|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
TravelAgency
The ongoing "wow"


Registered: 12/25/10
Posts: 4,431
Last seen: 11 months, 21 days
|
Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm 3
#24717707 - 10/17/17 06:36 PM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Sorry for my absence as of late, but boy howdy do I have an update.
So right after I was last on here work went from terrible to downright suicidal (not being flippant). I worked 20 hours in one day because new owners thought it'd be best to come in late and order everything off the new menu (their last order came in 45 minutes after close) and I opened and my GM couldn't be bothered to go up there, plus we had another big boss coming in the very next day to do an inspection so there was already extra work to be done. That next day was my day off, and not only did I get bitched at for not getting enough done the day prior, but I also had to go into the store. Needless to say I immediately started job searching- which was hard to do on my schedule.
But I got hired on the spot at our town's premiere food joint- though they don't hire directly into bartender or manager (hire within) so I have to start as server. A little bit of a blow to the ego of someone who has 3 years experience at extreme high volume bartending and 2.5 years experience managing, but after talking to people I know who work there and it looks like I could work half the time I am now and make the same amount of money.
Then, the (good) bombshell hit. 3 days ago my dreams came true: I got an investor to give me the space and funds to set up a mid scale mushroom farm! I was at my best friend's wife's graduation party and a mutual friend of ours from high school overheard me discussing fungi with some of my friends and the next day he hit me up asking about growing. My reply was "yeah I'd love to teach you!" And he asked if I could use extra space and extra money to get a legit business going and I said hell yeah! So I now have a 2 car garage that we are fitting to be a Fruiting Chamber and a room to be the lab. I can't tell you how excited I am!
Today was my last day at my current job, and I have a week and a half to build the farm before I start my new job- which looks like will become my side job 
I will be keeping this updated with our build, as well as picking all of your brains. First question goes to Gr0wer's or anyone else who fruited in a garage: what did you do to insulate the garage door? I'm in North Texas- so really hot summers and occasionally below freezing winters.
Hope all you cats are as groovy as I feel at the moment- the future looks amazing!
|
Quadman
Challenged


Registered: 04/23/16
Posts: 2,529
Loc: IL
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: TravelAgency]
#24717909 - 10/17/17 07:41 PM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Congratulations TA , sounds like your moving in a good direction! Simple fix is to replace with an insulated door. Depending on the door you could glue rigid foam to the existing. The relationship you describe as mutual friend. Just a word of caution things can get messy and nasty very quick. I would suggest getting as much in writing as possible. You will have knowledge and sweat equity in it from the get go. Don't want to see you burned.
--------------------
|
TravelAgency
The ongoing "wow"


Registered: 12/25/10
Posts: 4,431
Last seen: 11 months, 21 days
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: Quadman]
#24717940 - 10/17/17 07:48 PM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Yep for sure. Nothing in writing right now but that's high on the list (will be done before I start my new job).
|
TravelAgency
The ongoing "wow"


Registered: 12/25/10
Posts: 4,431
Last seen: 11 months, 21 days
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: TravelAgency]
#24717941 - 10/17/17 07:49 PM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
And neat tip for the door
|
openmindedcanvas
spreadjalove
Registered: 12/01/15
Posts: 207
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: TravelAgency]
#24717958 - 10/17/17 07:53 PM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
|
The Mycologist
Explorer

Registered: 05/06/16
Posts: 3,024
Last seen: 28 days, 9 hours
|
|
Hell Yeah
-------------------- "That you are here—that life exists, and identity; That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.” ― Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

|
afrekcan
Stranger



Registered: 07/12/14
Posts: 195
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
|
|
Awesome! Very happy for you! Hope all goes well. As quad said, business and friendship makes for a delicate balance. Your skills are valuable, be sure not to sell yourself short.
Best of luck
|
Spotter
Making you all look good


Registered: 05/25/17
Posts: 712
Loc: True North
Last seen: 2 months, 1 day
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: afrekcan]
#24718104 - 10/17/17 08:57 PM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
I've been wondering about mushroom farming. How many lbs/week are you aiming at for a 'mid-sized' farm?
-------------------- Its all about the Hericium erinaceus yo. Spotters Resume
|
TravelAgency
The ongoing "wow"


Registered: 12/25/10
Posts: 4,431
Last seen: 11 months, 21 days
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: Spotter]
#24718406 - 10/17/17 11:13 PM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Depending on species- 100-300 lbs a week, possibly more. I have to make a few test runs but that's my goal. If it's oysters only I'm trying to time it to average 2 first flushes a week.
|
frog48
Peasant



Registered: 03/08/13
Posts: 612
Loc: France
Last seen: 11 days, 9 hours
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: Spotter]
#24718428 - 10/17/17 11:36 PM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Bonne chance TA
|
TravelAgency
The ongoing "wow"


