|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
chefinainteasy
Chef



Registered: 12/12/10
Posts: 1,361
Last seen: 8 years, 1 month
|
Im back baby!
#19347181 - 12/30/13 04:36 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
Hi Everyone! Its been a while since I've been around. Back in the spring I got promoted at my job to the executive sous chef. Then a month later my basement flooded. All of this lead me to shut down my basement operation. I stewed for a few months then decided that I wasn't ready to give up on this. So I started working on my business plan, doing extensive market research, and running the numbers on my pilot basement project. Everything lead to the conclusion that I can make a real go at starting a larger operation making the same amount of money I am at my chef job, and in a few years if all goes well, more. Its been a LOT of planning with the help of my father, who does this for a living in the pharmaceutical business. Though he usually oversees fermentation facilities that start in the millions. So we have just finished my business plan, have been approved by the bank, and now am ready to send off to the SBA(small business association) for approval. Which the bank feels very confident, do to the relatively small amount borrowed, will be approved. Its now just a two month waiting game. I had my contractor out at the warehouse today for build out estimates. So I snapped a few shots of the space. 
 Here is the front and a shot of the little office you walk into. To the right of it is where the lab will be. It may not become an OICU812's level 100 lab but should come close.
  Here are some shots from the front looking towards the back. You can see the bathroom to the right. In front of that is where the walk in cooler and processing area will be. Plus my little monkey who got to ride her bike in daddy's "squarehouse."
There will be three grow rooms, 18' long, 8' wide, and 12' tall with a gabled roof. They will go along the left side with two side by side and another along the wall towards the back. There is not a good centrally located drain so the grow rooms will be build on a platform and drains plumbed underneath to the outside.
 There is a drive in and truck dock. The door on the right is the truck dock and in front of which will be the substrate processing area. Behind it on the right wall will be the incubation room.
 In back here is where they are going to let me build three 9x9x6 composting areas.
It will still be at least 2-3 months before construction begins. That should give all of you kind, knowledgeable folks here enough time to help me brainstorm and finalize some of my loose ends. Thanks in advance!!!!
-------------------- Check out my youtube videos. the Mushrooms Naturally series by chefinainteasy My new business is now on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MushroomsNaturally?ref=hl
   MY Garden
|
laughingsol
Dirt Farmer


Registered: 01/01/12
Posts: 389
Loc: The beautiful hills of Io...
|
|
Welcome back in a big way! Can't wait for the updates on this project. Many, many blessings chef.
-------------------- Be Well, Be Blessed Trade List
|
Jeff
Addict



Registered: 10/06/12
Posts: 1,488
Last seen: 6 years, 2 months
|
|
Nice project. I hope it works out for you.
-------------------- Myco-tek
|
TiN 42
Be the tree



Registered: 12/15/11
Posts: 1,242
|
Re: Im back baby! [Re: Jeff]
#19347573 - 12/30/13 05:42 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
If it's not built yet have you considered drains in the floor.
--------------------
MUSH LOVE
|
TiN 42
Be the tree



Registered: 12/15/11
Posts: 1,242
|
Re: Im back baby! [Re: TiN 42]
#19347591 - 12/30/13 05:45 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
Quote:
tinkid said: If it's not built yet have you considered drains in the floor.
sorry didn't see There is not a good centrally located drain so the grow rooms will be build on a platform and drains plumbed underneath to the outside
--------------------
MUSH LOVE
|
drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 4,168
Loc: TN
Last seen: 4 years, 11 months
|
Re: Im back baby! [Re: TiN 42]
#19347932 - 12/30/13 06:56 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
Quote:
tinkid said:
Quote:
tinkid said: If it's not built yet have you considered drains in the floor.
sorry didn't see There is not a good centrally located drain so the grow rooms will be build on a platform and drains plumbed underneath to the outside
That sounds real difficult to do without rotting. I guess you could use metal plastic or masonry. Do you have other tenants to share the space with? If its at all possible get some land cause moving is a reality I'm about to have face!
|
chefinainteasy
Chef



Registered: 12/12/10
Posts: 1,361
Last seen: 8 years, 1 month
|
Re: Im back baby! [Re: drake89]
#19347973 - 12/30/13 07:04 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
Its just me in the 3000sqft building. I'll be building out of metal studs with marina plywood for the flooring. I'm still thinking of materials to use for the floor in the grow rooms where the drains will be. I'm leaning towards an industrial pond liner or some similar rubber membrane with a bit of texture for grip. The rest of the room will be covered in FRP. This part is one the contractor and I will be bouncing around ideas for a bit. All of your input will be helpful.
-------------------- Check out my youtube videos. the Mushrooms Naturally series by chefinainteasy My new business is now on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MushroomsNaturally?ref=hl
   MY Garden
|
SkysTheLimit
A curious mind


Registered: 07/28/13
Posts: 168
Loc:
Last seen: 8 years, 5 months
|
|
Damn that's a really nice facility, how much was the warehouse or its rent?
|
chefinainteasy
Chef



Registered: 12/12/10
Posts: 1,361
Last seen: 8 years, 1 month
|
|
Its leased. $1700/month
-------------------- Check out my youtube videos. the Mushrooms Naturally series by chefinainteasy My new business is now on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MushroomsNaturally?ref=hl
   MY Garden
|
jboredone
Money-The root of all evil....



