On today’s podcast, I’m joined by Mike Hatfield of Flyway Family Farm in southern Illinois. Mike along with his wife and young daughter have a 9 1/2 acre homestead where they do a little bit of everything but their main crop is mushrooms.
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Learning About Mushrooms with Mike the Mushroom Man
Recently I got to chat with Mike Hatfield, also known as Mike the Mushroom Man. He operates Flyway Family Farm in Southern Illinois with his wife and their little girl. They grow lots of things, but they’re really famous for their mushrooms!
How Mike Got Started with Homesteading
Mike didn’t always live on a farm. He and his wife met while they were in college at Southern Illinois University. Mike was studying forestry. Even back then, he didn’t like living in town. He rented little cabins in the woods and started having gardens. That’s where he learned about mushroom hunting and growing.
Growing Mushrooms as a Hobby
At first, Mike grew mushrooms just for fun. He tried growing different kinds like shiitake and oyster mushrooms on logs and in beds outside. His hobby kept growing and growing! Soon, he and his wife bought a small farm with about nine and a half acres. They moved there and started Flyway Family Farm.
Life on Flyway Family Farm
On their farm, Mike and his family do a little bit of everything. They have goats, a horse, cows, chickens, ducks, geese, hogs, bees, and rabbits! They also grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs. But their main thing is mushrooms. They have about a thousand shiitake logs in their woods!
Tapping Maple Trees for Syrup
One cool thing Mike does is make maple syrup. They have lots of maple trees on their farm. In the winter, he taps the trees to collect sap. Then, he boils it down to make delicious syrup. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it!
The Magic of Mushrooms
Mike loves mushrooms because they’re amazing. They grow them both outdoors and indoors. Indoors, they can control the temperature and humidity to grow mushrooms all year round. They grow different kinds like oyster mushrooms, shiitake, lion’s mane, and more.
Growing Mushrooms Indoors and Outdoors
Outside, they grow mushrooms on logs and wood chip beds. Inside, they grow mushrooms in special rooms where they can control everything. They even use things like straw and sawdust to grow them. Mike says that mushrooms can grow on many things, even old phone books!
Selling Mushrooms at Farmers’ Markets
Mike sells his mushrooms at local farmers’ markets. People love them because they’re fresh and tasty. He even started a special program where people can get mushrooms every week, like a vegetable box but with mushrooms!
Medicinal Mushrooms and Their Benefits
Some mushrooms are not just good to eat—they can also help with health. Mike grows mushrooms like reishi and turkey tail, which are known for their medicinal properties. They can help with things like boosting the immune system and reducing inflammation.
“Mushrooms are miniature pharmaceutical factories, and of the thousands of mushroom species in nature, our ancestors and modern scientists have identified several dozen that have a unique combination of talents that improve our health.” – Paul Stamets
Using Mushrooms to Help the Environment
Did you know that mushrooms can help clean the environment? Mike told me that mushrooms can break down harmful things in the soil, like oil spills and pesticides. They can even help clean water by removing bad bacteria.
Mike’s Advice for Beginner Mushroom Growers
I asked Mike what he would say to someone who wants to grow mushrooms but feels a bit scared. He said, “Just jump into it!” There are easy kits you can buy to start growing mushrooms at home. You can even grow them on a roll of toilet paper!
Conclusion
Talking with Mike from Flyway Family Farm was so much fun. Mike and his family are doing amazing things with mushrooms and more. They show that with a bit of passion and hard work, you can grow all sorts of wonderful things right at home. Maybe I’ll try growing some mushrooms too!
Links Mentioned
Where to get started growing mushrooms on your homestead.
- 1 Book
- Serving Size:
- Stamets, Paul (Author)
Last update on 2024-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
