Always on
This project successfully funded on 7th May 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Help expand my mushroom farm! I need to grow more!
Banbury, Warwickshire, United Kingdom
Aim
Right now my growing capabilities are limited. I just need to invest in more equipment to upscale and meet local demand.
I’m a small, woman-owned mushroom farm nestled in the Cotswolds countryside near Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire. I grow premium, sustainably cultivated gourmet mushrooms for local restaurants, markets, and food lovers across the region.
Hi, I'm Sas Cooper — founder of Fresh Cotswold Mushrooms. What started as a passion project in my garden shed has grown into a small but thriving farm producing some of the finest gourmet mushrooms in the Cotswolds.
I grow a rotating variety of Oyster mushrooms, using sustainable, low-waste, low tech methods. Every batch is hand-tended, harvested at peak freshness, and delivered straight to local restaurants, farmers' markets, and doorsteps across the Cotswolds .
My mushrooms have found their way onto the menus of local restaurants and into the kitchens of food-lovers who care about where their food comes from. Demand has grown faster than I ever expected — and I've reached the limits of what my current setup can produce.
This campaign is about taking the next step: expanding my growing capacity so I can meet the demand that's already there, reduce my waiting list, and build a sustainable livelihood doing what I love.
Right now, Fresh Cotswold Mushrooms is limited by space and equipment. I regularly turn away orders I simply can't fulfil. With your support, I can:
- Expand my grow capacity with additional shelving, insulation, and climate control so I can run multiple growing cycles simultaneously
- Build an outside structure so I can inoculate even in the rain!
- Stock a larger 6-month supply of substrate and spawn, reducing downtime between harvests
- Invest in proper branded packaging and market signage — helping Fresh Cotswold Mushrooms look as good as it tastes
This isn't about changing what I do. It's about being able to do more of it, better.
How the Money Will Be Used
Every pound raised goes directly into expanding our growing operation. Here's exactly how your contributions will be spent:
Grow Room Expansion
New shelving, climate control & insulation
£1000
Equipment
Air conditioning unit
£1500
Substrate & Spawn
2 months supply of straw, wood chips & mushroom spawn
£1500
Packaging & Branding
Branded bags, labels, seal machine & market stand signage
£500
Contingency (10%)
Buffer for unexpected costs
£500
TOTAL
£5,000
The Impact of Your Support
With a fully funded campaign, Fresh Cotswold Mushrooms will be able to:
- Double our weekly growing capacity within 3 months of funding
- Clear our existing waiting list and onboard 3–5 new restaurant clients
- Create part-time employment for a local farm assistant within 12 months
- Get involved courses for local schools
Beyond the numbers: every bag of mushrooms from Fresh Cotswold Mushrooms means locally grown food, reduced food miles, and a small woman-owned business that stays in the community.
Iam the sole founder and grower behind Fresh Cotswold Mushrooms. Having spent years working as a gardener and part-time caterer, I decided to combine my two loves and grow mushrooms for gourmet cooking. Based in Brailes, Warwickshire, I have built my farm from two shipment containers, borrowing time and skills from friends and family, and working many jobs to self-fund my dream project of cultivating gourmet mushrooms. For the last 6 months I've been building a reputation for quality and consistency across local markets and food businesses.
I bring hands-on expertise in substrate preparation, mycelium cultivation, fruiting body management, and post-harvest handling — as well as a deep commitment to sustainable, low-waste growing practices.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made