Mushroom compost is available at the Ferny Grove markets on Sunday mornings.
Is anyone in The Grove growing their own or interested in growing them to sell locally?
They are susceptible to fruit fly. The commercial mushroom growers grow them in a sealed room to keep the fruit fly out.
At the EKKA a firm [url=http://www.greenbankmushrooms.com.au]Greenbank Mushrooms Pty Ltd[/url] was selling oyster mushrooms and shiitake spawn bags. They supply the spawn bags. It needs a room (maybe a garage) an air conditioner (if it is too hot or cold). Best temperature range is 5-25C (best 15-18C) humidity range 80-90%. Also needs fresh air and light.
Shiitake mushrooms are cultivated and consumed in many Asian coutries. One Shiitake spawn bag can be harvested 3-4 times. After harvest it takes about 3 weeks for it to recover and start growing a second flush. If the spawn bag is light and lost a lot of water put it under water for 12 hours and then take it out to grow. One spawn bag can harvest 400-500 mushrooms. The spawn bags consist of sawdust rice bran and mushroom spawn. It takes about 4 months for shiitake spawn to grow and occupy the whole bag.
For people wanting to set it up as a home business they say they will teach and support us until we can operate by ourselves.