1/27/14 A Grower's Guide for Shiitake Mushrooms Production on UVM Extension's Across The Fence

This Across the Fence episode features a delicious way to help farmers and landowners generate income while preserving valuable forest. You’ll learn about the grower's guide that spells out the best practices for cultivating shiitake mushrooms. A little over three years ago, Across the Fence told you about the beginning of an effort to help grow shiitake mushrooms in the northeast. The effort was a partnership between the University of Vermont Extension, Cornell Extension, and contributing farmers in New York and Vermont. The idea was to teach farmers and landowners how to grow shiitakes as a way to make money and to diversify farming forestry businesses. Three years of research and education have paid off and the partners in research have just produced by growers for people who want to explore shiitake mushroom cultivation on their own land. The Shiitake guide and project are one element of the Center for Sustainable Agriculture’s work in support of new farmers. The Center is an active member of the New Farmer Network, which exists to help new farmers establish and maintain successful agricultural operations. We collaborate with network partners year-round to deliver services ranging from business training to hands-on field based production workshops. While relevant to all farmers, our support is typically targeted meet the needs of aspiring farmers or farmers who have managed their own operation for less than ten years. Support for farmers growing or evaluating the cultivation of woodland shiitake mushrooms can help farmers boost their income, while encouraging the preservation of forestland. For more information, contact Ben Waterman via email at [email protected] or call (802) 656-9142. Across the Fence is the longest-running locally-produced program in the US. We have been on-air on WCAX-TV since 1955! Across the Fence is produced by the University of Vermont Extension. Visit http://www.uvm.edu/extension/atfence