{"id":3209,"date":"2019-05-17T00:12:17","date_gmt":"2019-05-17T07:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/pal-question-841\/"},"modified":"2024-01-27T12:52:09","modified_gmt":"2024-01-27T20:52:09","slug":"on-sourcing-oak-logs","status":"publish","type":"pal","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/on-sourcing-oak-logs\/","title":{"rendered":"on sourcing oak logs"},"content":{"rendered":"

I am looking for advice on how to obtain an oak log or two. I got some shiitake mushroom starter plugs at the garden show in Seattle, and it seems that they grow best on oak logs. But I am having the hardest time trying to find one or two oak logs to plant them in. I’ve tried craigslist, and can’t seem to find a thing. My tree identification skills are not exactly up to par, and I don’t know the rules for cutting parts of trees in the forest, so I wonder if you have any advice for a novice mushroom grower. I really only need two logs, about 6 inches in diameter and maybe 3-4 feet long. This is proving to be a much more daunting task than I ever imagined!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Have you tried contacting Plant Amnesty<\/a>? They maintain a list of certified arborists, some of whom will probably have occasion to prune or cut down an oak tree at some point. That might be one way of obtaining a log.<\/p>\n

You might also try posting on the Pacific Northwest Garden Exchange<\/a> (watch out–annoying ads!).<\/p>\n

As far as cutting branches on public forest land, you should contact the Washington Department of Natural Resources before proceeding. They have information on harvesting and collecting forest products<\/a>, and how to obtain a firewood permit.<\/a><\/p>\n

Once oak trees have leafed out fully, they should be easier to identify. See the following tree identification guides:<\/p>\n