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OfflineJohnwall11
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Oyster mushroom start up farm * 1
    #19114489 - 11/10/13 11:46 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

I have become real interested in growing mushrooms for profit in the last month. I have read lots,watched videos, and now talking with the community. I have 5600 sq feet of arched greenhouse that I am in the process of setting up. I have a bunch of questions so here I go.. I will be growing various types of oyster mushrooms.

When hanging the vertical bags does it matter how far apart they are from eathother ? I want to make sure I utilize my maximum growing potential. 

My neighbors sells straws and hay I will being using that as my foundation for a substrate. I was planning on boiling a bunch of 55gallon metal drums of water using mesh wire to hold the chopped straw in place. I'm pretty sure I will use propane as a heat source I am on low budget as I am 22 years old so I want to do this the cheapest ways possible until I can invest back into the business. I know about steaming but it seems like it would take much longer proccess vs if I boiled a bunch of drums ..each drum could be done in one hour. Possibly just start with propane maybe fire

My house runs off of a well so I have free water I want to try and have the least amount of expenses possible low start up. I have a misting system in the greenhouse. Is their a way to turn my free water into a heat source to heat my greenhouse ? I'm trying to use the water as much as possible but that raises another question will the iron in my well water effect my grow? Do I need to buy a filter system ? 

If anyone has good advice on starting a new farm it would be much appreciated.

Oyster mushrooms advice is well seeked out, if you live in Washington state and have alot of experience or your own commercial grow. Please contact me i would love to see how you operate. Thanks
Oyster mushroom farm
You may choose many


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OfflineRubestoad
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm [Re: Johnwall11]
    #19114525 - 11/10/13 11:56 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Good luck bro! I don't have any answers for you but I did read somewhere on the web a few days ago about running PVC piping under/through a compost pile and using the heat in the pile to heat water that ran into radiators in the grow room.

It was smaller scale then your thinking but it might be worth a google search.


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OfflineSickleg
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm [Re: Rubestoad]
    #19114929 - 11/10/13 01:28 PM (10 years, 3 months ago)

How do you plan on distributing? I am very curious.


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Offlineclueless
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm [Re: Sickleg]
    #19115674 - 11/10/13 04:02 PM (10 years, 3 months ago)

To OP:
We have a Gourmet and Medicinals forum here.
You should post in there, very helpful members.
BTW Welcome to The Shroomery:amanita2::regularshroom::poison::1up::mushroom2::grin:.


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Edited by clueless (11/10/13 04:05 PM)


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OfflineRogerRabbitM
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: Johnwall11]
    #19116866 - 11/10/13 07:40 PM (10 years, 3 months ago)

This thread was moved from Mushroom Cultivation.

Reason:
Moved to the edibles forum.


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Offlinedeadmandave
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: RogerRabbit]
    #19117170 - 11/10/13 08:40 PM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Use the well water, i think high iron content will be fine. what are your ideas on using water as a heat source?

Where do you plan on getting your spawn? the cheapest method is to make your own; it takes a bit of skill but it is well worth it.

when bags are colonizing dont let them touch because if they heat up too much it will increase the chance of competitors growing. when they are hanging leave enough space for the mushrooms to fruit.


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Offlinedrake89
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: deadmandave]
    #19117649 - 11/10/13 10:10 PM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Do some market research before you jump into this.  It will obviously be more profitable to sell directly to restaurants than wholesalers, but more work delivering. 

Fuck heating, use wood ash or lime (calcium hydroxide) to 'pasteurize' straw. Way cheaper.

I found out recently that while they will fruit in the cold, they won't really colonize.  So you're gonna need to insulate a space to heat for colonizing.  Unless you can keep your greenhouse around 70 on the cheap.

Best of luck, I'm 24 and we are making a living wage 4 months after starting.  All you need is hard work, dedication, prayers and belief, and a good team.


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InvisibleGroup
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: drake89]
    #19118861 - 11/11/13 02:43 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Good luck brother!

I am starting to cultivate shiitake and oyster mushrooms as well.
I'm doing it with the help of others.
I hope we can give away free organic mushrooms to everyone!

Working as a team we can accomplish more!
John Wall: maybe friends or family could help and you could all learn together?
Best of luck!


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We are starting a mushroom growing network to provide FREE and/or inexpensive gourmet and medicinal mushrooms to local communities accross the US and globally.
We have the opportunity to feed and heal each other. We simply need to work together. By sharing our talents we enable ourselves and others to enjoy a world of abundance.

We'd love for collaboration from YOU, PM me!


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InvisibleSmeagol
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: Group]
    #19119189 - 11/11/13 06:28 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Nice! I'm far from experienced enough to hand out advice but making spawn isn't hard. Pressure cooker and using the search function. I'm on my first go and have made wild bird seed spawn, colonized a sub of horse poo/compost/vermiculite/coco coir and have fruits growing in a mini fruiting chamber. I also have some myc on home made agar.

Market research!!!!! There are a couple good threads and a pdf download on here somewhere where someone runs over the basics. Oysters are almost unheard of in the group of people I know but the mention of them perked interest. All morels, portabello/butttons around here. Ill be going the restaurant path myself. In a 50-60 mile radius there are dozens of asian and high class joints around. I'm working on procedures first but have the same plan of being a mushroom farmer!!! Good luck!


