Mushroom growers and gardeners appreciate multi-use tools. On our farm, this long stemmed dial thermometer really gets a workout. We use this tool when pasteurizing straw to measure the substrate temperature and again to measure internal bag temperature during spawn run. In the garden, it keeps tabs on compost pile temperatures when we are preparing substrate for our compost-loving mushrooms and plants. We especially like this weatherproof thermometer because the stem is 20" long, and the 2" dial is hermetically sealed to prevent water penetration and fogging. It also has three heat zones to help us make great compost (it comes with a simple, explanatory guide).