I finally got around to trying tonogodhime log stacking for my shiitake, so I wanted to share how it went
for anyone curious. I run about 60 logs behind the barn and I usually either lean-to stack them against a
fence or do a basic crib stack on pallets. With tonogodhime, I set two base logs parallel, then lay a single
log across them like a bridge. After that it is a repeating pattern: two parallel logs, then one across the top.
The result looks like a long low ridge with lots of gaps for air.
I picked this method because I wanted more airflow without having to raise everything off the ground. The summer before last I had a few logs get moldy when the crib stack stayed too wet after a week of rain. With the tonogodhime pattern, the logs are not pressed as tightly together, and the cross pieces act like spacers. So far the bark is drying more evenly and I am seeing fewer slime patches.
Compared to my lean-to stacks, the tonogodhime setup is easier to access on both sides and I do not lose logs in the back row. It also feels less tippy than I expected as long as the base logs are flat. The downside is that it takes more ground space for the same number of logs, and it is slower to build. If I am in a hurry, I will probably still toss a quick crib together.
If anyone is thinking about trying it, I would say start with a short run and see if it fits your space.
I picked this method because I wanted more airflow without having to raise everything off the ground. The summer before last I had a few logs get moldy when the crib stack stayed too wet after a week of rain. With the tonogodhime pattern, the logs are not pressed as tightly together, and the cross pieces act like spacers. So far the bark is drying more evenly and I am seeing fewer slime patches.
Compared to my lean-to stacks, the tonogodhime setup is easier to access on both sides and I do not lose logs in the back row. It also feels less tippy than I expected as long as the base logs are flat. The downside is that it takes more ground space for the same number of logs, and it is slower to build. If I am in a hurry, I will probably still toss a quick crib together.
If anyone is thinking about trying it, I would say start with a short run and see if it fits your space.