MAY 23 2013 This article will be broken up into two sections. The first is for the hobby grower who perhaps wants to introduce their kids to a fun project or someone just looking for the occasional small scale harvest. This is plenty for a family that eats mushrooms a few times a month.
The second section is for all your die hard mushroom fanatics that want to get serious. This expert shrooming knowledge will provide you with your own lifetime supply of professional grade mushrooms or the opportunity to cash in on a highly desired and extremely profitable crop. Of course if you just want to grow a ton of mushrooms to give away we absolutely support that decision too
The second section is for all your die hard mushroom fanatics that want to get serious. This expert shrooming knowledge will provide you with your own lifetime supply of professional grade mushrooms or the opportunity to cash in on a highly desired and extremely profitable crop. Of course if you just want to grow a ton of mushrooms to give away we absolutely support that decision too
PART I: HOBBY MUSHROOMS
Growing your own mushrooms is sustainable, fun, and easy to get started. Here’s what you’ll need:-WoodMost mushrooms grow best on hardwood trees, but there are also a few species that proliferate on softwoods. Oak is often suggested. If you are using another type of wood it is preferable to use trees with a thick outer bark and higher ratio of sapwood to heartwood.
A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that the denser the wood, the longer it will take to decompose, thereby it will continue to produce mushrooms for a longer period of time.
-Inoculated DowelsYou’ll need some spores to get you started which can be bought as wooden pegs which have been inoculated for you. If you can’t find any at your local garden center you can order some online on Amazon, for instance. Some other varieties on sale via Amazon include: Reishi, Pink Oyster, Pearl Oyster, and King Oyster.
-DrillYou’ll need a drill to create holes in which to insert the dowels.
-WaxMelt some wax down and cover the holes after inserting the pegs to protect against the elements and unwanted infection.
After your first harvest, new mushrooms will continue to pop out every 2-3 weeks. Enjoy!
PART II: SERIOUS SHROOMING
First shiitake flush from a group of logs. (Andrew Bojanowski, Eddy Farm)
To date, most forest cultivation of shiitake mushrooms has been conducted in the southern and Midwestern regions of the U.S. where the climate, available substrate tree species and markets differ from those in the Northeast.
This manual outlines best management practices for shiitake mushroom cultivation and sales in the northeastern United States. In addition, the manual also includes anecdotes and tips from experienced growers in the region, data gathered from farms starting their operation, and the latest academic research.
This manual outlines best management practices for shiitake mushroom cultivation and sales in the northeastern United States. In addition, the manual also includes anecdotes and tips from experienced growers in the region, data gathered from farms starting their operation, and the latest academic research.
Information Sources
Expert Tips and Tricks
Some of the growers involved in this project have been growing and selling shiitake mushrooms for many years. Wherever applicable, they have shared helpful tidbits that helped them save time and money, and increase their own mushroom production.
Expert Opinions
Shiitake mushrooms have been grown in the U.S. only since the early 1980s so the process of cultivating shiitake mushrooms is still in its relative infancy. For many topics, there is no definite “right” way. For these situations, we have drawn on expertise from growers through their hands-on experience. These included not only the original four expert commercial shiitake growers involved in the SARE project that culminates in this guide, but also may others participating in the listserv that was initiated to foster communication among many more growers. Use this information to help yourself make informed decisions.
Grower Results
Twenty-seven beginning growers were chosen to participate in a SARE grant “Cultivation of Shiitake Mushrooms as an Agroforesty Crop in New England.” After attending a series of workshops including an on-farm visit to a shiitake grower and enterprise development training, each participant inoc ulated 100 bolts (logs) on their property with shiitake spawn, managed their laying yard, harvested and sold mushrooms, all the while keeping records of labor, expenses, production and sales. During the summer and fall of 2012 they completed their first harvest season and submitted their records. The results were analyzed to determine realistic estimates of the time requirements and costs of starting an operation and what profits they could expect to gen erate. Using their results, we were also able to draw some broad conclusions regarding production techniques.