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OfflineJohnwall11
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) *DELETED* [Re: drake89]
    #19947671 - 05/06/14 01:08 AM (9 years, 9 months ago)

Post deleted by Johnwall11

Reason for deletion: research has taken me a new direction i will be going a different route with growing, would like to make this thread more accurate.



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Offlinedeadmandave
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: Johnwall11]
    #19948483 - 05/06/14 08:11 AM (9 years, 9 months ago)

Definitely get a lab set up! it doesnt need to be fancy, i do all my sterile work in my bedroom with 99% success rate (as far as grain spawn production is concerned)

If you're willing to spend $700 on a humidifier you  might as well go balls deep and get one of Stamet's humidifans. I would trust one of those over a craigslist ultra sonic any day.

also check out Solarity's posts, he has an awesome homemade ultrasonic humidifier for a fairly large indoor greenhouse.

You should honestly get some spawn asap, start making bulk substrates, start small fruiting experiments so that you can see what you are getting yourself into.

what type of substrate are you planning on using? pasteurizing or sterilizing?


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Offlinedrake89
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: deadmandave]
    #19949838 - 05/06/14 03:08 PM (9 years, 9 months ago)

man, if you are asking questions about spent grains and coffee grounds you got some learning to do.  I wish people would start out small before pouring thousands into a setup they [may or may not] know how to run.  Aloha medicinals should be able to provide you exotic spawn.  I don't know of anyone else that can get it for you at a reasonable price.  you can get away with incubating and fruiting in the same space during the warmer months.


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OfflineJohnwall11
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: deadmandave]
    #19949910 - 05/06/14 03:30 PM (9 years, 9 months ago)

Thanks for the response! I was planning on buying a  propane burner that will heat a 55 gallon metal drum bringing it to 160f for a little over an hour. I have bought a 30ish gallon metal trash can that i will drill holes in and then will put the 30 gal in the 55 gal. putting the straw in the 30 gal to pasteurize. you have any advice on this method? i looked for mesh wire baskets but didn't have much luck i figured the metal trash can with alterations could work fine. ill be in a period of trial an error.  I'm still looking for a reliable source for spawn i would like to start experimenting. most suppliers i see online don't have very appleaing websites kinda look flakey so i held off on buying until i found a good source. .. i do want to practice with quality spawn.  i want to save up so i can afford to have my 1st  20ftx70ft greenhouse operational as a grow room. I do see the importance of starting small i want to use my extra rooms in my house to start small! i can devote one room to incubation room and one room to grow in. I believe i can perfect my methods in this small environment save money. Then use both rooms in the house as incubation rooms as i progress and by that time be using the greenhouse as a grow room.  Thank you for the advice i will look into stamets humidifans. The reason the $700 ultrasonic was appealing is in long term i would be able to humidify all my greenhouses. 5600sqft or potentially a majority of them. I will start researching making my own lab i do have extra space at the moment to devote a lab to and will start reading Solaritys post about homemade humidifiers. I am very new and understand that growing mushrooms is not something that any person can just start doing.. I am ready to learn as much as possible. I've been looking for farm i could work on or even intern or just devote time in exchange for advice for a little while. i will post pictures soon so everyone  understands my situation and where i am currently at..thanks!


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OfflineJohnwall11
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: Johnwall11]
    #19950026 - 05/06/14 03:57 PM (9 years, 9 months ago)

you understand that i have asked questions and not stated that i did buy and that i am going to do this.. i am here to gather advice from people who have already taken this path and can answer questions. I had concerns about ultrasonic humidifiers because they can cause bacteria.. buying an industrial humidifier vs buying a bunch of walmart brands in the long term seems like the wiser choice. since i will need a lot of humidification in the long term . Im 22 and I've made money so i kno about making wize investments. i did not state i will start using this equipment right away..i plan on starting very small i won't even use the greenhouse until my methods are perfected.  at a young age i started purchase industrial lighting equipment and then re selling it..made some decent money for letting equipment sit around until i found a buyer.. so even if i didn't use the humidifier i bet on myself that i will be able to find a buyer and sell it for more or equal to what i would have paid. appreciate your input. I make new connections all the time. recently have made a connection with a coffee shop owner as well as a brewery.. i had not planned on using these in my substrate but now since i have easy and free access to these valuable resources i will take benefit of them. Now i had asked a question about pasteurizing and sterilizing coffee and spent grain.  because i have not done enough research on these methods as they were not in my original plans.. if you have solid advice and are willing to share..thats great! You answered one of my questions but i had already been to their website and checked out their products.


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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: Johnwall11]
    #19951102 - 05/06/14 08:04 PM (9 years, 9 months ago)

humidifier choice might be up to you.  the industrial ultrasonic ones might have more of a warming effect.  i have not used them, only the pond foggers from mainland mart.  the misters probably have more of a cooling effect.  i just got a couple of the aquapower ones off stamet's site so i'll let you know how they work.  should be a breeze for a grand each.

