Calculate Your Cost

Using the provided calculators, approximate the overall cost of your urban mushroom farm, starting with a single tent and one of the cultivation options. We recommend two tents with 120 blocks or bags per tent, ideal for a 24x24-foot area. Calculate the number of tents and materials to suit your needs.

Option 1: Fruiting Block
Option 2: All-in-One Bag + Culture
Use the calculators below to estimate the cost.

Option 3: Substate + Sterilized Grain + Culture + Monotub*
Option 4: Substrate + Inoculated Grain Spawn + Monotub*
Please contact us as they may require customization.

* Requires a layer of casing

Demonstration using a two-car garage

  • Choosing between a Mushroom Grow Kit Fruiting Block and an All-in-One Bag with the choice of liquid culture depends on factors such as convenience, experience level, and the desired level of control in the cultivation process. Here are some considerations for each:

    Fruiting Block:

    Convenience: Fruiting blocks are pre-inoculated with mushroom mycelium and come ready to fruit. This can save time and effort in the initial stages of cultivation, making it suitable for beginners.

    Controlled Environment: Grow kits usually come with their own growing containers and provide a controlled environment for fruiting, including proper humidity and ventilation. This reduces the need for specialized equipment and monitoring.

    Limited Customization: While convenient, grow kits may offer less flexibility for customization compared to starting from scratch. This could be a drawback for more experienced cultivators who prefer fine-tuning their growing conditions.

    All-in-One Bag with Liquid Culture:

    Customization: All-in-One Bags with liquid culture provide more flexibility in terms of substrate choice and inoculation method. This is beneficial for cultivators who want more control over the entire process.

    Experience Level: More experienced growers who are familiar with sterile techniques and want to experiment with different substrates or liquid cultures may prefer the flexibility offered by an All-in-One Bag.

    Learning Opportunity: Working with separate components allows for a deeper understanding of the cultivation process. This approach may be more suitable for those who view mushroom cultivation as a hobby or are interested in the science behind it.

    Higher Initial Learning Curve: Starting from scratch with an All-in-One Bag and liquid culture may have a steeper learning curve, especially for beginners. It requires a good understanding of sterile techniques to prevent contamination.

    In summary, choosing between a Mushroom Grow Kit Fruiting Block and an All-in-One Bag with liquid culture depends on your level of experience, the desire for convenience, and the degree of control you want over the cultivation process. Beginners may find grow kits more accessible, while experienced growers might prefer the customization options provided by All-in-One Bags.

1: Indoor Tent + Fruiting Block (5 lbs)
Fruiting blocks are pre-inoculated with mushroom mycelium and come ready to fruit.

Below is an example of the potential costs and profits for using all two tents, with each tent containing 120 fruiting blocks. This example assumes that each fruiting block will produce three flushes. The prices listed below are based on the Oyster mushroom varieties.

Harvest Flushes:
The length of time to produce three flushes of Oyster mushrooms typically ranges from 4 to 8 weeks. Here's a general breakdown:

  1. First Flush: The first flush usually appears within 10-14 days after introducing the initial fruiting conditions.

  2. Second Flush: The second flush can be expected about 1-2 weeks after harvesting the first flush.

  3. Third Flush: The third flush may take another 1-2 weeks after the second flush.


Estimations:

  • Note: Based on two tents / 240 fruiting blocks

    Total Production: 1,920 pounds

    Retail Price Range: $10 to $15 per pound

    Using the average retail price of $12.50 per pound:

    1,920 pounds × $ 12.50 / pound = $24,000

    Thus, at retail prices, 1,920 pounds of oyster mushrooms could be worth approximately $24,000.

  • NOTE: Based on two tents / 240 fruiting blocks

    Total Production: 1,920 pounds

    Wholesale Price Range: $5 to $12 per pound

    Using the average wholesale price of $8.50 per pound:

    1,920 pounds × $ 8.50 / pound = $16,320

    Thus, at wholesale prices, 1,920 pounds of oyster mushrooms could be worth approximately $16,320.

Disclaimer:
All calculations provided are speculative and not guarantees of actual outcomes. The success of California Ambrosia's operations depends on various uncontrollable factors. Therefore, California Ambrosia is not liable for any results from using these calculations. Please conduct thorough research and consult experts before making any business decisions.

These calculations provide a rough estimate of potential earnings from selling 1,920 pounds of oyster mushrooms, both at wholesale and retail prices (GroCycle) (Food Forest Living) (The Trellis)

Calculating Costs:
The calculators below are designed to estimate the initial start-up costs of your urban farm. After factoring in the cost of the initial tent and equipment, the calculations will focus solely on the materials needed for cultivation. Please note that these calculations do not include the cost of energy required to power the cultivation environment.

2: Indoor Tent + All-in-One bag (3 lbs) + Liquid Culture
All-in-One Bags with liquid culture provide more flexibility in terms of substrate choice and inoculation method.