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OfflineIpoxa
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New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start
    #23565101 - 08/22/16 05:54 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Hello everyone, I'm looking to start building my growing area for gourmet mushrooms probably mostly oyster varieties and shiitake if I can fit in somehow.  I plan to sell them in my local markets, and hoping to find some restaurants in the area.  The closest mushroom farm I can find from my home is almost 2 hours away, and it's one of few in the state of Missouri.  Ideally I would love to grow from what I start, but everyone must start somewhere.

I have been doing a lot of research on this, read a lot throughout the forums, and wanted some general opinions on a good design and suggestions for what I am hoping for. I've got an exterior shed, only about 10 feet from my home, so it has access to water.  Shed is roughly 28 foot long by 20 foot wide. It has a concrete slab with 4 foot foundation surrounding 3 walls.  I have to put both my lab and fruiting chamber into this, and have space above for storage or possible more fruiting in a dark space if there is a strain best grown in darkness? (I will have grain spawn bags stored inside basement of home)


Money isn't exactly pouring in, but I do have a budget for this, so I want to take my time and make sure I do this right come early next year when I want to start fruiting ideally. I think I've got a rather good idea of what needs to be done to build a proper grow area, including lab, I just don't know how I should try to space it out.  I'm wanting to try to go sawdust bags of whatever mix I can best find In my area, hoping to find some cottonseed hulls.

My first concern with this is sterilizing a large amount of bags, because buying a large pressure canner does not seem optimal, so I'm thinking I need to design some kind of 55 gallon sterilizer for outside the shed somehow, is there a good video or design someone may have for this?  I'm rather crafty, but do not have a welder.  And I don't know if using a propane burner, or using a water heater element is more safe.

I'm thinking I will need to buy plastic shelves, but I'm wondering it might be cheaper to build something.  Is there any contamination issues with letting them fruit on pressure treated wood?

This is going to be a 3-4 month project, I have access to tools, want to build most all of this myself if not all. I know that I am new to this, but I have done lots of research on this, and feel like over the next 3-4 months I'll have even more sufficient knowledge on how exactly I want to design this, but I would really love some input on this.


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Offlineadadada
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23565227 - 08/22/16 07:44 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

What experience do you have growing oysters and shiitake?

If you are new to them, I HIGHLY recommend starting out small and focusing on getting a proof of concept crop from start to completion ... which may take several months but will likely prevent many, many headaches.

The entire lifecycle works like this...

1. Get a good strain from a reputable vendor.
2. If needed, isolate that strain on agar plates
3. Transfer a small, pure chunk of that strain to slants for long term storage
4. Take a small piece from the slant and grow out on agar, liquid culture, etc. as you prefer ... this will be used to inoculate your master jar of grain so purity is critical.
5. inoculate your master jar of grain.
6. Do grain-to-grain transfers until you have enough spawn to inoculate your bulk substrate

or

1-6. Buy spawn from a reputable vendor.  This can be a more reliable, less work intensive, but more expensive option.  If you're just starting out, it is probably worthwhile though.

7. Prep your bulk substrate and inoculate
8. Incubate on bulk substrate under proper growing conditions
9. When ready, switch to fruiting conditions to trigger pinning
10. Harvest mushrooms once they mature
11. Sell mushrooms, hopefully for a profit.
12. Repeat

Unless you've been through the whole lifecycle and have worked out all the kinks (and there are many kinks), I wouldn't worry about scaling up yet.

My advice is to focus on getting your technique perfected and then ramp up.

blargfoot


Edited by adadada (08/22/16 09:06 AM)


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OfflineGr0wer
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: adadada]
    #23565294 - 08/22/16 08:22 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Scaling up when just getting started means increased losses when things go wrong. Build the chamber full size but do small batches till you get good results. Take a look at my single drum sterilizer, its really simple and takes very little space yet fits a ton of sub. It can be applied to many shapes and sizes of vessels.


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OfflineAnarchoV
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Gr0wer]
    #23565392 - 08/22/16 09:11 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

There are actually several mushrooms farms selling in the state of Missouri. Trammel Treasurers, Wakarusa Valley Farm, Earth Angel Mushrooms, Mushrooms Naturally and myself..to name a few (we are about to rebrand our farm name this Fall and expand our operation). This site has a pretty good list of growers in various states- http://www.mushroomcompany.com/farmsonline/. Like myself, some are just small scale. I produce 50-60lbs per week. Like adadada and Gr0wer said, start small and expand as you learn. I am on my 3rd year and have been slowly growing each year. I have made plenty of mistakes along the way. I started with laundry baskets then added a couple of marthas. After that, I went to a couple of outdoor 8x12 greenhouses that I grew seasonally in. Now, I have an indoor chamber that is 8x10, an outdoor GH that is 8x12 and my two marthas (I lost one GH to strong winds). I am looking at purchasing a commercial space in October. Located in NWMO.


