129: Is it Really that Hard to Start your Own Mushroom Farm?
Welcome to Ep 129:
Join my chat with Ximena Zamacona @FullCircleMushroom. Met this beautiful person last year at SW Funga Fest. Loved her bubbly personality as well as her work ethic as a mushroom farmer in New Mexico. We chat about how she became interested in reusing her pecan shells for growing mushrooms but soon created her own company.
Empowering Women in Agriculture
In the world of agriculture, women are making waves, and Ximena, a mushroom farmer from Mexico, is no exception.
Ximena’s story began in Central Mexico, where her background in chemistry and agriculture sparked her interest in growing. She worked with high-tech greenhouses, managing large-scale tomato production, but her journey took a unique turn when she moved to New Mexico and discovered mushrooms. Surprisingly, it wasn’t love for mushrooms that drew her in—it was her desire to work with systems and give back. Living near pecan orchards, she saw an opportunity to use the waste from the trees to grow mushrooms, setting her on a path of experimentation and learning.
Like many women in male-dominated industries, Ximena faced obstacles. From being asked if her husband would pay for services to dealing with staff unaccustomed to female leadership, she navigated these challenges with strength and determination. She has built a thriving business—Full Circle Mushrooms. Her farm now produces varieties like oyster mushrooms, lion's mane, and shiitake, supplying local markets and farmers with high-quality mushrooms and sustainable soil amendments.
Ximena emphasizes the importance of finding your purpose—whether it's turning a hobby into a business or pursuing a passion project. Her advice? Commit fully and enjoy the process, because success in farming, especially mushroom farming, requires clarity, hard work, and resilience.
Full Circle Mushrooms continues to grow, bringing the benefits of mushrooms and sustainable practices to New Mexico and beyond. Follow their journey on Instagram @fullcircle.mushrooms or visit their website at fullcirclemushrooms.com.
For more inspiring stories from the world of fungi and sustainable farming, check out the full episode of Flora Funga Podcast!
Resources mentioned:
JUICY News: Mushrooms help reduce aging skin
The paper includes the following mushrooms, which have been studied for their potential anti-aging and skincare benefits:
Trametes versicolor (Yunzhi)
Tremella fuciformis
Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi)
Lentinula edodes (Shiitake)
Schizophyllum commune
Inonotus obliquus (Chaga)
Pleurotus ostreatus
Agaricus blazei (Agaricus subrufescens)
Volvariella volvacea
