GAARA is a home ecosystem for edible mushroom cultivation bringing farm-to-table

industrial designer klil etrog introduces ‘GAARA’ a home ecosystem for edible mushroom cultivation, considering them like herbs or sprouts bringing the farm onto the table. the project takes shape as a vessel-like home kit that requires very few conditions and tools, to grow mushrooms at home without changing their common shape. klil sought to create a product that helps to simplify the process naturally and incorporate mushrooms in people’s kitchen.all images courtesy of klil etrog

‘GAARA’ by klil etrog generates a set of tools that will allow the growing process to take root in the kitchen – where the mushrooms are supposed to reach eventually. the material chosen for this purpose was clay, a common material in the domestic kitchen, whose properties contribute to beneficial growing conditions, namely increasing humidity and lowering the temperature. the clay can be used to make the water trickle inside the vessel and preserve the ideal environment for the mushrooms.

furthermore, the system consists of growing receptacles, cultivation bags with mycelial growth, and manual tools for operating the system. the designer came up with the idea to create a canal on top of the vessel that can pour the water, trickle down, and be appended to the vessel. by glazing the outside of the canal klil prevented the water from dripping on the floor while directing it in an efficient way throughout the vessel.

the designer left the vessel near a window just like mushroom growers hang up their bags because the mushrooms need air and indirect light. she created a set of containers that can grow up different types using plastic buckets one on top of the other forming a totem pole. in each of the vessels, she put a mycelium capsule that fits the volume of the vessel and ties them all together to build a long one and hang it up. the mycelium capsule is inserted inside a plastic bag, while on the vessel from the outside, there are a few holes. then the user should pierce the mycelium capsule, pour water in the canal and spray water directly on the holes a few times per day to boost the mushroom pop up.

at this point the vessel is humid, the holes are sprayed with water and the process starts to work. the mycelium capsule can be used for three cycles that are approximately two months. after that, users need to replace the capsule and use it as a fertilizer for the soil. then one washes the vessels and puts a new mycelium capsule and the whole process starts again waiting for the new mushrooms.

how it works

project info:

name: GAARA

designer: klil etrog graduated in bezalel academy of art and design

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina petridou | designboom