This week, Joanne Shaw speaks with Deb McKee Kelly from Frontier Mushrooms, a leading producer of high-quality, sustainably grown mushrooms.

About Deb McKee Kelly

Deb is a longtime grower and passionate advocate for reconnecting with the natural world. Based in Grey County, Ontario, she has spent years cultivating gardens, food crops, and for the past 10 years, gourmet mushrooms. Today, her work with mushrooms and mycelium focuses on sustainable growing practices, education, and innovative uses for fungi in food systems and beyond. With a deep respect for nature’s intelligence — and a belief that fungi hold keys to a more resilient future — Deb and her growing partner Darin share their knowledge with growers, makers, and curious minds alike.

Here are some of the topics discussed in this episode:

• Overview of Frontier Mushrooms: a family-run mushroom farm
  • Deb’s background and how she got into mushroom cultivation
• Types of Mushrooms Grown at Frontier Mushrooms
  • Focus on specialty mushrooms: Shiitake, Oyster, Lion’s Mane, and more
  • Discussion on the unique qualities and flavours of each type
• The Mushroom Growing Process
  • Step-by-step explanation of mushroom cultivation
  • Importance of substrate and environmental controls (humidity, temperature, light)
  • Challenges faced in mushroom farming (pests, contamination)
• Health Benefits of Mushrooms
  • Nutritional value: protein, fibre, vitamins (B, D), minerals
  • Medicinal properties: immune support, cognitive benefits (especially Lion’s Mane)
  • Myths and facts about mushrooms’ health impacts
• Cooking and Using Mushrooms at Home
  • Tips for storing and preparing fresh mushrooms
  • Simple recipe ideas shared by Deb
  • Advice on maximizing mushroom flavour in dishes
• Buying Local and Supporting Small Farms
  • Benefits of sourcing mushrooms from local growers
  • How Frontier Mushrooms connects with the community (farmers’ markets, local stores)
  • The importance of sustainable and organic practices
• Common Questions from Listeners
  • How to grow mushrooms at home: starter kits, best varieties for beginners
  • Shelf life and storage tips for fresh mushrooms
  • Identifying edible vs. wild mushrooms (safety tips)
• Deb’s Favourite Mushroom Varieties and Recipes
  • Personal recommendations for cooking and eating
  • Unique uses for lesser-known mushrooms

Learn more at www.frontiermushrooms.com.

Find them on Facebook @frontiermushrooms and Instagram @frontiermushrooms.

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Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible. 

In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.

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