When Dr. Browne retired from patient care, she already had a vision for her next chapter. She purchased property on the Yadkin Valley Scenic Byway some 20 years before with the specific goal of developing an agritourism business centered around her herbal remedies she already sold online and functional mushrooms. The micro-farm model of indoor mushroom farming is well-suited for a retiree to manage. The growing interest in functional mushrooms has ensured the success of the venture.
Dr. Browne also envisioned a farm store that would be transparent to customers, allowing them to see the processes involved in creating their medicine and growing the mushrooms. The store was designed to provide an interactive experience, giving visitors a peek behind the scenes. “Quality matters when you purchase functional mushrooms,” Dr. Browne explains. “It’s easy to buy something online that yields no results whatsoever. The transparency of our store helps build confidence in our products. And it is fun to smell remedy samples, taste jerky samples, and see inside a mushroom fruiting chamber!"
A store for the curious mind! "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." Albert Einstein
She adds, “People appreciate that our indoor operation does not require any pesticides or chemical fertilizers.” Having founded and owned an organic herb farm from 1983 to 1999, Dr. Browne understands the advantages of organic farming.
Inside the century-old barn that serves as the store, they offer organic functional mushroom coffee, teas, and extracts. Dr. Browne emphasizes, “Our customers value being able to source their wellness products locally, as nearly all functional mushrooms sold online, such as lion’s mane, cordyceps, and turkey tail, are grown in China”. The store also offers fresh gourmet mushrooms, delicious mushroom jerky, and umami seasonings.
The apothecary produces approximately 100 remedies inspired by Chinese medicine, reflecting Dr. Browne’s background and long history of providing self-care solutions and education to individuals. “I am a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM). This venture represents the culmination of my 40 years of professional and organic farming experience coming together in a fun-filled retirement project,” she explains.
Sustainable farming practices are also built into our functional mushroom production. We grow on a mushroom substrate of agricultural waste, including soybean hulls, wheat bran, and oak (we never grow on manure). The process requires very little water and nothing is wasted: mushroom stems go into our umami, leftover culinary mushrooms are made into mushroom jerky, and unused mycelium production blocks are used for soil remediation on our property or donated to local gardeners.
Many growers need a steady supply of mushrooms throughout the year to satisfy their market demands; we grow seasonally so that we do not have to use air conditioning for cool weather crops or heat for mushrooms that thrive in warm climates. If you like "slow food" you'll love our "slow mushrooms" that can take up to 6 months to cultivate, harvest, and prepare.
A lot of businesses have jumped on the "Green" bandwagon, but our founder, Dr. Browne, began organic herb farming in 1983. She grew and sold 1/2 million herb plants delivered to garden centers throughout the Southeast yearly until 1999 when she entered Oriental Medical School. She also developed an educational program training medical herbalists. Organic farming is not just a business plan, it's a lifelong passion!
Dr. Browne's herb farm was also a busy agritourism destination. As mentioned, she purchased the SwanCreekFarm.com property in North Carolina way back in 2001 planning on developing a new agritourism business as it is located on 2 wine trails and a scenic byway. However, she was too busy with patient care and managing the manufacturing of herbal products for AgelessHerbs.com to get Swan Creek Farm going. When she retired from patient care, she brought her vision to fruition and opened SwanCreekFarm.com to the public in April of 2024.