tables, minor edit

README.mdown

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # HomeMyco
 
 A [homebrewer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebrewing)'s take on practical home cultivation of [mycelium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycelium) and their [mushrooms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushroom).
+You don't have to follow every step in this guide but you should because it's fun.
 
 # Always a Risk of Contamination
 
@@ -14,49 +15,52 @@ Contaminated spawn is easily discarded and replaced.
 
 As a result of the above hubris we triple our efforts.
 
-- When making [colonization jars](#grain-spawn) make at least two for each sample we wish to [colonize](#colonizing).
+- Make at least two agar slants or liquid cultures for each sample we wish to test.
 
-- When making [agar slants](#agar-slants) or [liquid cultures](#liquid-cultures) make at least two for each sample.
+- Make at least two colonization jars for each sample we wish to colonize.
 
-- Make and save at least one of the above as a control for testing your sanitation.
+- Make one extra of the above as a control for testing your sanitation.
 
 It is OK.
 Seed spawn, agar, and sugar water are inexpensive.
+All other equipment can be reused.
 
-Saving a control spawn medium, both [grain spawns](#grain-spawn) and [culture mediums](#culture-mediums), will help you test for contamination introduced through your technique.
+Saving a control spawn medium will help you test for contamination introduced through your technique.
 If all fares well you can always end up using it.
 
+Spawn medium refers to any growing surface, such as grain spawn or culture mediums.
+
 # Finding Samples
 
 - [ ] mycelium sample
 
-At the beginning of each section is a checklist of what to buy.
+Each section starts with a checklist of what to buy.
-At the end of the document there will be a combined checklist.
+The end of this document has a combined checklist.
 
-Newbies should start with store bought mushrooms.
+Newbies should start with grocery store mushrooms.
 This will allow you to walk through the methods without fear of wasting a sample.
-Getting other samples should not be difficult but it is quite frustrating to discover all if the sanitary steps were made in vain when a contaminated sample was the source.
+Getting other samples should not be difficult but it is quite frustrating to discover all the precautions were made in vain when a contaminated sample was the source.
-Of course, there is always the risk of a contaminated store bought sample.
+Of course there is always the risk of contaminated grocery store mushrooms.
 
 Online shopping can get you all sorts of sample types ranging from spawn grains and liquid culture to spores and dried mushrooms.
 When paying good money for a sample try to find liquid culture as they have a pretty good colonization rate.
 
-Eventually you will want to make your own cultures from the spores of your harvested mushrooms.
+Eventually you will want to make your own cultures from your harvested mushrooms.
 
 # Sanitize Your Workspace
 
 - [ ] empty spray bottles, chemical resistant
 - [ ] star san, sanitizer
 
-Prior to working with a mycelium sample or spawn medium you should clean your work area.
+Clean yourself and work area before working with a mycelium sample or spawn medium.
-All surfaces and tools should be wiped clean then sprayed with a sanitizing solution at least 2 minute prior to working.
+All surfaces and tools should be wiped clean then sprayed with a sanitizing solution to soak for at least 2 minute prior to working.
 
-Purchase a spray bottle [resistant to chemical reactions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_resistance) for this purpose.
+Purchase a new spray bottle that is [resistant to chemical reactions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_resistance) for this purpose.
 These can be found at most hardware stores.
-While you are at it you should buy a second spray bottle for misting water.
+While you are at it you should buy a second spray bottle for misting water during the fruiting stage.
 
-If you are working near your living space a food safe sanitizer like [Star San](https://fivestarchemicals.com/star-san-sanitizer-4-oz) avoids stinking up the place or contaminating food.
+If you are working near your living space then a food safe sanitizer like [Star San](https://fivestarchemicals.com/star-san-sanitizer-4-oz) with avoid stinking up the place or contaminating food.
-It is very concentrate so just a couple drops into a spray bottle full of water be enough.
+It is very concentrate, a couple drops into a spray bottle full of water is enough.
 You will know if the solution is diluted enough when it sprays easily and creates small bubbles on the sprayed surface.
 
 It is important to note that sanitization is not sterile.
@@ -64,21 +68,22 @@ Star San does not kill all bacteria or mold.
 There is always a risk of contamination.
 
