Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Charlie Wagner, founder of Myrkwood Mushrooms, located in Raleigh-Durham, NC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Myrkwood (Old Norse, "dark wood" or "black forest") in the wild, primitive forest of ancient Europe. In the Norse tradition, "crossing the Black Forest" came to signify penetrating the barriers between one world and another. In this sense, Myrkwood Mushrooms aims to connect customers with the joy and benefits of the natural world right in their own backyard. We specialize in installing and cultivating sustainable mushroom gardens across the Raleigh-Durham area — from simple mushroom logs and beds to large-scale custom permaculture projects. We also sell live plants and smaller mushroom logs nationwide on Etsy.
Tell us about yourself
I am an ethnobotanist by training, and my research focused on Medieval herbal medicine. I like to dig deep into questions surrounding existence and survival. I worked as an arborist in the first year after graduating — hauling wood, using chainsaws, and climbing trees. With an abundance of raw materials on the job, such as wood chips and logs, I thought that upcycling them as mushroom substrates would be an easy way to grow some food for myself.
After some success with growing blue oyster mushrooms at my house, I decided to create a small flyer and Instagram page advertising "mushroom gardens." It started with one job a month. Then a few more. I need to work hard to feel good, and doing what needs to be done keeps me motivated every day.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
There are a lot of things, both big and small, but the biggest thing is that we are continuing to grow and evolve. We are now working out of a small (22-acre) farm, expanding our focus well beyond mushrooms to incorporate market gardening, orchards, and many other projects.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
You can't make everyone happy all the time. It is important to remember that you need to stay true to yourself and your original values and ideas, as well as to attract customers and provide a good/service. Don't take for granted the soft skills of being a communicator, record keeper, and marketer. It is assumed you already know what you are doing when it comes to your product.
Ultimately if you are not helping people in some way, there is no real value in your business. Sometimes that means evolving and growing; sometimes, that means cutting back to just one or two solid products.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start now! Make a flyer, put up signs, and do a job for a friend at a discount.
- Don't compare yourself to others.
- Reach out to like-minded people and businesses around you! They probably know things you can learn from.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website:
https://www.myrkwoodmushrooms.com/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyrkwoodMushrooms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wagner_homestead/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-wagner-32259a18b/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
