How do I document my mushroom farm’s substrate recipes for a buyer?

Substrate is where much of the know-how sits. Record each mix by room or species: the base materials, supplements, where each comes from, how it is stored and how it is mixed. Write down the moisture and temperature you aim for and how you check them, in the plain words you use on the floor.

Note the timing of each step and what happens if it slips. Add the warning signs you have learned: a smell, a colour, a slow start. Include the names of your suppliers and what you do if a batch of material arrives in poor shape. If you have changed a recipe over time, add the reason, so the buyer does not repeat an old mistake.

Test the document. Ask a trusted employee, or the buyer during a visit, to follow it for one batch while you watch and note what they ask. Fix the gaps and test again. Share the full detail after a confidentiality agreement is in place, and ask your lawyer to review it. Keep a dated copy of what you shared, and agree how long you will help after closing. Put the date on each version. Ask the buyer which rooms or species matter most to them, and document those first so the most valuable knowledge is captured early.

Key takeaways

• Write each recipe so a stranger could follow it.
• Record warning signs and past mistakes, not only the mix.
• Test the document with someone watching.