Shiitake Mushrooms at Rolling Hill Farm 

Abundant Oak and Sweet Gum trees, some of mushrooms favorite growing mediums, led us to choose Shiitake mushrooms as the first organic produce from Rolling Hill Farm.  "Shii" means oak in Japanese.  During the Winter of 2006, approximately 680 Sweet Gum and Oak logs were inoculated with certified organic Shiitake Mushroom spawn from Field & Forest Products http://www.fieldforest.net/. 

The Fall 2006 harvest will be from  WR 46 spawn.  WR stands for Wide Range.  This spawn is said to offer a bountiful first harvest and is one of the best all-around performers.  We hope to harvest this WR 46 again in mid-spring  and summer 2007 

September 2006: The Shiitake have arrived!!!!!  We didn't expect them to come in so soon.

October 2006:  We are giving away many fresh shiitake and dehydrating as much as we can.  We harvested as much as 10 pounds a day.

March/April 2007:  Here they come again!  But it's been a dry season.  We're about 5 inches below normal in rainfall.  Hoping for rain!  We may selectively soak logs to encourage spawning.

May 2007: Logs are being soaked.  Rain has come to ease the early drought, but the Shiitake needed more water.  Results soon!

April 2008: The drought in Virginia took a toll on our Shiitake production!  We had enough to barter with another local farmer for our small livestock needs.  We hope this Spring's RAIN will boost our next crop.

CALL OR EMAIL celestekennedy@rollinghillfarm.com