We believe in self-sufficiency and a permaculture lifestyle. The Mushroom Farm is 100% off-grid. Our water comes from a natural spring, our electricity is from the sun, and we use composting methods to feed our gardens, which in turn, gives us nutritional and organic produce (check out our permaculture page for more information!)
We are also a community based social enterprise. 10 % of our monthly sales are donated back into community projects (check out our community page for more informations!)
Background: Maddy & Cameron McAllister (siblings) took over the Mushroom Farm on summer solstice 2013. Long story short, Maddy had graduated from University of Asheville, North Carolina in international studies; Cameron was working in alternative building… they were both pretty bored and yearning to return to Africa after prior volunteer experience (Ghana & Tanzania). So, Maddy googled ‘lodges for sale in Malawi’ in October 2012… and the rest is history!
Today, Maddy is based primarily in Asheville NC and is the founder of a new artisan social enterprise based in Manchewe village, called Y E W O (www.yewo.org). The co-opeartive provides single origin, handcrafted jewelry & goods and sells internationally.
Cameron is now the lead dude at the Mushroom Farm. He assists with the community projects and is in the works of establishing a direct trade coffee social enterprise with local small holder farmers in the area.
Both of their lives have changed for the better since arriving in Malawi. Stay tuned for more!