, temperature, and humidity. The corn cobs were soaked in food-grade hydrogen peroxide solution for 20 minutes, drained, and then pasteurized in boiling water for 2 hours. (Soaking solution: 1 cup food-grade hydrogen peroxide to 64 oz. water) The grain spawn (rye grains inoculated with mushroom mycelium) is added between the layers at a ratio of 25% grain spawn to 75% corn cobs. After the corn cobs are inoculated with the grain, it is put in an undisturbed area with temperatures between 65–75 F to allow colonization. This is the incubation period which can range from 2 to 4 weeks depending on the environment. Four ½” holes were cut out from the lid of the container to allow air circulation. Grey Dove or Blue Oyster mushrooms need a cold shock to stimulate fruiting, we put the container in the refrigerator for two days. It was placed in a well-lit area away from direct sunlight with the lid off. The air has been dry with our heater on and had to mist it with water 4-5 times daily. Some of the caps started cracking due to a lack of humidity. The container was kept in an open plastic bag for fresh air exchange and to retain moisture. The whole process took approximately 5 weeks. Make sure your working area and tools are clean and sterilized. We sprayed and wiped the counter, container, lid, and tongs with 70% isopropyl alcohol and wore gloves and disposable face masks. #shorts #mushroom #fungi #pleurotusostreatus #pleurotus #fungi #nofoodwaste #sustainability #foodwaste