Growing Mushrooms for Farmer's Markets [View all]

So, I see this forum has very little traffic and wish it was filled with innovative farming ideas. I just can't get enough of talking organic and sustainable farming. It's sort of an addiction. There is just so much new info out there, I'm surprised this forum is so slow. So, I'm going to try and liven it up.

So, I grow Oyster mushrooms in a 10 by 8 foot greenhouse in my above ground basement in East TN (we always say we live in east TN, it's never just TN because the climate is so different in each part.) It took me 2 years to figure out how to do it. Now I can provide a reliable product for my customers at least in spring, fall and winter. Turns out that most mushrooms and especially most oyster mushrooms need a cold spell to kick start them into fruiting (I have actually put my 40 lb tubes of inoculated straw in the fridge to get them going.). There are mushrooms that like it warmer but they are either more touchy about other environmental issues that I can't control, or you can't find the grain spawn to purchase.

I decided I was a farmer, not a chemist or laboratory specialist and didn't want to be in a lab trying to create spawn. I have a difficult enough time just boiling my straw to inoculate with grain spawn, I didn't want to do all those mandatory cleaning and sterile procedures. So, as a farmer and NOT a chemist, I purchase grain spawn on line from an organic source and chop and boil straw and end up with 6 40 lb hanging bags in my basement greenhouse. I've tried growing outside but birds, insects and sudden weather changes have combined to make it almost impossible outside. Besides, the oyster mushrooms I've grown inside are bigger, prettier, and more tender.

I do not have the ability to sterilize, only pasteurize, so I have to buy my grain already inoculated. I have had a terrible time using inoculated wood chips. Their production is very anemic and they tend to get infected with other spores more easily. So far only oyster mushrooms have been successful in my basement greenhouse but I would like to try and am still experimenting with some Agaricus strains. I'm also thinking that in our very, very hot summers, straw mushrooms would do well, if I could only find the spawn.

So I end up with 3 flushes from my bags for about 60 lbs of mushrooms over 6 weeks. They are so delicious, I had no idea how good they can be. Now, that is a run where everything goes according to plan. I get less if the fruit flies get in and I don't get the fly strips up fast enough, or the weather changes suddenly or my humidifier breaks and the bags dry out, or they get contaminated for no apparent reason. I think in the last 3 years, I have had all the problems you can get.

I sell retail at $16 a lb in 3 oz containers ($3.00 per container. I use to do $7 and $8 for 7 and 8 oz containers but customers saw that other farmers were offering the $3 containers and didn't realize they were getting more with my more expensive containers.). So you see, it is very lucrative to get a good run. But many a time the customers were not buying when the mushrooms were ready. But once they tasted them they wanted more but then the hot weather starts and the bags stop producing. I think I have regular customers now and can count on them buying about 30 lbs. I've scaled down because chemical farmers are offering the same thing. Most people don't realize how many chemicals conventional mushroom farmers use and how the mushrooms just suck up all the chemicals in their environment. Chemicals help keep things sterile which ensures fewer contaminated bags. I don't use any chemicals the fly strips I use only have adhesive (I know because I've had them catch on my face too may times to count.).

So, in a nut shell that has been my experience. Have you had a different experience with mushrooms? Would you like more details about my grows? Is there a newer variety or method on mushroom growing that you have heard of? Are your sales better or worse than mine? Any questions I can answer?