When shit hit the fan! Nice video Brian, deep and raw, the way I like it. Something I like to add is that once you step from hobby level to professional level many things change drastically. What affected me the most is: smell and spores. The smell in a growing room with hundreds of mushrooms is very intense, I would describe it a bit fishy, mainly from oysters. I started getting sick of the smell, couldn't handle it anymore. I learned the hard away I'm highly sensitive to spores, when the first big batches started to fruit I was getting sick every week with flu like symptoms, fever and physical pain, often I needed 2 days in row at home recovering. I had a mask but it did nothing for me, mushrooms keep releasing spores after harvested so being in contact with the harvested product during storage or deliver was enough to put me down. I had a small farm running for 6 months and simply had to stop because growing mushrooms wasn't bringing any fun or joy to my life, all the pleasure of growing mushrooms when growing on hobby level was gone. I would truly recommend everyone thinking on doing a business out of this to start small. Get some experience growing and selling at least 15-20lbs weekly. Once you have that you will be miles and miles ahead from the starting point, avoid big investments/decisions/risks before that since many things can go wrong during the process. I didn't totally give up, I'm slowly getting in mushrooms again. I'm now growing shiitake outdoors on 10lb fruiting blocks but in very small scale this time... These release considerably less spores than oysters, if my body shows a bit more tolerance this time I might go for it. Well, just sharing my worthless story.
Huge advantage to growing outdoors is lots of fresh air. My growrooms dont smell. I have smelled an indoor growroom in desperate need of cleaning and cannot really describe that experience in words. Really sucks that you developed an allergy
@@whatthefungus Your rooms are outdoors and designed to be easily maintained, that would have helped me. No more indoors and high tech controlled environments for me.
Sharing such information how you started and how to manage it day by day is a big help for us starting our Mushroom farm. Im tired of working in the company which is not mine. just sharing, Glenn from Philippines.
Thanks for the video! Im just starting out selling mushrooms. It's interesting how I've shifted from how do i grow mushrooms to how do i grow my mushrooms for my specific market. Also how to manage my time so i dont neglect my mushrooms, my customers, or my other business and private life
Thanks for the book recommendations along with the very informative video. I have a couple of the Stamets books and plan on taking a class from Tradd Cotter (Mushroom Mountain), as he is just 15 minutes away from where I live. I'll check out more of the ones you recommended, too. Thanks!
Great advice on deciding your target market. So I'm not trying to compete with the other growers in my area. I've chosen to focus on a completely different area. That of perfecting mushroom tea and tincture. I found my market to be more interested in the medicinal and so that's what I'm going after. Thanks for everything Brian
How I wish your farm is in Australia so I can visit it for your mentorship program. Im so obsessed growing oyster mushroom and thinking of using my hobby as extra income rather than spending some amount buying substrate and soyhull for nothing. Your videos are awesome and a good encouragement for mushroom beginners.
we're ivlive there a lot of Asian restaurants thought enok mushrooms and shitake, there's a few others. the only mushrooms sold here are portobello that's about it
Hi im from the Philippines, I watch your videos to learn from it. I want to start king oyster mushroom business here and I need your help. No one is producing king oyster mushroom here..pls help me what to do step by step.
Yes I second the conversation between your wife and yourself for a episode that would be great....also I'm curious to know how many folks do you have on payroll?
a topic on a tiny house site mentioned the big box stores have (I forgot the name) packs of lumber that is seconds or damaged or brought back at a reduced price. Are you using mini splits on the units, some even work on 4 solar panels and control humidity.
Hi Brian, thanks very much again! I am just wondering what do you do when the farm is closed over the winter? Do you have another job anywhere? Or are you fixing the farm, expanding, creating new ideas?
I work every day so a few months off is a great balance in my life. I'll be traveling making videos of past students this month and will possibly work on a 2nd edition for my book.
@@whatthefungus allright, that makes sence, but yet haven´t you been thinking to get at least one insulated growroom to go over the winter with at least some production for the most reliable customers? Don´t they mind that they stay "dry" for 5 months? :)
tried leaving a comment on kit.com :( "Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushroom" by Paul Stamets. Definitely study not just read this book before you take any workshops!! Great video and great advice. yup 3 to 5 years is what it takes. It doesn't happen overnight and the 3 to 5 years are the leanest and most difficult.
When shit hit the fan! Nice video Brian, deep and raw, the way I like it.
Something I like to add is that once you step from hobby level to professional level many things change drastically. What affected me the most is: smell and spores. The smell in a growing room with hundreds of mushrooms is very intense, I would describe it a bit fishy, mainly from oysters. I started getting sick of the smell, couldn't handle it anymore.
I learned the hard away I'm highly sensitive to spores, when the first big batches started to fruit I was getting sick every week with flu like symptoms, fever and physical pain, often I needed 2 days in row at home recovering. I had a mask but it did nothing for me, mushrooms keep releasing spores after harvested so being in contact with the harvested product during storage or deliver was enough to put me down.
