Your Guide to Indoor Mushrooms + SMART Goals for Homesteaders!

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Thursday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Indoor Mushroom Cultivation 🍄

4. Personal Development: SMART Goal Setting for Homestead Success 🌞

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

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POLL RESULTS FROM LAST TUESDAY

Do you think holiday shopping advertisements are intentionally pushing us away from handmade and DIY gifts to keep us buying more commercial products?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Absolutely, they want people spending instead of making.

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Possibly, but it could also be about convenience.

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I’m not sure, but there’s definitely a strong focus on spending.

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No, it’s just about offering choices for the holiday season.

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

Indoor Mushroom Cultivation 🍄

If you’re interested in growing food indoors and have a little curiosity for something different, then mushroom cultivation might be just what you’re looking for! This section will take you through the basics—from setting up to harvesting—so you can start growing your own mushrooms with confidence.

The Basics of Mushroom Growth

Mushrooms grow a bit differently from plants, so let’s go over the basics to understand what they need to thrive:

1. Mushroom Life Cycle: Mushrooms start from tiny spores, which develop into mycelium—a white, thread-like network that functions like roots. Once the mycelium spreads and fills the substrate, it produces mushrooms, which are the fruiting bodies.

2. What Mushrooms Need:

   • Light: Mushrooms don’t need much light—just a little indirect light will do, as they don’t rely on sunlight the way plants do.

   • Humidity: Mushrooms thrive in high humidity, ideally between 80-90%. You’ll need a way to keep their environment moist, like a spray bottle or humidifier.

   • Temperature: The right temperature varies by mushroom type. Oyster mushrooms grow best at 65-75°F, while shiitakes prefer it slightly cooler, around 60-75°F.

   • Substrate: Mushrooms grow on materials like straw, hardwood sawdust, or coffee grounds. This substrate is what the mycelium spreads through to produce mushrooms.

   • Airflow: Mushrooms need a bit of airflow to avoid mold or contamination, so make sure their growing space isn’t too closed off.

Choosing a Mushroom Kit to Get Started

The simplest way to start is with a mushroom-growing kit, which comes with the substrate already inoculated (meaning it’s been mixed with spores).

1. Types of Kits:

   • Oyster Mushroom Kits: These often use straw or coffee grounds and are beginner-friendly.

   • Shiitake Mushroom Kits: These kits usually come with a hardwood sawdust or log substrate, which makes them fun to grow and very productive.

2. What to Look for in a Kit: Look for kits with clear instructions, a fresh and good-quality substrate, and enough “spawn” (mushroom “seeds”) to get started. Reliable kits will include everything you need, so they’re super convenient for beginners.

Setting Up Your Mushroom Growing Space

Once you’ve got your kit, it’s time to set up a growing space that meets the specific needs of mushrooms. Luckily, it doesn’t require much space.

1. Location: Find a cool, dark place with a bit of indirect light. Basements, closets, or even a quiet corner of a pantry can work. The spot should have some airflow to prevent stale air and keep the mushrooms healthy.

2. Humidity Control:

   • To keep humidity high, use a humidity tent. You can create one by placing a clear plastic cover over the kit with a few small holes for ventilation.

   • Mist the area around the kit once or twice a day to maintain moisture levels of 80-90%.

   • Humidity Hack: You can also increase moisture in the area by placing a damp towel or a shallow tray of water nearby.

3. Temperature Control: Use a thermometer to check the temperature in the growing space. If it’s too cool, consider adding a small heating mat under the kit (especially in winter) to maintain the ideal temperature.

4. Lighting: Only a little light is needed—about as much as you’d get from a dimly lit room. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can dry out the substrate and overheat the mushrooms.

The Growing Process: From Start to Harvest

Growing mushrooms takes patience, but the process is straightforward once you understand each stage.

1. Inoculation and Incubation:

   • Inoculation is the process of adding spores to the substrate. If you’re using a kit, this part is usually already done for you. During incubation, keep the kit in a dark, warm area until the substrate is fully colonized by the mycelium, which will look white and fuzzy.

2. Fruiting:

   • Once the mycelium has spread throughout the substrate, move it to your humid, ventilated growing area to encourage fruiting.

   • You’ll soon notice small “pins,” which are baby mushrooms. With regular misting, these will grow into mature mushrooms within 5-10 days.

3. Harvesting:

   • Mushrooms are ready to harvest when their caps are fully open, and the edges start to flatten. Use a sharp knife or twist the mushroom gently at the base to remove it without damaging the mycelium.

   • Harvest promptly to encourage a second flush, or round of mushrooms, after the first one.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

SMART Goal Setting for Homestead Success 🌞

Imagine your biggest homesteading goal. Maybe it’s to start a garden that can feed your family, or raise chickens for fresh eggs, or save on groceries by growing your own produce. Whatever it is, we’ll use the SMART goal framework to make it happen.

