When we officially launched Rock River Valley Mushrooms (RRVM) in 2023, friends and family had a lot of questions. Mostly, “Why mushrooms?” And, occasionally, “Are you guys okay?” Honestly, we’re still figuring that out. Let’s just say it was a mix of curiosity, a passion for good food, and the realization that mushrooms don’t roll their eyes at your outdated wardrobe choices.
(or do they?)
As lifelong educators, we’ve spent years wrangling curious young minds, tackling life’s most perplexing questions – like, if Shakespeare were still around, would he believe in Bigfoot? -and diving headfirst into the pursuit of knowledge. But in 2020, while much of the world was cocooning or Zooming, that same passion led us down an unexpected – and somewhat experimental – path right in our own backyard. Before long, we were learning how to inoculate oak logs with mushroom spawn and cultivate gourmet mushrooms ourselves – which also happened to give us the perfect excuse to spend a little more time playing in the dirt. Three years later, in 2023, we officially formed our company… and here we are today!
What started as a benign backyard project done on a whim quickly mushroomed (we couldn’t resist) into a cozy, family-run farm nestled in the scenic wetlands of the Rock River watershed, on the outermost edge of Watertown, Wisconsin. If you’re not familiar with southeastern Wisconsin, here’s the scoop: this region is known for its rich soil, unpredictable weather, and a growing season that runs from April through October – perfect for dairy farms, a wide variety of crops, and yes, outdoor mushroom cultivation.
While the four seasons bring their own challenges, they can also be downright glorious! Of course, it’s not for the faint of heart. Basically, you’ve got to be ready for whatever nature throws your way, including the proverbial -20°F three-dog-night. And when winter settles in, it offers the perfect opportunity for shiitake logs to recharge – taking a long, well-earned winter’s nap before spring arrives. Honestly, you DO get used to it – and further, it’s the perfect excuse to live in flannel and inject phrases like “long johns” and “thunder snow” into casual conversations.
(We must admit that it’s really hard to get long johns on a dog, so we just stick to hats and sweaters for the resident guardians of the RRV mushroom cache, Murphy and Doug The Dog)
All jokes aside, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. From sourcing local hardwood and premium substrates to carefully controlling humidity, temperature and fresh air exchange, we grow our mushrooms with care, intention, and just a touch of fungi magic. The result is a thoughtful, eco-friendly approach to farming – rooted in science, driven by passion, and proudly a little nerdy.
