Our Second Summer
Wow, this year has already been a whirlwind! The days are flying by and we can’t believe it’s almost August already.
During our second summer in production, we are facing some of the same issues as last summer but some new ones as well.
Last year was hot and dry, some mush can handle that in the fruiting room, others cannot. This year it’s hot and wet. A more ideal environment for mushroom and other fungi and microbiota to thrive.
Speaking of microbiota. There is a famous bacteria in the mushroom cultivating world, we call it blotch. Scientifically known as Pseudomonas fluorescens biotype G. Though this bacteria can grow year-round in the fruiting room, we typically see it more in the warmer weather. We have had a few outbursts in our fr this summer, decimating many pounds of mushrooms.
You may see this brown discoloration on your mushrooms in the store if they have been wrapped too long or too tight in plastic. You can cut it off and still eat the rest. One of the perks of not using plastic in our packaging!
We were expecting some hiccups this summer since we opened up our second fruiting room and doubled our production. We are fortunate enough to have a growing network of fungi friends and an awesome mush-loving community we can rely on when times are rough.
Along with some setbacks, we have also had some awesome achievements: other than getting our second fr going (!), we have a shirt design by our buddy Mike (@heymikevance) dropping so very soon (depending on when I post this, they may already be available!), some mush lady patches and a sick WF branded card being hand-carved and stamped by our Lady of Doom Kate (@not_your_forever_name), plus some extra exciting projects in the works for the fall.
We expect to have lots of surprise goodies for you available at Common Ground Fair so be sure to find our booth there!
As someone with lots of zest and energy, it can be hard to say no to our customers. You asked for tinctures: we made them! You asked for dried mushrooms: we got the required permits and they are now available! I want to give you all the shroomy goodness you ask for, but alas, we are only two humans. I have been learning to say no more often, or directing people to the website if I need a break from explaining something. This is why I spend so much time updating it: I want it to be a resource for you when I’m not there to answer your questions, or to help me take a break when I need it.
I hope you take advantage of the knowledge I put on this thing.
With all these updates and new additions, we have still been able to find some time to ourselves. A few lake dips and a couple days off here and there are nourishing our soul. I was able to take a whole weekend away (with lots of planning and reliance on friends). I got to turn my phone off and spend all my time disconnecting and reconnecting with myself and nature. It was truly needed. Our hope is to get Sean his own weekend away in August.
We are stepping into our groove in our second year of cultivating mushrooms and being business owners. We are grateful for all your support so far and for the time to come! We literally couldn’t do it without your open minds and open bellies.
The future is fungal!
Sean checking on the King Trumpets in our newly set up second fruiting room.