UVM Mushrooms Listserv
Since 2010, over 100 growers and mushroom enthusiasts have been involved in a Northeast-based mushroom listserv. Much of the material for this manual was drawn from valuable discussions that took place over the listserv.
Northeast Forest Mushrooms Growers NetworkThe Northeast Forest Mushroom Growers Network website is the official online meeting place for the NE SARE‐funded project, Cultivation of Shiitake Mushrooms as an Agroforestry Crop for New England. The aim is to provide information about the cultivation of specialty forest mushrooms and foster communication and cooperation among amateur and professional mushroom growers. On the website, you can learn about upcoming events and mushroom inoculation classes, download the latest fact sheets and publications, watch video demonstrations of inoculation techniques, register your farm in your mushroom grower directory and much more. Check it out at http://blogs.cornell.edu/mushrooms/
Cornell University Ongoing Shiitake ResearchSince 2006 Ken Mudge and coworkers at Cornell University have been conducting research on shiitake and other specialty forest mushrooms at the Arnot Forest near Ithaca, N.Y. This research has focused on four broad areas including substrate tree species, seasonal consideration, laying yard manage ment, and cultivation of lion’s mane mushrooms. The results of some of that research are shown in the graphs within this guide.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Shiitake-Mushroom-Kit-Mushrooms/dp/B0009IR4CKSome of the growers involved in this project have been growing and selling shiitake mushrooms for many years. Wherever applicable, they have shared helpful tidbits that helped them save time and money, and increase their own mushroom production.
Expert Opinions
Shiitake mushrooms have been grown in the U.S. only since the early 1980s so the process of cultivating shiitake mushrooms is still in its relative infancy. For many topics, there is no definite “right” way. For these situations, we have drawn on expertise from growers through their hands-on experience. These included not only the original four expert commercial shiitake growers involved in the SARE project that culminates in this guide, but also may others participating in the listserv that was initiated to foster communication among many more growers. Use this information to help yourself make informed decisions.
Grower Results
Twenty-seven beginning growers were chosen to participate in a SARE grant “Cultivation of Shiitake Mushrooms as an Agroforesty Crop in New England.” After attending a series of workshops including an on-farm visit to a shiitake grower and enterprise development training, each participant inoc ulated 100 bolts (logs) on their property with shiitake spawn, managed their laying yard, harvested and sold mushrooms, all the while keeping records of labor, expenses, production and sales. During the summer and fall of 2012 they completed their first harvest season and submitted their records. The results were analyzed to determine realistic estimates of the time requirements and costs of starting an operation and what profits they could expect to gen erate. Using their results, we were also able to draw some broad conclusions regarding production techniques.
UVM Mushrooms Listserv
Since 2010, over 100 growers and mushroom enthusiasts have been involved in a Northeast-based mushroom listserv. Much of the material for this manual was drawn from valuable discussions that took place over the listserv.
Northeast Forest Mushrooms Growers NetworkThe Northeast Forest Mushroom Growers Network website is the official online meeting place for the NE SARE‐funded project, Cultivation of Shiitake Mushrooms as an Agroforestry Crop for New England. The aim is to provide information about the cultivation of specialty forest mushrooms and foster communication and cooperation among amateur and professional mushroom growers. On the website, you can learn about upcoming events and mushroom inoculation classes, download the latest fact sheets and publications, watch video demonstrations of inoculation techniques, register your farm in your mushroom grower directory and much more. Check it out at http://blogs.cornell.edu/mushrooms/
Cornell University Ongoing Shiitake ResearchSince 2006 Ken Mudge and coworkers at Cornell University have been conducting research on shiitake and other specialty forest mushrooms at the Arnot Forest near Ithaca, N.Y. This research has focused on four broad areas including substrate tree species, seasonal consideration, laying yard manage ment, and cultivation of lion’s mane mushrooms. The results of some of that research are shown in the graphs within this guide.
http://www.amazon.com/Shiitake-Mushroom-Mycelium-Plug-Spawn/dp/B00BJ5F84S