Breaking Down the SMART Framework

Let’s go over each part of the SMART framework, with examples and exercises to help you apply each one to your homestead goals.

1. Specific: Make your goal clear by answering “what, why, and how.” The more detailed, the better.

   • Example: Instead of “Raise chickens,” try “Build a coop and raise five hens for eggs by June.”

   • Exercise: Pick a homestead goal and make it more specific. What exactly do you want to achieve, and how? Share your goal with a friend or write it down to solidify it.

2. Measurable: Adding a measurable detail helps you track progress and see if you’re on target.

   • Example: Change “Improve soil health” to “Increase soil organic matter by 5% in six months by adding compost.”

   • Exercise: Take your specific goal and add a measurable detail. For example, instead of “start a garden,” you could say “grow three types of vegetables.” The idea is to pick a number or quantity that you can work toward.

3. Achievable: Make sure the goal is realistic based on your time, resources, and skills. It should be challenging but still possible.

   • Example: If you’re just starting out, “Raise two goats for milk” might be more achievable than “Become self-sufficient in dairy.”

   • Exercise: Look at your goal and consider if it’s achievable. If it feels too big, break it down or adjust it slightly. It’s better to start small and succeed than to aim too high and get discouraged.

4. Relevant: Your goal should connect to your bigger homesteading dreams or values.

   • Example: If sustainability is important, a relevant goal could be “Reduce water use by 20% by installing a rainwater collection system.”

   • Exercise: Reflect on why your goal is important to you. Think about how it fits into your overall vision for your homestead. A relevant goal is one that you’re excited to work toward because it aligns with your values.

5. Time-bound: Set a deadline for your goal, which helps you stay focused and avoid putting it off.

   • Example: “Build a chicken coop by April so I can start raising chickens in spring” gives you a clear timeline.

   • Exercise: Set a realistic timeframe for your goal. For seasonal projects like gardening, think about when you’ll need to start to reach your goal on time.

Overcoming Common Obstacles

Homesteading is rewarding, but it also comes with challenges like time limits, unpredictable weather, or financial constraints. Here are a few tips to help you overcome these obstacles:

• Break It Down: Big goals are more manageable when broken into smaller steps. For example, if your goal is to build a greenhouse, start with simpler steps like planning, gathering materials, and laying the foundation. Tackling one step at a time will make progress feel more achievable.

• Regular Check-Ins: Try weekly or monthly check-ins to track your progress. Set a reminder to see how far you’ve come. Small wins keep you motivated and remind you that you’re moving forward.

• Accountability: Sharing your goals with a friend, family member, or fellow homesteader can keep you accountable. It’s also more fun to work toward goals when someone is cheering you on or helping you troubleshoot.

Tip: Think of one potential obstacle for your goal. What’s one way you plan to work around it? Planning ahead for challenges can help you stay flexible.

More Examples of SMART Goals for Inspiration

Here are some example goals to help you brainstorm and create your own:

1. Garden Goal

   • Non-SMART Goal: “Start a vegetable garden.”

   • SMART Goal: “By the end of March, start a vegetable garden that yields enough produce to feed my family of four with at least three types of vegetables weekly by June.”

2. Livestock Goal

   • Non-SMART Goal: “Raise chickens for eggs.”

   • SMART Goal: “Build a chicken coop by April and raise five hens, aiming for at least two dozen eggs per week by June.”

3. Water Conservation Goal

   • Non-SMART Goal: “Conserve water.”

   • SMART Goal: “Install a rainwater collection system by the start of the rainy season, collecting at least 500 gallons for garden irrigation by August.”

4. Soil Health Goal

   • Non-SMART Goal: “Improve soil health.”

   • SMART Goal: “Add compost and organic material to garden soil to increase organic matter by 5% over the next six months, measured by soil testing in October.”

5. Financial Goal

   • Non-SMART Goal: “Save money on groceries.”

   • SMART Goal: “Reduce grocery expenses by $100 per month by growing five types of vegetables and two types of fruit by the end of the summer.”

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

Why did the reindeer start a garden?

Because it wanted to grow Rudolph’s roots.

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. No context, just a chicken showing off something that might surprise you:

@brook.billings

🤣🤣🤣 i couldnt help myself #chickens #ducks #chicken #duck #cute #cuteanimals #funnyanimals #farm #farmfriends #funny #homesteading

2. When it’s finally chilly out, so you have to retire your classic “Adam Sandler look” for now. 😂

@sagewindfarmstead

winter chore ready. #adamsandler #chores #farm #funnyvideo #homestead #morningchores #farmchores

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