EP 13: Mushrooms, Mycelium and More with Andrew Carter, Co-founder and CEO of Smallhold

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Episode Length: 1:00:32

Mushrooms may be one of nature’s true mysteries, which is probably why we can’t get enough of them. In this episode, I talk to Andrew Carter, co-founder and CEO of Smallhold, the only mushroom farm and organic farm in New York City. His company installs mini farms, or space-like growing units – in grocery stores such as Whole Foods, restaurants like Mission Chinese, and hotels like The Standard Hotel – that grow mushrooms in controlled climates from bags of sawdust so they can be harvested at their freshest moment. Smallhold's mushrooms look like organisms from another world - some resembling pine cones, others flowers, some look like heads of cauliflower. And, not only do they appear extra terrestrial, they have names like deer butt (aka Lion’s mane), hairy nuts disco, and cinnamon jellybaby.

Their spores can survive extreme temperatures, radiation, even outer space. And, scientists have yet to fully understand how to mimic nature enough to cultivate some varieties. While we may never fully understand mushrooms, in this episode we try to get to the bottom of what’s going on with these wild fungi.

“I like to understand ecology enough to try to imitate it, but it doesn’t have to be for us. It’s not made for us. I don’t know if we need to figure it out.” - Andrew Carter

“I think that anyone farming anything that says: this type of production is the way that everyone’s going to be farming in the future, just doesn’t understand how it’s going to work.” - Andrew Carter

Resources

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Show Notes

  • What Smallhold does and why it’s incredibly unique in the growing space

  • The ins and outs of organic farming in New York State

  • How Andrew’s background in permaculture prepared him to work with mushrooms

  • Why ayurveda doesn’t support the consumption of mushrooms

  • Why people don’t like mushrooms and how Smallhold encourages people to give mushrooms a second chance

  • The mushroom craze - why now?

  • What are mushrooms tho?

  • The process of growing mushrooms the Smallhold way

  • Mycelium explained

  • The function of mushrooms in the natural world

  • How Smallhold curates their eleven varieties of mushrooms

  • Mushrooms - wild vs. cultivated, which are better?

  • Andrew’s favorite type of mushrooms

  • How Smallhold addresses the reality of accessibility when it comes to fresh, organic produce

  • The future of Smallhold

  • Where to learn more about the mysterious world of mushrooms

  • Mushrooms powders - why knowing your dose matters

  • Why should you know your source if you’re taking Chaga

  • Where to find Smallhold mini farms in New York City

  • The Last 5 Questions

The Last Five Questions

  1. What is your favorite place in nature?

    Ocean.

  2. What is the animal, mineral or plant that resonates with you the most?

    Citrus Trees.

  3. What is one thing we can do right now to connect with the natural world and bring more harmony into our lives?

    Go outside. Turn off your phone. Try to disconnect. There’s so much more to look at.

  4. What’s the greatest lesson nature has taught you?

    There’s no real way to control it or understand it, and you don’t really have to.

  5. Nature brings me…

    Everything. It is everything.

Gratitude List:

This podcast would not be possible without the group of talented individuals below. I offer them my sincerest thanks and love.

episodesAlyssa Benjaminmushrooms, food, the last five questions, urban farming