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OfflineIpoxa
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Gr0wer]
    #23565426 - 08/22/16 09:25 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

I am new in the sense that I have not PERSONALLY done this on a large scale before.  I actually was looking into great ways to make money from home, and watched many seminar videos on how gourmet mushrooms are a good business to go into.  Especially since my market is so saturated with produce farmers.

I understand I still have things to learn on the actual process, thats the plan to learn as much as I can before I start making any major purchases as far as spawn and substrate goes.  I would however, like to have a good head start on the growing chamber.

Where can I find your design?

Also I will probably do the method of starting off small, and multiplying to increase my supply, that way I learn the cycles, instead of buying all the spawn at once.


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OfflineIpoxa
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23565447 - 08/22/16 09:32 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Well thank you for that link, that made me feel even better, I live in Kansas City Missouri area, most all of the places you listed are out in the country of Missouri, I'm in the dead of the city and went to three different major farmers markets and no one selling any mushrooms except buttons.

Being as you are from Missouri, how is maintaining humidity here in your outdoor GH's?  I have about half an acre that I can add some outdoor buildings too if I am able to get this to take off.  I don't expect to ever become self sustaining off this, but I would love to be make this into my retirement plan.

I know I seem like I am a little ahead of the gun, which I may be, but I also understand I may not be able to my goal within the first year or more, I just want to make the space I have to be able to grow at least that.


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OfflineAnarchoV
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23565527 - 08/22/16 10:18 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Wakarusa Valley Farm and Trammel Treasures sell in KC also. I saw Wakarusa at the River Market. I think Trammel Treasures primarily sells at the OP farmers market. Trammel also has a food truck, Fungal Fusion. They both sell to local restaurants. Trammel buys quite a few of his mushrooms wholesale. I see him advertising morels and truffles year round. He does produce oysters and maybe shiitake. Wakarusa is 10 minutes from downtown and they have a 2000 sq ft cave. I am not too familiar with their operation.

I humidify my greenhouse with 4 way misters. I have a water solenoid valve that is hooked up to a humidity controller (WH8040). Although, I think there might be some more user friendly ones on the market now. Biggest problem is the heat in the summer. It gets way too hot to successfully fruit all season long without climate controls. I primarily use my outdoor chamber for spring and fall and sometimes throw 3rd fruitings from indoors into it. I rotate warm weather species like pink and golden oysters through it. (Fighting slugs and fungus gnats is also an issue outdoors. I had to seal up my GH pretty tight) We also sell produce so the mushrooms compliment the production cycle pretty well. Like you said, there is such an over supply of produce that the profitability can be tough. Throw all the crazy weather we have had on top of it and kiss the margins on produce goodbye. I don't think the gourmet mushroom market is close to being saturated in our region.

Just start doing some research on the shroomery. This place is packed with info and all kinds of people willing to help.


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OfflineIpoxa
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23565625 - 08/22/16 11:03 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

I guess I haven't had the chance to see them, I went to Independence farmer Market, OP market, and City River Market and didn't see any, must have just been the couple Sundays I went.  The Wakarusa farm is a huge farm that does everything, I Want to focus and hit the mushroom market hard in my areas.  What kind of mushrooms do you grow?  Ever looking for partners? :laugh:

I have a GH myself right now that is shaded 18 hours of the day (no idea why original owner put it there) but anyways my plan is to eventually get seasonal mushrooms out there as well.

I really would love to make this a part time growing business, as I've always had a enjoyment out of growing pretty much anything.  I have also considered trying to spread a bunch of morel spawn around my backyard, because I have about quarter acre of woods behind my house.


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Offlinedrake89
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23565935 - 08/22/16 12:53 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Only difference between the master and student is the master has failed more times than the student has tried.

Get out there and fail small before you sink too much $ in equipment.  Hone your technique and then scale up after a few cropping cycles.

You probably won't get much free advice from local growers.  We're mostly struggling to make a go of it aND don't want to train our competition.


--------------------
Fiery Fungi (like us on faeboo)


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OfflineIpoxa
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: drake89]
    #23565964 - 08/22/16 01:03 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Haha makes perfect sense.  Thank you for the advise, I will start out with one or two shelves and just evolve from there


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Offlineanthiawe
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23566371 - 08/22/16 03:44 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Ipoxa, good luck!

I dont know where in the U.S missouri is, but up where i am in Canada the weather is fucked. all the time. some call it 40 - 40 country. why? cause its -40 in the winter and + 40 in the summer - that's in Celsius my southern friends! SO, I've learnt the hard way, weather is powerful and can destroy your mushrooms. if that shed of yours isn't insulated there's gonna be problems. but maybe the weather in missouri is real good? i dont actually know, but thats what I'd be thinking about.

godspeed!


