When you receive your spawn examine it carefully. The bag should be completely sealed. The spawn itself should be a relatively uniform mixture of brownish sawdust with whitish mycelium growing through it. There should be no green, grey, black or other unusual areas on the spawn. The spawn you have received is at its peak for use as an inoculant. If you do not intend to use it within the next 5 days refrigerate it at 2-50C. The spawn will keep for a few months, however immediate use is recommended because as the spawn matures/ages it becomes more and ‘bound’ by the mycelial hyphae. It will become very difficult to handle and use. Cold temperature will inhibit the development of the mycelial hyphae. When the hyphal development progresses too far it can be difficult to break the spawn apart so that it is loose and friable and with a small enough particle size to work your inoculation tool and to insert the spawn into the holes in your logs; ‘bound’ spawn can be processed in a blender or food processor if necessary. However, we recommend that the spawn be used as soon as possible – within 5 days of receipt is best. If the spawn has been stored refrigerated, bring it to room temperature for a few days before using it.

Handle the spawn to minimize exposure to ubiquitous contaminants such as bacteria and especially mould spores and to prevent dehydration. Use the following rules to protect the spawn:

• before opening, wipe the outside of the bag with a dilute bleach solution and carry the bag to your inoculation site in a clean bucket; keep the bag in a cool, shaded location
• wash your hands and periodically rinse tools coming in contact with the spawn
• before opening and immediately before inoculation gently break the spawn up through the bag by manipulating the bag with your fingers; you can also shake/agitate the bag so spawn is loose and friable; the ‘grain’ size of the spawn should be quite small and it should break up fairly easily and not form clumps that are difficult to break apart; it should be moist but not wet; ‘bound’ or ‘clumped’ spawn can be pulsed in a food processor
• schedule inoculation sessions to allow enough time to completely use the spawn in a particular bag in a single session and/or remove spawn from the bag in small batches as you use it, perhaps in a clean plastic container; keep the bag closed after each removal and never put any spawn back in the bag for use later

This spawn is used to inoculate hardwood logs that were cut when dormant – after leaf fall and before leaf bud and that have rested for at least 1 month. The method described here is ‘drill & fill’ method. You need a drill with a 12.5 or a 13.5 mm (or ½ inch) bit and an inoculation tool. A depth stop on the drill bit is helpful in order to drill holes to a depth of 1 and 1/8th inches or 28.5 mm. The holes MUST be sealed with cheese or bees wax or with a Styrofoam tab to prevent spawn from drying out. Drill holes 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) apart, in ‘offset’ rows that are 5 – 7.5 cm (2 – 3 inches) apart. The holes should form a diamond pattern as in the diagram below. Extra holes can be drilled around knots or similar irregularities in the log. Drilling more holes with a larger bit will speed the spawn run; one expert recommends doubling the inoculation rate for Lion’s Mane.