Move over carrots and lettuce, the garden is no longer an exclusive place for neat rows of vegetables. North Spore, an urban mushroom farm in Westbrook, has been announced as the winner of Greenlight Maine Season 3. North Spore plans on using the $100,000 prize to increase their spawn (think ‘seed’ of a mushroom) production and get more people growing mushrooms in the garden.

Started in 2014 by three college friends, North Spore produces spawn, fresh mushrooms, medicinal mushroom products, and kits to get people growing mushrooms at home. While North Spore’s fresh mushrooms are often featured at restaurants in Portland and at farmers markets throughout Maine and Massachusetts, their winnings will be used to grow the mushroom spawn side of the business. The $100,000 will go towards new equipment to make spawn production more efficient and to expand their facility to increase production capacity.

Greenlight Maine is a collaboration between entrepreneurs and business leaders across the state of Maine and is designed to mentor and support small businesses. The business development program required each contestant to pitch their business plan to a panel of judges who provided feedback and advice. Earlier this month North Spore won $50,000 from the Gorham Savings Bank Launchpad competition and has now become the only company to win both business contests. Eliah Thanhauser, North Spore’s Co Founder who represented the company in both pitching competitions says, “This is an amazing windfall for us, this capital will go a long way in helping us bring mushroom growing to the masses” And this recognition is a great honor and a testament to how far we have come since our humble beginnings in a 500 square foot garage in Westbrook. I worked hard on preparing for these pitches, but it is still a little hard to believe we won both.”

Along with their new ability to produce more spawn for mushroom farms and home gardens, North Spore will be rolling out high quality educational videos. The videos will be a resource for everyone interested in mushroom cultivation including beginners attempting their first mushroom project and experienced farmers experimenting with a new mushroom species. North Spore has a vision for the future of home gardens and it includes fresh mushrooms in everyone’s backyard.

North Spore is an urban fungi farm in Westbrook, ME producing fresh mushrooms, mushroom spawn, and other mushroom products. For more information visit North Spore (source)