Small Biz Success Story: Mycoterra Organic Mushroom Farm

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http://careerfuel.net/?p=7970 When Julia Coffey returned to her home state of Massachusetts, she couldn't find a job. After some time on the job market, Julia started to think entrepreneurially and quit her job search, choosing instead to apply her previous work experience in mycology to building her own small business—Mycoterra Farm. While on the West Coast, Julia had spent four years working for Paul Stamets of Fungi Perfecti, a master mycologist. This experience emboldened her to begin organically growing mushrooms and selling them locally. Each week she quickly sold out at the farmers' market. In year two she quadrupled her business. Now in her third year, demand continues to outstrip her supply and requests are now coming in from restaurants and farmers' markets in Boston. Organic farming has been a hit! Julia's business, Mycoterra Farm, is expanding and hiring. What she thought would take eight years to achieve has happened in less than four. Julia and Mycoterra Farm are a small business success story—revenue positive, creating jobs and loving life in western Massachusetts! For a fascinating lesson in mycology, stay tuned at the end of her story! This is another segment in CareerFuel's "How America Works" series, a collection of job search and small business success stories. Do you have a small business success story? If so, we would love to hear about it! Videography by James K. Blake III http://www.vimeo.com/jkb3 About CareerFuel: Finding a job and starting a business just got a whole lot easier! CareerFuel offers "one-stop shopping" for the information you need to secure a new job or start your own business. Our goal is to become "America's Mentor", providing you with regularly updated employment-related news, blogs, videos and success stories. CareerFuel's original and aggregated content provides you with the information and inspiration you need to get you where you want to be. By working with you to achieve your career goals, together we can strengthen our families, communities and country. http://bit.ly/yKgRHe Help us caption & translate this video! http://amara.org/v/CVDu/

Comments

Great very inspiring, I am enlightened and wanting to do something like that for my retirement.

I want to quit my life sucking job too and grow mushrooms and give back to my community too. I admire this lady.

Very informative. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I can feel your passion. I would like to start my own, but not sure where to start? Do you have any recommendations?

I'm interested and looking to get some help. Anyone help me start me start the business.

I've been researching into growing mushrooms at home and found an awesome website at gregs mushroom grower (check it out on google)

It's rare that im impressed however watching this really made me think but have you looked at the site called Gregs Mushroom Grower look for it on google

this was fantastic! I live in south east iowa and I'm going to start growing shiitake from logs next year. I've been researching other mushrooms and it's brilliant stuff! I believe Paul stamets, a ingenious mycologist, statement of, "we can change the world with mushrooms!" I'm so glad for Julia and her success! keep doing the great work!

SheMale?? I HAVE NO IDEA??? FREAKING ME OUT RIGHT NOW!!!

You should do well in western mass. wish you the best of luck.thanks for sharing, and what's the pay $.

god blase you

v nice

This type of business exactly what I am looking for, I am obsessed with mushrooms and have passion for it. My mushrooms had open my eyes after I have been using medicinal mushroom intake in my diet. I have already feel in my over all health benefit. It is awesome and I am looking into taking further than just like the mushrooms. Thank you for your video, it is very inspiring . I love it God bless you. :-)

Hi Juila , you Should do a tube tube training course for us people living off the grid , here from NZ

What inspiring story.

I thought I recognized a fellow Geoduck...Evergreen State College, class of '95. Omnia Extares...Let it all hang out!

anyone can start up with minimal investment, you need space to grow and 55 gallon stainless steel barrels to turn into giant steam pots to pasteurize hay. and shes right you must be passionate about it and learn all you can where ever you can.

Barbara, you would have to reach out directly to Julia and see if she has the time. She can't make the mushrooms fast enough to meet the demand, so I am not optimistic for you. Perhaps you could see if she would be open to an apprenticeship to learn the ropes. Good luck.

Julia,
Would you be interested in teaching my husband how do what you are doing? He has a great interest in having a business like yours. Will you teach him? We live in CT just 3 hours from you..

Barb Rickmanm

we have MILKY MUSHROOM calocybe indica.