I had a small farm running for 6 months and simply had to stop because growing mushrooms wasn't bringing any fun or joy to my life, all the pleasure of growing mushrooms when growing on hobby level was gone.
I would truly recommend everyone thinking on doing a business out of this to start small. Get some experience growing and selling at least 15-20lbs weekly. Once you have that you will be miles and miles ahead from the starting point, avoid big investments/decisions/risks before that since many things can go wrong during the process.
I didn't totally give up, I'm slowly getting in mushrooms again. I'm now growing shiitake outdoors on 10lb fruiting blocks but in very small scale this time... These release considerably less spores than oysters, if my body shows a bit more tolerance this time I might go for it.
Well, just sharing my worthless story.
Huge advantage to growing outdoors is lots of fresh air. My growrooms dont smell. I have smelled an indoor growroom in desperate need of cleaning and cannot really describe that experience in words. Really sucks that you developed an allergy
@@whatthefungus Your rooms are outdoors and designed to be easily maintained, that would have helped me. No more indoors and high tech controlled environments for me.
@@aliceswonderland7503 keep it simple
Sharing such information how you started and how to manage it day by day is a big help for us starting our Mushroom farm. Im tired of working in the company which is not mine. just sharing, Glenn from Philippines.
Thanks for the video! Im just starting out selling mushrooms. It's interesting how I've shifted from how do i grow mushrooms to how do i grow my mushrooms for my specific market. Also how to manage my time so i dont neglect my mushrooms, my customers, or my other business and private life
I would love to learn more about how you started. I’m not sure where to start. I’m lost. But I want to so bad
Thanks for the book recommendations along with the very informative video. I have a couple of the Stamets books and plan on taking a class from Tradd Cotter (Mushroom Mountain), as he is just 15 minutes away from where I live. I'll check out more of the ones you recommended, too. Thanks!
This is a wonderful place to start thank you for all the great advice and your input based of your own experience!
Great advice on deciding your target market. So I'm not trying to compete with the other growers in my area. I've chosen to focus on a completely different area. That of perfecting mushroom tea and tincture. I found my market to be more interested in the medicinal and so that's what I'm going after. Thanks for everything Brian
A discussion between you and your wife could be a good idea for an episode...just an idea?
Maybe even a wintertime podcast:)
Haha.. you will need to convince her
Love your passion and willingness to help the next grower reach success.
From the Philippines. Thank you. I learned a lot.👍
How I wish your farm is in Australia so I can visit it for your mentorship program. Im so obsessed growing oyster mushroom and thinking of using my hobby as extra income rather than spending some amount buying substrate and soyhull for nothing. Your videos are awesome and a good encouragement for mushroom beginners.
we're ivlive there a lot of Asian restaurants thought enok mushrooms and shitake, there's a few others. the only mushrooms sold here are portobello that's about it
Very Honest! its a lot of work in the end
Good info.
Hi im from the Philippines, I watch your videos to learn from it. I want to start king oyster mushroom business here and I need your help. No one is producing king oyster mushroom here..pls help me what to do step by step.
Yes I second the conversation between your wife and yourself for a episode that would be great....also I'm curious to know how many folks do you have on payroll?
She laughs about it, and perhaps there will be one video this winter. We currently have two amazing dudes working for us.
Thank you for your tips!! Been following for a while and your company sure has grown!!
Wait until next year. Gonna double again
WHAT THE FUNGUS dude that is so awesome!! Keep it up
@@whatthefungus you doubling up overnight like mushrooms! :D
a topic on a tiny house site mentioned the big box stores have (I forgot the name) packs of lumber that is seconds or damaged or brought back at a reduced price. Are you using mini splits on the units, some even work on 4 solar panels and control humidity.
Hi Brian, thanks very much again! I am just wondering what do you do when the farm is closed over the winter? Do you have another job anywhere? Or are you fixing the farm, expanding, creating new ideas?
I work every day so a few months off is a great balance in my life. I'll be traveling making videos of past students this month and will possibly work on a 2nd edition for my book.
@@whatthefungus allright, that makes sence, but yet haven´t you been thinking to get at least one insulated growroom to go over the winter with at least some production for the most reliable customers? Don´t they mind that they stay "dry" for 5 months? :)
Great Ideas!!!
tried leaving a comment on kit.com :( "Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushroom" by Paul Stamets. Definitely study not just read this book before you take any workshops!! Great video and great advice. yup 3 to 5 years is what it takes. It doesn't happen overnight and the 3 to 5 years are the leanest and most difficult.
Not sure why you couldn't leave a comment.
unsecured connection through Facebook. And Facebook denied connection.
"That book usually sells for $500” lol 😂
Yup
@@whatthefungus nice!!
ok…I’m gonna start saving .
this is making me depressed dude, didn't you just sell 1,300 pounds in a week?