 Your face, hands, and tools are the major source of contamination.
-Tools can be sanitized in a pressure cooker or [autoclave](#autoclave) which is discussed later.
+Tools can be sterilize in a pressure cooker or [autoclave](#autoclave).
 Your face, hand, and the other hand are a little more difficult to contain.
 
-While gloves and a face mask are often recommended I find they make me more clumsy to the point of negating any benefit they might provide.
+While gloves and a face mask are often recommended, they may be more clumsy to the point of negating any benefit they might provide.
-Face masks just do not work unless they provide respiration filtering.
+Face masks do not work unless they provide respiration filtering.
 Gloves only work if they begin sterile and remain sterile.
 
-Scrub your hands with warm water and soap to remove anything that might fall off into the spawn medium.
+Scrub your hands and forearms with warm water and soap to remove anything that might fall into the spawn medium.
-Avoid touching your spawn medium and the part of your tools that interact with the spawn medium.
+Avoid touching your spawn medium directly.
+Avoid touching the part of your tools that interact with the spawn medium.
 
 Wash and dry your face with warm water and soap to remove anything that might fall off into the spawn medium.
 Combing your hair and wearing a hat helps to reduce the amount of lose hair that might fall into the spawn medium.
 Slow or hold your breath when inoculating spawn medium to avoid shaking.
 
-Remember that mistakes happen and the look pretty cool when they do.
+Remember that mistakes happen and they look pretty cool when they do.
 
 # Three Stages
 
@@ -86,7 +91,7 @@ There are three general stages to cultivating mycelium.
 
 1. [Culturing](#culturing), [wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbiological_culture)
 
-    - Using simple sugar and agar as a surface to proof sample mycelium for viability and contamination.
+    - Using simple sugar and agar as a surface to test sample mycelium for viability and contamination.
 
 2. [Colonization](#colonization), [wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_(biology)#Microbial_colonies)
 
@@ -98,18 +103,21 @@ There are three general stages to cultivating mycelium.
 
 # Culturing
 
-Any sample of mycelium is potentially contaminated.
+Any samples of mycelium are potentially contaminated.
-Aside from using a microscope and checking the entire sample, using a small culture will allow you to grow a test patch of your sample without risking a whole jar of [grain spawn](#grain-spawn).
+Even using a microscope and visually checking the entire sample is tedious and error prone.
+A small culture will allow you to grow a test patch of your sample without risking a whole jar of [grain spawn](#grain-spawn).
 
 The two [culture mediums](#culture-mediums) preferred are [agar slants](#agar-slants) and [liquid cultures](#liquid-cultures) together.
 
-While petri dishes are part of the usual trappings of cultivating the growth of microorganisms they are fairly high maintenance and better suited for a laboratory environment.
+Agar givings mycelium and contamination a surface to grow in large enough colonies to view with the naked eye.
-Agar slants provide the same functionality without the need to seal and re-seal with parafilm.
+A week of growth is usually long enough to produce colonies which can be identified and transferred to [liquid cultures](#liquid-cultures).
+While petri dishes are part of the usual trappings of cultivating microorganisms, they are fairly high maintenance and better suited for a laboratory environment.
+[Agar slants](#agar-slants) provide the same functionality without the need to seal and re-seal with parafilm.
 
 [Liquid cultures](#liquid-cultures) provide a similar micro climate as [agar slants](#agar-slants) with the added benefit of being a much easier for inoculating [grain spawn](#grain-spawn).
-The disadvantage of liquid culture is being unable to isolate mycelium from contaminations.
+The disadvantage of liquid culture is they are difficult to identify contaminations.
 
-You should use [agar slants](#agar-slants) to isolate mycelium from contamination then sample the mycelium from the agar to liquid culture.
+You should use [agar slants](#agar-slants) to isolate mycelium from contamination into [liquid cultures](#liquid-cultures).
 
