First time building tonogodhime - how I did it

HedgeRow first season
Posted: May 6, 2002 ยท 7:12 AM
I wanted to explain tonogodhime for anyone else who is new to it. I stacked my shiitake logs in 2x2 pairs, then turned the next layer 90 degrees so it makes a little log-cabin square. No posts, no wire, just the logs holding each other up. I kept the stack about three layers tall so it stayed easy to reach.

I picked this layout because I have uneven ground and I did not want to build a rack. The alternating 2x2 layers settled into the soil and stayed put. It also leaves pockets of air between each layer, which is what I wanted after a damp spring. Compared to leaning stacks, I like that it is freestanding and I can harvest from all sides. Compared to a crib, it is simpler to set up and I do not need pallets.

So far it feels like a good balance of airflow and stability. If you have a small pile of logs and want something straightforward, this was easy to do in one afternoon.