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Cultivation of shiitake mushrooms as an agroforestry crop for New England

Cultivation of shiitake mushrooms as an agroforestry crop for New England

Summary/Abstract

Forest farming of shiitake mushrooms is an agroforestry practice that increases crop diversity while providing diversified income for farmers and other forest owners. Previous SARE projects involving shiitake mushroom production were farmer grants focused on a single farm, whereas this project will impact multiple farmers. Shiitake mushrooms are grown on fresh cut pole-sized logs which may be obtained from thinning as part of sustainable forest management. They begin producing mushrooms after one year and continue producing for up to 5 years. Three farmer advisers who are mushroom growers, UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and Cornell University’s Arnot Forest will lead education and research activities.
Key elements in workshops conducted by this project include: tree acquisition (forest management), hands-on learning of essential skills, site visits to growers and guidance in development of a 5 year enterprise plan. Farms will initiate their plan by inoculating 100 logs on their own forest , and mushroom harvest will begin one year later. The NE Forest Mushroom Cultivator’s Network www.mushrooms.cals.cornell.edu/ will be used to foster communication among experienced and novice growers, and to disseminate research results and other information including a research-derived Best Management Practices fact publication resulting from this project.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Performance Target: Each of 20 farm woodlot owners will inoculate 100 logs in 2011 and harvest 100 pounds of shiitake mushrooms by 2012, earning $1200.

Project Content Page

2010 Proposal

Project Number: LNE10-298
Type: Research and Education Project
Region: Northeast
SARE Grant: $116,706

Coordinators:
Bridgett Jamison
University of Vermont
207 Elmwood Ave
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: 267-374-9436
E-mail: bridgettjamison@gmail.com

Kenneth Mudge
Associate Professor
Cornell University
Department of Horticulture 13 Plant Science Building , Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 1485
Phone: 607-255-1794
E-mail: kwm2@cornell.edu
Website: http://mushrooms.cals.cornell.edu/

Participants:
Steve Gabriel
workshop presenter
Work With Nature Ecological Design Solutions
PO Box 54
Ithaca , NY 1485
E-mail: steve@workwithnature.net

Nickolas Laskovski
Farmer Advisor
Dana Forest Farm
459 Dana Hill Rd.
Waitsfield, VT, , VT 0567
Phone: (802)595-0522
E-mail: npl420@gmail.com
Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Waitsfield-VT/Dana-Forest-Farm/73217300126

Allen Matthews
Farm Enterprise Coordinator
Center for Sustainable Agriculture, University of Vermont
106 High Point Center, Suite 300
Colchester , VT 0544
Phone: (802)656-0037
E-mail: allen.matthews@uvm.edu
Website: http://www.uvm.edu/sustainableagriculture

Kenneth Mudge
Associate Professor
Cornell University
Department of Horticulture , 13 Plant Science Building
Ithaca , NY 1485
Phone: (607)255-1794
E-mail: kwm2@cornell.edu
Website: http://mushrooms.cals.cornell.edu/

Steve&Julie Rockcastle
Farmer Advisor
Green Heron Growers
2361 Wait Corners Rd
Panama , NY 14767
Phone: (716)753-0371
E-mail: julie.blueheron@gmail.com

Steve Sierigk
Farmer Advisor
Hawk Meadow Farm
5066 Mott Evans Rd
Trumansburg , NY 1488
Phone: (607)387-3424
E-mail: info@acorndesigns.com

Ben Waterman
Beginning Farmer and Land Access Program Coordinato
UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture
106 High Point Center, Suite 300
Colchester , VT 05446
Phone: 802-656-9142
E-mail: ben.waterman@uvm.edu

Marilyn Wyman
Natural Resource Educator
Agroforestry Resource Center, Cornell Cooperative Extension
6055 Rt. 23
Acra , NY 1240
Phone: (518)622-9820
E-mail: mfw10@cornell.edu
This project and all associated reports and support materials were supported by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture- National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed within do not necessarily reflect the view of the SARE program or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.