|
 Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
 Psilocybeingzz
 
Registered: 12/15/02
Posts: 14,463
Loc: International waters
Last seen: 11 years, 5 months
|
 Commercial Production, Advice NEEDED. 
#4861162 - 10/27/05 08:28 PM (18 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
My Dad was talking about starting a mushroom, bussiness, he wanted info , AND LOTS OF IT.
This could really turn into something cool.
I know enough to grow these mushrooms , but I was hoping you guys could convince him that this is not only possible but profitable.
How much would it cost to set up a small shed???, I told him about how cheap bags are, and how cheap substrate is, but what about the enviromental controls??
I have a pretty good idea , but why not ask the REAL PROs eh 
It would be really cool if this worked out, and I am going to be growing eddibles at my house(just because I want to) , but my Dad wants me to show him something thats not HUGE, but will prove that we can produce LARGE ammounts of gourmet mushrooms. (so it would be three grows, one small , one bigger, and then the REAL DEAL. 
What species would you guys choose?
I am thinking Oysters, and Shitake, for starters.
This just may be the most important question I have ever asked here.
THANK YOU , for your advice and time.
(be convincing) 
|
socialnorm77
forager
Registered: 05/20/05
Posts: 205
Loc: north east
Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
|
 Re: Commercial Production, Advice NEEDED. [Re: Psilocybeingzz]
#4861340 - 10/27/05 09:08 PM (18 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
oysters and shitakes are a good place to start. however, they are a double edged sword. On one hand they are fairly easy to grow, and have an established market. However, because of this, the market has dropped considerably. You mentioned that you would want just a small set-up, therefore, you may not be able to produce enough product to justify the operating costs.
so first, determine what the market needs are for your area. Your location says BC, so there is most likely a large wild market. which is going to make it tougher.
next determine species you can grow to fill the needs of your market, while getting the highest price per pound possible.
determine how many pounds you have to produce per week to justify the venture.
Once you answer these questions, it will be easier to determine the size operation you will need to build. and how much it will cost.
while there is alot of information out there on how to grow mushrooms for "profit", it is not always reliable, accurate, or up to date. I think the reason for this is because of the difficulty and variablity of an agricultural crop that requires such attention to detail, process, timing, and market. The people that have figured out the keys to succesfull mushroom farming, are keeping the secrets as close to home as the colonels original recipe.
this doesn't mean it is impossible, just harder. Lots of people run out of capital before they establish a consistent product and more importantly a consistent market.
several resources have helped me in my research.
here are a couple of refrences
paul stamets: mushroom cultivator, and growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms.
those two books are very well known, readily available, and even though some info in them is can be debated, they are a pretty good place to start.
online refrences: Well the shroomery of course!!
also www.attra.org has a pretty good report on the details of starting a farm. and mushworld.com also has some interesting articles.
okay I have been rambling enough. I hope this info helps. cheers norm
|
 Androctonus
Stranger
Registered: 09/17/05
Posts: 1,479
Loc: L.I.S.
|
Re: Commercial Production, Advice NEEDED. [Re: Psilocybeingzz]
#4861353 - 10/27/05 09:12 PM (18 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
--------------------
The red grass, up to my knees
An aura comes towards me
Someone's changed the formula
Un-chaining another law
The structures, the colors
Uniform chaos is alternating
The nature of things
|
pshawny
Mycobian
Registered: 09/11/04
Posts: 1,332
Loc: Shroomery
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
|
Re: Commercial Production, Advice NEEDED. [Re: Psilocybeingzz]
#4861433 - 10/27/05 09:26 PM (18 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
--------------------
|
cateyes
Registered: 12/16/03
Posts: 2,754
|
 Re: Commercial Production, Advice NEEDED. [Re: pshawny]
#4861589 - 10/27/05 09:55 PM (18 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
cool market price calculator pshawny.
hi Psilocybeingzz. i hope to pursue something like this one day myself to be honest.
environmental control systems are sized based on designed loads. a well insulated building will limit your energy costs. a high temp air conditioning system with cycling hot gas bypass will control the temperature within a narrow range. humidification control is also simple enough. you could use a standard control system or a programmable logic controller.
peace
cateyes
Edited by cateyes (10/27/05 09:57 PM)
|
brainbreath
perpetual newbie
Registered: 06/13/03
Posts: 67
Loc: down on the corner
|
Re: Commercial Production, Advice NEEDED. [Re: Psilocybeingzz]
#4862526 - 10/28/05 04:28 AM (18 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Is the shed already up or would you have to build one? What would be the dimensions of the shed? Alot of variables...
The biggest problem I've had isn't environmental but pest control problems.
What type you grow would depend on what you've got to work with. Oysters are definitely easier and cheaper to get started. http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/other/zmu-bb/mush0805.txt
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/mushroom.html#SpeciesNotCommon
http://mushroomcouncil.org/
http://mushroomspawn.cas.psu.edu/
|
|
Threaded
Previous
Index
Next
Buy Kratom Extract 
Bridgetown Botanicals 
All-In-One Bags That Don't Suck 
Bulk Cannabis Seeds 
Bulk Substrate
Edit 
Reply 
Jackal
YidakiMan
gray1
Thor
ChromeCrow
hyper_dermic