I did not mean to be rude, glad you're starting small.  mistakes on a grand scale are expensive and i would likely be out of business if I didn't have deep pockets.  just being honest.  Why I was beating around the bush is because it would be great to use coffee and spent grains, I am all for using local waste as substrate.  I don't know of anyone who has used it successfully on a commercial scale.  there was someone who put up a thread recently about using coffee mixed with sawdust.  moisture and pH can be an issue with coffee.  I can't see spent grain working ever unless you could cook it all at once fresh out of the mash tun.  i reckon it would go pretty sour quickly, and you don't want to start with a high contaminant load.  best of luck.


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OfflineJohnwall11
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: drake89]
    #19951674 - 05/06/14 10:02 PM (9 years, 9 months ago)

Thanks for the response. As far as using coffee as a substrate i have read about two kids from berkley that have started a business (back to the roots) and they mainly use coffee as a substrate..i believe they are now producing on a commercial scale. My town is full of coffee shops and a lot of those bikini baristas as well!! I was thinking if i could pasteurize the straw then maybe sterilize the coffee if i even have to.. then run a few test with different mixtures such as 10%coffee 90% straw..and compare the results.. that would atleast give me and idea of what things i could add to make it work. I did not think of the spent grain going bad that would be a major factor..


I started working on a 55 gallon drum today for pasteurizing. I had planned on using fire to heat the drum but don't have a way to pull the wet straw out without building something..so i found a turkey fryer at my dads that was old and i cleaned it up and it works pretty good..put out a good flame. so i have moved the 55 gallon drum near a big tree with a large branch directly above. I created a platform for the drum to sit on . then put the platform on large bricks so the turkey fryer has a little room. i started to fill my drum with water as i had planned on just seeing what temp i could get the water to but the drum had a small hole that was leaking water.. the water leaked on the turkey fryer and put out the flame. i wasn't planing on using this drum anyways as it has had a lot of nasty stuff in it (buffalo skull) and has been thru its best days. i still wanted to mess around with it to start preparing and testing methods so i could get into a routine. 55 gallon metal drums are real expensive.. i should just start selling those shiiatt! I've been looking around i normally see them for $90. does anyone kno of a place i could come up on a 55 gallon metal drum for a reasonable price? tmrw i will drill some a bunch of holes in a 30 gal metal trash can that will go inside the 55 gal and hold all my straw. not much i can do without a usable 55 gal drum tho..so i guess ill start searching..


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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: Johnwall11]
    #19951988 - 05/06/14 11:06 PM (9 years, 9 months ago)

search for reclaimed barrels. I can find them all the time for $15-20, food grade.

If i heard right, that startup company no longer uses coffee because of high contam rates :lol: try it out anyways because everyone has a different approach and maybe youll find a winner.


i have built baskets out of chicken wire, for a 55 gallon drum i would use hardware cloth and form it into a large cylindrical basket. i feel a trash can inside a barrel could waste a lot of space.


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OfflineJohnwall11
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: deadmandave]
    #19952295 - 05/07/14 12:08 AM (9 years, 9 months ago)

Awesome Thanks! I will look around for for the reclaimed food barrels! The hardware cloth was my first option but i had not looked at ways how to build a baskets as it comes in rolls.. then i saw the trash can and thought it could just as easily work. The trash can fits into the 55gal and it didn't seem to be waisting much space but the hardware cloth is obviously more ideal and practical..ill swoop some up at my next home depot trip and see what i can make.


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OfflineFreeTheSoul
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: Johnwall11]
    #19952585 - 05/07/14 01:30 AM (9 years, 9 months ago)

Quote:

Johnwall11 said:
Awesome Thanks! I will look around for for the reclaimed food barrels! The hardware cloth was my first option but i had not looked at ways how to build a baskets as it comes in rolls.. then i saw the trash can and thought it could just as easily work. The trash can fits into the 55gal and it didn't seem to be waisting much space but the hardware cloth is obviously more ideal and practical..ill swoop some up at my next home depot trip and see what i can make.



If your going to build a basket I recommend a couple smaller ones unless you have a way of lifting the big basket out.


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OfflineJohnwall11
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Re: Oyster mushroom start up farm (moved) [Re: FreeTheSoul]
    #19952630 - 05/07/14 01:59 AM (9 years, 9 months ago)

i posted a few pictures on my profile so people can see what I'm dealing with..the land was way over grown I'm waiting on an excavator to pull out a few larger trees & roots. This pace was a jungle.. took 4 goats 3 months just to help eat everything i cut down. i cleaned out the area within the greenhouse so i could start seeing what boards needed to be replaced. Their is a misting system that does not work ill take a few more detailed pics. Anyone have ideas on layout? I'm going to build an area to the far right and create a foundation and pour concrete and use that area as a clean room .This is all long term btw ill will only be using one of these greenhouse while starting out but would like to have something down on paper as to what I'm area I'm going to use for what purpose..such as 1 incubation room and 3grow rooms etc..gotta  do so research so any books or threads..that could be recommended would be awesome.


Edited by Johnwall11 (05/07/14 01:12 PM)


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