Growing Mushrooms in North Central Florida

Does anyone have experience growing mushrooms in N Central Florida?
We are looking to relocate in southern Columbia County, near High Springs and Gainesville.
Creating a permie homestead and hopefully commercial mushroom growing.
We've met the SE Mushroom people at farmers markets in the area. Love their dried shiitakes. They've got that market cornered.
Thanks for input.

ps: I would love to win the Dave Jacke book in this week's giveaway. Great stuff!

Howdy Leela, welcome to permies. You might want to ask that over at this topic too.

https://permies.com/forums/f-39/fungi

Might even already have been a discussion about it there.

Leela Robinson wrote:Does anyone have experience growing mushrooms in N Central Florida?
We are looking to relocate in southern Columbia County, near High Springs and Gainesville.

I also have a new (to me) forest property in the same area - looking forward to seeing answers. I have not seen any mushrooms growing there yet.

off topic comment: Florida is so big and weirdly shaped it is hard to define locations using North / Central / South etc -- they only mean something to the person using it -- mostly "North Florida" is short for "non urban area / aka Redneck" more than somewhere North of say Orlando... that being said you are looking at a great area.

Leela,

Hey! I live here in Gainesville. I have grown shiitakes and learned a lot, Art Shiver of Southeast Mushroom is an excellent source of information. He's also an excellent source of fruit trees at the Alachua County Farmers Market on 441. So is Pete Wallace at the same market. If you're looking for other food-producing perennials, check out the Edible Plant Project. I also work at the 441 Farmers Market so if you're ever over there on a Saturday morning come say hi. If you're looking for plants, this is the season!

There is an excellent local gardening group on facebook that's mostly organic and very permaculture-friendly. If you're interested it's called Grow Gainesville.

Good to meet new permaculture geeks in the area!

If you all are new there, just wait till the summer rains start. There will be mushrooms everywhere!! I have fond memories of basketsful of Chanterelles and Chicken of the Woods. Seems to me someone with savvy and industry could be picking enough to sell, even without cultivating them....

Hey Alder, Andi, Joe, and Miles ~ Thank you for taking the time to comment. I am going to follow up on your ideas. Will reconvene over in the fungi forum as suggested.