Growing Mushrooms

Let’s explore the fascinating world of mushroom houses and how they can be beneficial for growing mushrooms on homesteads.

Benefits of a Mushroom Grow room:

A mushroom house, also known as a mushroom grow room, is a special indoor space designed to cultivate mushrooms. Here are some of the benefits:

1. Year-Round Cultivation: With a mushroom house, you can grow mushrooms all year long, regardless of the weather outside. It provides a controlled environment for the mushrooms to thrive.
2. Higher Yields: Mushroom houses create the perfect conditions for mushrooms to grow rapidly and produce larger yields compared to outdoor cultivation.
3. Protection from Pests: Growing mushrooms indoors reduces the risk of pests and diseases that can harm the mushroom crop.
4. Consistent Quality: The controlled environment in a mushroom house ensures consistent quality and appearance of the mushrooms.
5. Efficient Use of Space: Mushroom houses are compact and efficient, allowing you to grow a significant amount of mushrooms in a relatively small area.
6. Sustainable Farming: Mushroom cultivation is eco-friendly, as mushrooms can grow on various organic materials like sawdust, straw, or agricultural waste.

Commonly Grown Mushrooms on Homesteads:

Several mushroom varieties can be grown in mushroom houses on homesteads. Some common ones include:

1. Button Mushrooms: These are the most widely cultivated mushrooms globally and have a mild flavor and smooth texture.
2. Oyster Mushrooms: Oyster mushrooms come in various colors and have a delicate flavor. They grow quickly and are relatively easy to cultivate.
3. Shiitake Mushrooms: Shiitake mushrooms have a meaty and earthy flavor. They are popular for their culinary and medicinal properties.
4. Lion’s Mane Mushrooms: Lion’s Mane mushrooms have a unique appearance and taste like seafood. They are gaining popularity for their potential health benefits.

How to Grow Mushrooms in a Mushroom House:

Here’s a basic overview of how to grow mushrooms in a mushroom house:

1. Substrate Preparation: Mushrooms need a substrate (growing medium) to grow on. Common substrates include sawdust, straw, or compost. The substrate is pasteurized or sterilized to remove any harmful microorganisms.
2. Inoculation: The substrate is inoculated with mushroom spawn, which contains the mushroom’s mycelium (the root-like part). The mycelium will colonize the substrate, creating a network of fine threads.
3. Incubation: The inoculated substrate is placed in a controlled environment with the right temperature and humidity for the mycelium to grow and spread throughout the substrate.
4. Fruiting: Once the mycelium has fully colonized the substrate, it’s time for fruiting. The mushrooms start to form and grow into the desired size and shape.
5. Harvesting: After the mushrooms have reached the right size, they are carefully harvested using a knife or scissors.
6. Cycling: Mushroom houses are often set up on a cycling system, where new substrate is inoculated while older blocks finish fruiting. This ensures a continuous supply of fresh mushrooms.

Remember, mushroom cultivation requires attention to cleanliness and proper environmental conditions. But with some practice and care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious and nutritious mushrooms right at your homestead! Happy mushroom growing!

Useful links and contacts:

You may contact Isabella: iueitele@unam.na from UNAM for Oyster Mushroom spawn.

https://womeninagriculturenamibia.com/ offers Mushroom courses at Unam.

Another contact at Unam is: Pro Paulina Kadhila, 081 240 0892 and

An expert in Namibia is Dr Lydia Horn +264 81 203 2492.

A link to the Namibian Mushroom Cultivators Network:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063718322950

Here’s a good video giving an overview of a mushroom farming success story in Kenya:

https://youtu.be/aFDAq_DS_GA

In Namibia there are a few mushroom growers.

https://neweralive.na/posts/growing-mushrooms-for-life

Ndaka Mushrooms also offers training and starter kits:

Check out their websites for more:

https://ndakamushrooms.com/shop/

You may also consider growing mushrooms for medicinal purposes – there is still a lot of research to be done in this field and a lot of opportunities.