| Growing mushrooms for profit is becoming a popular | | | | method, that's all it takes. |
| way to make some nice money. Best of all, no | | | | Once your mushrooms are ready to be sold, you |
| full-time commitment is required. You can have a | | | | have several options. Maybe you'd like to try the local |
| full-time job or other commitments and still be a | | | | farmers' market. These usually draw big crowds that |
| successful grower. Can you spare 12 hours a week? | | | | are eager to spend money on the top locally-grown |
| Here's how you can make $600 growing oyster | | | | produce. Reserve a stand or booth and get selling. |
| mushrooms. | | | | Spots fill up fast, so if this happens, consider asking |
| Oyster mushrooms are a type of exotic mushroom. | | | | another grower if you can share their stand with |
| The popularity of exotic mushrooms is continuing to | | | | them. |
| climb. Over one and a half million pounds of exotic | | | | Restaurants are big buyers of mushrooms. Talk to |
| mushrooms were consumed just last year in the U.S. | | | | some local restaurants, and see if they might be |
| So why oyster mushrooms? Simply put, they are | | | | interested in your exotic mushrooms. Hand out free |
| one of the easiest exotic mushrooms to grow. They | | | | samples to chefs. Most chefs love oyster mushrooms |
| can be fully grown in about six weeks. | | | | for the delicious taste, and the fact that they "pair" |
| Growing mushrooms for profit can be a new career | | | | well with many foods. |
| or a way to make some extra cash. You decide. If | | | | Grocery stores are another market for oyster |
| you have 12 hours a week, you have enough time to | | | | mushrooms. In particular, upscale grocery stores are |
| run and maintain a successful mushroom-growing | | | | the ones most likely to carry exotic mushrooms, |
| business. Growing oyster mushrooms for profit is | | | | such as your oyster mushrooms. Chances are good |
| certainly not a get-rich-quick scheme, but it can lead | | | | that you can beat out an out-of-state distributor for |
| to a nice income. | | | | business if you can offer your mushrooms at a |
| So let's do the math. Oyster mushrooms are | | | | better price than what the grocery store has been |
| currently selling for about $6 a pound. If you'd like to | | | | paying before. Plus, the grocery store might even |
| make $600 a week growing mushrooms, that means | | | | allow you to put on demonstrations. Handing out free |
| you'll need to grow about 100 pounds a week. How | | | | samples is a great way to drum up business for your |
| much room will you need? To grow 100 pounds a | | | | mushroom-growing business. Just a taste is all it |
| week you'll need a growing area that is about 100 to | | | | takes. |
| 150 square feet. Using the "hanging bag" growing | | | | |