Ohau Gourmet Mushrooms

11/06/2026

Say hello to our giant compost heap!

It's difficult to tell the size from this photo, but it's bigger than it looks (about bedroom size).

Our composting efforts represent the ultimate full-circle loop here on the farm. We don't believe in waste. To build this beauty we utilise:

- Our used mushroom substrate (the nutrient-rich bags our mushrooms grow on)

- Organic material from our other farm activities, and

- Spent coffee grounds and paper waste collected from awesome local small businesses.

We pile it all together, cover it up, and let nature do its composting magic. And this process gets even better. Introducing the Compost Hot Water Trick!

As the microbes go to work breaking everything down, natural heat is generated inside the heap. We’ve embedded water hosing right into the core, and as cold water pumps through the heap, it heats up naturally and travels into an old radiator we installed inside our Mushroom Grow Room #1.

It acts as our completely natural, off-grid winter heater to keep our tropical Pink Oyster Mushrooms cozy and thriving during the chilly Horowhenua months.

After a 12 month cycle we then use the resulting material to build up our garden beds again for next seasons planting of our other food crops. Now time for a cup of tea. 😅

04/06/2026

Tomorrow we’re at Feilding Farmers Market 8:30-1pm, then Kapiti Market Saturday 8-12, and Harbourside Market in Welly Sunday 8-2.

Heaps of freshly harvested Oyster Mushrooms, all our Functional Mushroom extract powders, mushroom kimchi, mushroom risotto, black garlic and our delicious award winning little gem…hot fermented quince.

Hope to see our regulars and new faces. Free tasters and friendly chit chat!

02/06/2026

We opened our farm gate to Southeast Asia!
It was an honour to share our permaculture-focused sustainability practices with two international cohorts from Massey University’s MFAT sponsored Sustainable, Resilient and Productive Agrifood Systems Programme.

The participants were Agrifood officials from Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Lao, who were here to learn skills to drive efficiency, resilience, and sustainability in their home countries' food sectors.

We were humbled to hear one of the scholars feedback about their time with us:

“One of the most interesting experiences was visiting a smallholder mushroom grower. They demonstrated an artisanal approach to producing alternative food sources, focusing on adding value to their raw materials. What stood out to me was their perspective on growth—they are not necessarily aiming to scale up aggressively, but rather to sustain and maintain what they have while still progressing. This made me realize that 'growing' and 'upscaling' are two different concepts.”

A big thank you to Massey University for including us in this vital programme, and to the scholars who brought such warmth, curiosity, and global perspective to our little farm.

14/05/2026

this morning til 1pm. The sun is shining and the clock tower is chiming. Perfect.

14/05/2026

We have been keeping a little secret... and we're now ready to share it!

Since we launched our Turkey Tail for Dogs six weeks ago, the response has been incredible. You’ve been asking for more ways to support your beloved pooches with functional mushrooms, and we listened.

LAUNCHING THIS WEEKEND:
We are officially releasing FOUR new products in our Pet Care Range! From immune system support to joint care and itchy skin, these functional mushroom blends are crafted with the same care as our human range, tailored specifically for your four-legged friends.

Be the first to get your paws on them at the Women's Lifestyle Expos NZ Palmerston North this Saturday and Sunday! 🐾

Where to find us this weekend:

Women's Lifestyle Expos NZ Palmerston North: Fly Palmy Arena Sat 15 & Sun 16 May 10am to 4pm.

Friday: Feilding Farmers Market 8.30am to 1pm.

Saturday: Kapiti Market 8am to 12pm Paraparaumu Beach.

Sunday: Harbourside MarketWellington 8am to 2pm.

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or your best friend, we’ve got you covered. See you there!

Discover science-led medicinal mushroom supplements for dogs. Learn how Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, and Reishi may support cognition, gut health, immunity, recovery, and healthy ageing in pets.

09/05/2026

Thank you Lustre Kitchen and Dining This looks delicious and beautiful 👏

Salt baked and blackened heritage carrot, sorrel, nduja emulsion, black garlic, herb tuille.

Thanks to , and for making it easy!!

07/05/2026

GIVEAWAY TIME!
Score a double pass to the Palmerston North Women's Lifestyle Expo Sat 16 & Sun 17 May!

How to enter:
👍 Like this post and follow our page
💬 Tag who you’d treat to a day of good vibes

Winner drawn Mon 11 May, 10am. E-Tickets will be emailed to the winner.
💜 Palmerston North Women's Lifestyle Expos NZ
💜 Sat 16 & Sun 17 May, 10am - 4pm
💜 Fly Palmy Arena
And of course we're going to be there!

05/05/2026

When the business work is done, the restoration work begins.

I find it rewarding to spend some time outside of the grow rooms, commercial kitchen, markets, or sitting at my computer. It's restorative to work in the wetlands, seeing the contrast between the Autumn leaves against the lush deep green of the tree ferns, the stillness of the water, and listening to bush sounds.

After the recent storms, we discovered a battleground of fallen trees. But thanks to the incredible generosity of friends who turned up with chainsaws and mulching machines, we’ve finally cleared the way! Thank you 🙏

30/04/2026

One of the easiest upgrades you can make to your meals right now!

Nothing beats fresh oyster mushrooms straight off the farm.

We only harvest what we can grow each week...so once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Come grab them fresh and cook them your way.

Where to find us this weekend:
FRIDAY – Feilding Farmers Market (8:30am til 1pm)
SATURDAY – Kapiti Market (8am til 12pm)
SUNDAY – Harbourside Market Wellington (7:30am til 2pm)

We’ll also have our full Functional Mushroom Extract Range, Grow Bags, and our Award winning Food Products up for grabs.

How are you using oyster mushrooms at home? 👇

21/04/2026

Come behind the scenes at our place. FREE Tour bookings available!

Our Tours for Not-For-Profit groups/ Families give you the inside look into how we grow and process food, and how we look after the land.

We've had fun hosting three diverse groups in the last ten days, with another two this week.

Whether you are a gardening club, a Ladies who Lunch group, a Vintage Car group or a family, we've got you covered!

Recent feedback:
"My whānau had the most incredible tour of Ohau Gourmet Mushrooms last week. We have a pr***en who is very interested in Mycology, and Jude went above and beyond sharing her knowledge and answering questions. Thank you for your patience, hospitality, knowledge sharing and passion for sustainability. We learnt so much!"

More info, or to book: https://mycobio.co.nz/shop/free-farm-tour/

Discover how MycoBio grows mushrooms, nurtures permaculture, and runs a purpose-driven, sustainable farm. Designed for not-for-profits, schools, and community groups.