 # Culture Mediums
 
@@ -124,20 +132,23 @@ You should use [agar slants](#agar-slants) to isolate mycelium from contaminatio
 
 - [ ] malt extract agar
 
-Agar agar is a plant gelatin used to provide a physical surface that mycelium can colonize.
+Agar agar is a plant gelatin that solidifies at room temperature, providing a physical surface that mycelium to colonize.
 This is mixed with a simple sugar like malt extract to provide mycelium calories for reproduction.
-Malt Extract Agar (MEA) is available in a premix fairly cheap online.
+Malt Extract Agar (MEA) is available premixed fairly cheap online.
 Mixing 2:3 grams ratio simple sugar to Agar powder is good for saving money in bulk.
 
 Scale the following recipe as needed to fill 1/3 of each test tube or 10 ml:
-
+|  |  |
+-- | --
+water | 100 ml
+MEA | 5 g
 0. [Sanitize Your Workspace](#sanitize-your-workspace).
 
 1. Fill a 16 oz mason jar with 100 ml water on a food scale.
 
     - Grams is the same as milliliters of water at [STP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_conditions_for_temperature_and_pressure).
 
-2. Microwave with a safe cover for 1 minute or until 50 celsius or higher without boiling.
+2. Microwave with a safe cover until boiling.
 
 3. Add 5 grams of MEA to warm water and stir for 1 minute with a sanitary utensil.
 
@@ -162,14 +173,17 @@ Mixing liquid culture is similar to [agar slants](#agar-slants) without needing
 A simple sugar like light corn syrup is dissolved in distilled water to provide mycelium calories for reproduction.
 
 Scale the following recipe as needed to fill 2/3 of each test tube or 20 ml:
-
+|  |  |
+-- | --
+water | 100 ml
+simple sugar | 5 g
 0. [Sanitize Your Workspace](#sanitize-your-workspace).
 
 1. Fill a 16 oz mason jar with 100 ml water on a food scale.
 
     - Grams is the same as milliliters of water at [STP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_conditions_for_temperature_and_pressure).
 
-2. Microwave with a safe cover for 1 minute or until 50 celsius or higher without boiling.
+2. Microwave with a safe cover until boiling.
 
 3. Add 5 grams of light corn syrup to warm water and stir for 1 minute with a sanitary utensil.
 
@@ -197,7 +211,7 @@ Use the following durations as they make sense to sanitize and pasteurize.
 
 - 2 hours
 
-    - Spawn grain should be autoclave for 2 hours prior to inoculation.
+    - Spawn grain should be autoclave for 2 hours and cooled prior to inoculation.
         Bulk grains are particularly susceptible to contamination during the commercial farming process.
 
 - 1 hour
@@ -228,7 +242,7 @@ Use the following durations as they make sense to sanitize and pasteurize.
 Once you autoclave your [culture mediums](#culture-mediums) and they have cooled to room temperature it is ready for mycelium.
 
 Depending on the source of the sample there are two ways to inoculate, [cloning](#cloning) from a mushroom or using [spore samples](spore-samples).
-Newbies should start with store bought mushrooms.
+Newbies should start with grocery store mushrooms.
 This will allow you to walk through the methods without fear of wasting a spore sample.
 
 ## Cloning
@@ -329,7 +343,7 @@ If enough mycelium growth has occurred that a sample can be collected without to
 
 # Colonization
 
-Once the mycelium has been successfully isolated and grown in a liquid culture the mycelium wants something a bit more nutritious than sugar water.
+Once the mycelium has been successfully isolated and grown in [liquid cultures](#liquid-cultures) the mycelium wants something a bit more nutritious than sugar water.
 Most species have special requirements that encourage the growth of mushrooms.
 Wood-loving species like oyster and shiitake thrive in a mixture of wood chips.
 This guide does not address these special requirements.
@@ -387,7 +401,7 @@ Soaking and boiling the bird seed will clean it up a bit and encourage the endos
 
 1. With a sanitary syringe extract 1 ml of [liquid culture](#liquid-cultures) and replace the screw top.
 
-2. Inject the liquid culture into the jar of [grain spawn](#grain-spawn) by piercing the aluminum foil straight down along the side of the jar.
+2. Inject syringe into the jar of [grain spawn](#grain-spawn) by piercing the aluminum foil straight down along the side of the jar.
 
 3. Replace the mason jar lid by flipping it so the seal is facing up and lightly screwing on the rim.