There’s something interesting spawning in Knoxville, TN, where Andrew and Samantha Reed are doing more than just cultivating gourmet mushrooms; they’re unlocking the future of fungal farming. The couple started Mossy Creek Mushrooms in 2011 to empower growers worldwide with the knowledge and tools they need to grow mushrooms at home sustainably. They produce unique hybrid strains developed through years of practice and bioprospecting, such as the King Blue, Copperhead, and Rocky Top oysters. The couple believes that every strain has a story, so they closely examine everything harvested from a forest floor or tree stump in their fruiting chamber. They diligently crossbreed strains to create something exceptional. They don’t sell anything from a catalog; they hunt, breed, and build their products themselves.
Andrew and Samantha decided to set themselves apart when they noticed a significant discrepancy between them and the local tomato grower. While tomatoes had endless varieties, the couple had only five mushroom varieties to sell at markets. So they started breeding with spores to create new strains that they could track, test, and fine-tune for performance. They’ve made a living archive of fungal diversity called the Mycologeum, where they store weird and wild mushrooms, rogue genetics, forgotten flushes, and even unassuming forest varieties. The archive prevents the strains from being lost to climate change, invasive species, habitat destruction, and human neglect. Andrew and Samantha are all about community science and appeal to other mushroom enthusiasts to send them their discoveries in exchange for an elite strain they can grow at home. The submissions don’t have to be rare; Mossy Creek Mushrooms wants them because they’re real. Those who send something in can have their names tagged in the lineage and know that one day, someone might grow their special find on another continent.
Customers can order everything from spawn and medicinal extracts to a wide variety of cultures and lab supplies from Mossy Creek Mushrooms. All of the mushrooms and products sold are grown in the United States without harmful chemicals. The Mossy Creek Culture Club is ideal for those who want to take the guesswork out of ordering; every month, they receive a high-performing mushroom culture at their door without having to hem and haw over selection. The farm shares its expertise on its YouTube channel, offering tips, farm tours, and a behind-the-scenes look at the operations. Andrew and Samantha are doing everything they can to make mushroom cultivation accessible, sustainable, and as rewarding as possible for all growers, regardless of experience level.