IMSMC Mittagong Mushroom Run

 41 members and family presented 18 Italian machines on our visit to the Mushroom Tunnel. The weather turned it on for us — a beautiful winter’s day in the Southern Highlands. A beautiful drive heading down to Mittagong, meeting at the Partridge VC Rest Area before heading off to the Mittagong Information Centre.

Here we met the lovely Leonie, who directed us to the Mushroom Tunnel.

We assembled at the Mushroom Tunnel, parking Italian style, our cars creating a beautiful array of Italian machinery.

The tunnel stretches 600 metres, connecting Mittagong and Bowral. It was once a railway tunnel, then during the war a bunker that stored weapons and ammunition, and later became a mushroom farm — a purpose it still serves today.

They are the only farm left in Australia that grows mushrooms in a tunnel. They grow out of logs of damp, compressed sawdust and take around two weeks to grow.

We were given a small punnet of fresh shiitake mushrooms to take home, and we had the option to buy a log to grow our own mushrooms at home.

All this talk of mushrooms sent everyone into hunger mode, so it was off to the Public House and Kitchen in Robertson. Food was exceptional and company even better!

All in all, a fabulous day with great company, full tummies, and happy hearts.

ELISSA LOSINNO.