Call me a nerd, but cultivating various forms of tasty fungus in my basement is a thing that I do. It is my dream someday to live way out in the woods, way off grid, and grow as much of my food as possible; and an automated underground mushroom farm is a part of that plan.
This is the current iteration of my mushroom bubble:
Materials Needed
Its construction is cheap, simple, and effective. If you want to try something similar, you will need:
Materials and Costs
| Item | Approx. Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Large plastic drop-cloth roll | ~$20 CAD | Common in hardware stores |
| Waterproof plastic tarp | ~$10 CAD | |
| Adhesive tarp zipper | ~$5 CAD | |
| Raspberry Pi Pico W | ~$10 CAD | |
| Temperature/Humidity sensor | ~$3 CAD | |
| Large plastic tub & lid | ~$15 CAD | |
| HEPA air filter & fan | ~$100 CAD | Cheaper/better options available |
| Relay | ~$5–$50 CAD | Depends on DIY level; Powerswitch Tail 2 recommended |
| PC fan or AC fan | ~$5–$20 CAD | |
| Ultrasonic fogger module (x2) | ~$40 CAD | |
| Extension cord | Included/varies | Cost not listed |
| USB adapter | Included/varies | Cost not listed |
| Sewing machine | On hand | Assumed available |
| Hand tools | On hand | Assumed available |
💰 Estimated Total Cost:
Minimum: ~$210 CAD
Maximum: ~$288 CAD
(Range depends on fan/relay choices and assuming you already have tools and basic supplies)
Assembly
Chances are you have some of this stuff laying around, and the parts list isn’t exactly strict. The instructions are pretty simple–struggle to sew a giant cube (mine came out as a big blob), install the zipper, hook up the filter. Configure the Raspberry Pi to control the fogger modules with the relay and humidity sensor, plop them in the tub, and install the fan so it blows the fog around. A couple prompts and the code is sorted with a poorly formatted but functional web interface.
Growing Medium
As far as substrate, hardwood fuel pellets are cheap, easy to find, and great for growing mushrooms. After the initial investment, you can have plenty of healthy gourmet mushrooms on the cheap.