Registered: 01/19/12
Posts: 4,783
|
|
Quote:
chefinainteasy said: Its leased. $1700/month
thats a whole lot of mushrooms to sell....
-------------------- Peace Pot Micro-Dot God Loves You High or Not!!! In order to grow old and wise, you must once have been young and dumb!

|
chefinainteasy
Chef



Registered: 12/12/10
Posts: 1,361
Last seen: 8 years, 1 month
|
|
Ha sure is. About 200#s a week in fact
-------------------- Check out my youtube videos. the Mushrooms Naturally series by chefinainteasy My new business is now on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MushroomsNaturally?ref=hl
   MY Garden
|
jboredone
Money-The root of all evil....



Registered: 01/19/12
Posts: 4,783
|
|
best of luck....will deff be following this thread.....
-------------------- Peace Pot Micro-Dot God Loves You High or Not!!! In order to grow old and wise, you must once have been young and dumb!

|
TiN 42
Be the tree



Registered: 12/15/11
Posts: 1,242
|
|
Quote:
chefinainteasy said: Its just me in the 3000sqft building. I'll be building out of metal studs with marina plywood for the flooring. I'm still thinking of materials to use for the floor in the grow rooms where the drains will be. I'm leaning towards an industrial pond liner or some similar rubber membrane with a bit of texture for grip. The rest of the room will be covered in FRP. This part is one the contractor and I will be bouncing around ideas for a bit. All of your input will be helpful.
sounds good
--------------------
MUSH LOVE
|
SkysTheLimit
A curious mind


Registered: 07/28/13
Posts: 168
Loc:
Last seen: 8 years, 5 months
|
Re: Im back baby! [Re: TiN 42]
#19348139 - 12/30/13 07:34 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
Dayum 1700 to cover every month . . . what species are you hoping to sell so much of?
|
chefinainteasy
Chef



Registered: 12/12/10
Posts: 1,361
Last seen: 8 years, 1 month
|
|
I'll have a mix of 4-5 species at all time. Oysters(seasonal), shiitake, king oyster, nameko, pippin, beach, and hopefully a few others. I'd really like to dial in some calacibe indicia like sparkle grows. There not found here so would be a nice variety. I'll grow them in a mix that gives me an average price per pound of $14.7 US.
-------------------- Check out my youtube videos. the Mushrooms Naturally series by chefinainteasy My new business is now on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MushroomsNaturally?ref=hl
   MY Garden
|
SkysTheLimit
A curious mind


Registered: 07/28/13
Posts: 168
Loc:
Last seen: 8 years, 5 months
|
|
Oh ok, btw who are the main buyers of your shiitake mushrooms? Farmers markets or restuarants?
|
chefinainteasy
Chef



Registered: 12/12/10
Posts: 1,361
Last seen: 8 years, 1 month
|
|
Restaurants will make up 80-85% of sales yearly with farmers markets making up about 10-15% and whole sale options for additional product. Farmers markets are only seasonal here, about 6-7 months out of the year. If I can, ill sell solely to restaurants as the markets are a larger undertaking time wise/ number of pounds sold. Though I do get a bit more $/# there. In the end there just not worth it if I don't need them. I know many chefs in the area being one myself for the past 12 years. I also know lots of produce providers to sell whole sale if the opportunity arises.
-------------------- Check out my youtube videos. the Mushrooms Naturally series by chefinainteasy My new business is now on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MushroomsNaturally?ref=hl
   MY Garden
|
t3chnobily
Strangest


Registered: 02/04/12
Posts: 651
Loc: As Seen In VT
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
|
|
I was wondering were you got off too. Way to go for it. EPDM pond liner could work. Maybe sloped to drain and covered in gravel. Designing processing facilities on this scale will be challenging but fun. How much of the process are you going to automate?
|
chefinainteasy
Chef



Registered: 12/12/10
Posts: 1,361
Last seen: 8 years, 1 month
|
|
The grow rooms will all be automated. Humidistat controlled solenoid valves for a misting system, lights obviously, air system. I'm working on a design for a window ac unit to cool my rooms. I'm throwing around a few ideas but mostly piping the cold air exhaust into the intake plenum after the blower or in the return air ducting.
-------------------- Check out my youtube videos. the Mushrooms Naturally series by chefinainteasy My new business is now on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MushroomsNaturally?ref=hl
   MY Garden
|
Queen of Kings
Get on with the Fascination



Registered: 12/11/11
Posts: 1,201
Loc: Pacific Northwest, almost
Last seen: 7 years, 1 month
|
|
Way to go, Chef! Think big! I wish you all the best!
|
|