--------------------
TEK compendium


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OfflineIpoxa
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: anthiawe]
    #23566523 - 08/22/16 04:28 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

It's dead center of the US, and our weather is every different direction.  I plan to insulate my shed with insulation foam, granted it will cost a little bit more, I Feel like the extra investment will help a lot of other things besides the weather fluctuation


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Offlineanthiawe
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23566541 - 08/22/16 04:33 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

:youthemandawg:


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TEK compendium


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OfflineTravelAgency
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Gr0wer]
    #23570739 - 08/23/16 09:30 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Quote:

Gr0wer said:
Scaling up when just getting started means increased losses when things go wrong. Build the chamber full size but do small batches till you get good results. Take a look at my single drum sterilizer, its really simple and takes very little space yet fits a ton of sub. It can be applied to many shapes and sizes of vessels.





:whathesaid:


--------------------





Indoor Greenhouse Build 
          Mid Size Mushroom Farm


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OfflineIpoxa
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: TravelAgency]
    #23571846 - 08/24/16 04:48 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)



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Invisibleweetsie
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23571849 - 08/24/16 04:50 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Yep.

Nice find.


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Active grow logs: Oysters on Straw Pellets
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OfflineIpoxa
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: weetsie]
    #23571898 - 08/24/16 05:28 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Alright well the ad says it's kiln dried, do you think that would effect my sterilization time at all? I will be adding some kind of supplements to it, just haven't gotten that deep into this yet just finding what I need.


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Offlineanthiawe
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23571914 - 08/24/16 05:46 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

nah you're still going to have to sterilize it. its sitting in the open air, then going into a dirty ass dump truck then getting put somewhere to sit in open air. some do pasteurize sawdust but most will sterilize if they add wheat bran or something claiming there is more endospores.


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TEK compendium


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OfflineIpoxa
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: anthiawe]
    #23572131 - 08/24/16 08:04 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

You make a good point, thank you much.


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OfflineIpoxa
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23572671 - 08/24/16 12:14 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

So come to find out the guy said the sawdust has SOME cedar in it, but it mostly hardwoods.  Think it's worth the bulk pick up of free?


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Offlinedrake89
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23572785 - 08/24/16 01:06 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

If it's been kiln dried it's worth a shot.  My pellets are 20% pine.  The x factor is particle size.


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OfflineIpoxa
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: drake89]
    #23573178 - 08/24/16 03:11 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

X factor as in.. The unknown?


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Offlinedrake89
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23573195 - 08/24/16 03:16 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Yup depends on what kind of saw they have.  Too big and it may be hard to hydrate properly.


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OfflineIpoxa
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23573227 - 08/24/16 03:23 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Is there some questions you recommend me asking to make sure I am safe to use this?


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OfflineQuadman
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23573381 - 08/24/16 04:06 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

You would want to know how fresh it is ,Stored inside dry or outside wet. Is it from a  small or large bandsaw mill or circular mill ,or is it a by product of some other lumber operation. If so what?


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OfflineIpoxa
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Quadman]
    #23573911 - 08/24/16 07:08 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Thank you very much.


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OfflineGr0wer
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Ipoxa]
    #23574251 - 08/24/16 09:20 PM (7 years, 5 months ago)

awesome find! I would start with a pickup truck load full if you have one, if not get some totes or 5 gal buckets and go from there.

If you havent already, check out my vidoes. I'm growing around 50-60 lbs a week and walk you through a lot of my procedures, equipment and designs. Look in my sig.


Edited by Gr0wer (08/24/16 09:40 PM)


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OfflineTravelAgency
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: Gr0wer]
    #23574659 - 08/25/16 12:17 AM (7 years, 5 months ago)

Quote:

Gr0wer said:
awesome find! I would start with a pickup truck load full if you have one, if not get some totes or 5 gal buckets and go from there.

If you havent already, check out my vidoes. I'm growing around 50-60 lbs a week and walk you through a lot of my procedures, equipment and designs. Look in my sig.




Seriously though- take the time to to watch Gr0wer's videos and read in on some of his threads. He's legit :thumbup:


--------------------





Indoor Greenhouse Build 
          Mid Size Mushroom Farm


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Offlinebeastcoast
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Re: New to this, looking to grow 100lbs a week to start [Re: TravelAgency]
    #23597311 - 08/31/16 12:36 PM (7 years, 4 months ago)

Pressure treated wood contains copper chromate which is very nasty stuff. Mushrooms are really talented at absorption. Avoid at all costs


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