Uncovering the Efficacy of Hemp Byproduct as a Mushroom Growing Medium: Nurturing Symbiosis Between Local Farmers

Objective 1. Determine first and second flush rates (yield by pound) of blue oyster and lion’s mane mushrooms across 2 substrates: sawdust and hemp stalks.

    Our research will be focused on 4 groups which test our 2 variables: (1)substrate material and (2)mushroom variety. The study will be replicated in 3 shaded hoop houses (11ft x 21ft in dimension) on the same property, with each hoop house including a sample of each of the four groups (Table 1). The hoop houses will be equally divided between the 4 study groups, such that ~60sqft will be utilized for each group in each hoop house. 

    The 4 study groups are:

• Blue Oyster mushrooms on sawdust substrate
• Blue Oyster mushrooms on hemp stalk substrate
• Lion’s Mane mushrooms on sawdust substrate
• Lion’s Mane mushrooms on hemp stalk substrate

Table 1.

        Each group will undergo the same methods as writ below, with only the aforementioned variables between each group;

1. All hemp stalks will be fully dried and then ground down to same-size small chips using a wood-chipper. The hemp stalks used in this study were pulled in the fall of 2022 and left to dry to completely (many months), then put through an industrial grade wood-chipper in mid-August. It is being considered to push the stalks through another wood-chipper for a finer material.
2. Beginning in a sanitary lab space, quart jars of hydrated grain with gypsum will be sterilized in an auto-clave sterilizer, and then inoculated with mycelium (half of the jars will be oyster, half will be lion's mane).
3. Jars will be moved to an incubation space, where they will be left to myceliate fully (until the jar is visually fully saturated with mycelium). The incubation space will be dark and climate controlled at about 75 degrees F. The jars will be periodically shaken by hand during this period, once at about 30% myceliation and again at about 80% (determined visually). 
4. Substrate for each group type described above will be mixed and hydrated to field capacity (1.5 liters of water to 1kg of substrate material). The field capacity for each substrate will be checked at the beginning of the study for optimal hydration. 
5. Substrate will be high-heat pasteurized for 18 hours.
6. The pasteurized substrate will be put into 10lb auto-claveable bags with 2 jars of myceliated grain distributed evenly throughout each bag. The bags will be sealed and put back in the incubation area and left to myceliate fully (until the bag is visually fully saturated with mycelium)
7. The bags will then be transferred to the fruiting area (the hoop houses described above) on basic shelving. Here the bags will be exposed to indirect light, air flow, higher CO2 levels, and higher humidity (80-90%). The bags will be sliced open at this stage.
8. The bags will be checked periodically for primordial formation.
9. Once fully matured, the fruiting bodies will be harvested and weighed with stems intact. This is the first flush.
10. The bags will be left on the shelves and allowed to go through full fruiting again, following steps 8-9. This will be the second flush.

Objective 2: Cost/profit analysis between the two substrates in regards to output

1. 1. Cost analysis will focus on the procurement costs for each substrate base and differences in labor for mushroom cultivation across substrate bases and mushroom variety
   2. Profit analysis will focus on yield (in pounds) of each mushroom variety across substrate base, in conjunction with price/lb in current-day market, with cost subtracted out (this will be presented in a 1st, 2nd, and 1st + 2nd flush paradigm)
      1. COST OF GOODS SOLD (COGS) = substrate materials + substrate preparation labor + maintenance labor + harvesting labor 
      2. PROFIT = (yield x market price) - COGS

Objective 3: Analysis of mycelial growth (faster growth = faster turnover for more bags in a season)

1. 1. Document which group has the quickest turnover from inoculation to harvest, cross-referencing between each variable and considering known averages per mushroom type
   2. This will be measured in days from the day of inoculation to the day of harvest (the day of inoculation and day of harvests will each counts as 1 day) 

Objective 4: Analysis of accessibility in our region (stats and networking on hemp and mushroom farms) as well as traceability (how transparent is sourcing information)

1. 1. Investigate current market sourcing for substrate materials
   2. Inquire to businesses selling substrate material for all sourcing information available
   3. Release surveys to PNW agriculture business to determine attitudes toward inter-connectivity with other agricultural businesses, interests or concerns about materials sourcing and transparency, etc.