Registered: 12/25/10
Posts: 4,431
Last seen: 11 months, 21 days
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: frog48]
#24718441 - 10/17/17 11:55 PM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Merci beaucoup monsieur frog! Parbleu mon ami, ça se passe! Je suis tres vraiment excité!
Making conduit shelving out of pvc for cost. Insulating the garage and attaching plastic. Fans in through large version of a Humidibucket, fully automated including water hook up on a float valve and out. Possibly a misting system. Definitely separate humidification for a fluctuation of 89-95% humidity possibly changing depending on species. Temp controll. Drainage system eventually. Hopefully 12 10' shelves, 6 or 7 rows each. So if I can fit 9-10 blocks per shelf and can recreate my 1.5lbs 1st flush oyster yields.... dear lord I'm getting into it deep! I'm trying to be conservative in my estimates but if I can squeeze 2 1st flushes in in 8-10 days it's going to be looking pretty good.
I have a pretty good idea of what direction I'm going in but if anyone has anything to add please chime in!
|
TheMadHatter420
Trusted Farmer

Registered: 10/12/16
Posts: 12,941
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: TravelAgency]
#24718657 - 10/18/17 04:48 AM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
I want to see build pics down the road please.
-------------------- JOIN THE POW WOW
|
Mycolorado
Hobbyist


Registered: 07/23/16
Posts: 8,528
Loc: Interdimensional Bootcamp
|
|
Right on, TA, good luck!
|
thunderfarm


Registered: 02/19/17
Posts: 397
Loc: Oklahoma, USA
Last seen: 8 months, 9 days
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: Mycolorado] 1
#24718838 - 10/18/17 07:58 AM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
TA, superb! Congratulations. In terms of cost, you definitely want to use rigid insulation on your garage door. New garage doors are very expensive! If you can leave the garage door permanently closed, building a temporary insulated wall will be much more energy efficient.
Assuming your garage walls have sheetrock, check on craigslist for used rigid foam insulation as an option for insulating the walls. The best option is to remove the sheetrock and place a vapor barrier, i.e. plastic, on the inside and outside the walls and use blow-in insulation. Keep in mind that condensation occurs on the warm side of the wall. Thus, in the summer condensation will occur on the outside wall and the reverse in the winter. Make sure and use a sealer on the top, sides and bottom of the wall when installing a plastic vapor barrier to get a true seal. Also, make sure the outside wall condensation has a path to escape.
What are your plans for heating and cooling? How are you planning to get fresh air in and exhaust air out?
Something else to think about is paying for utilities. If you have to pay for electricity, you will need to come up with a way to estimate energy consumption.
Again, congratulations and good luck! Very exciting. Please update us on your progress.
--------------------
|
anthiawe
friendly stranger


Registered: 05/18/16
Posts: 652
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: thunderfarm]
#24719095 - 10/18/17 10:13 AM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
-------------------- TEK compendium
|
LizardWizard
GnomeGrower




Registered: 01/07/15
Posts: 13,688
Loc: the parking lot
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: Quadman]
#24719297 - 10/18/17 11:48 AM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Quadman said:
The relationship you describe as mutual friend. Just a word of caution things can get messy and nasty very quick. I would suggest getting as much in writing as possible. You will have knowledge and sweat equity in it from the get go. Don't want to see you burned.

Dude, this was exactly my thought and gut feeling here.
-------------------- The best things in life can be smelled on one's fingers.
|
The Mycologist
Explorer

Registered: 05/06/16
Posts: 3,024
Last seen: 28 days, 9 hours
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: TravelAgency]
#24719311 - 10/18/17 11:55 AM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
TheMadHatter420 said:
I want to see build pics down the road please.
Yes
-------------------- "That you are here—that life exists, and identity; That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.” ― Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

|
TravelAgency
The ongoing "wow"


Registered: 12/25/10
Posts: 4,431
Last seen: 11 months, 21 days
|
|
Yes I will definitely be uploading a full build for this laden with pics.
@thunderfarm: thanks for the info mate! and yeah we will have a good size intake and exhaust.
Thanks all! I'll keep this updated with the build. Going to launch a YouTube channel soon too and have also been floating. The idea of a Podcast.
|
drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 4,168
Loc: TN
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: TravelAgency]
#24720074 - 10/18/17 05:08 PM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
TBH you'll never make as much $ farming as bartending at a fancy/busy bar. 
Sucks, but it's the way she goes. Don't quit your day job is all I'm saying.
|
solarity
mm... my favourite food



Registered: 03/31/09
Posts: 1,590
Loc: UK
|
Re: Starting a Mid Size Mushroom Farm [Re: drake89]
#24722340 - 10/19/17 03:31 PM (6 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Hopefully 12 10' shelves, 6 or 7 rows each. So if I can fit 9-10 blocks per shelf and can recreate my 1.5lbs 1st flush oyster yields.... dear lord I'm getting into it deep! I'm trying to be conservative in my estimates but if I can squeeze 2 1st flushes in in 8-10 days it's going to be looking pretty good.
Confused, how many blocks in fruiting and where are they incubating. Have you done the shitload calc in my sig (this is very old but still pretty much there!)
Oh, and what drake said!
-------------------- Commercial exotics farmer for 8 years - now sold up!
|
|