Hometown Hero Finds New Purpose
By Sheri Harrison ian, thinking that his battles were behind him. But that was not to be. tascadero’s peaceful Farmer’s Market is Frank was about to go to war again, but not a very different environment than the against a foreign enemy this time. This time his Triangle of Death in Iraq and the battle- battle would be against cancer. However, the unexfields of Kandahar in Afghanistan. After witness- pected benefit of undergoing chemotherapy was ing so much death and destruction and sacrificing that Frank noticed through his research that one much, veterans like hometown hero Frank Wall are of the medicines he was receiving was made from finding a new direction and solace from their war a fungus. That began a journey that has landed him experiences by becoming farmers. in his new role at Farmer Frank. Frank, the creator of Farmer Frank’s Mush“I started to investigate and discovered that rooms, has been working with the Homegrown mushrooms have all kinds of health benefits. I by Heroes program and the Farmer Veteran Coali- started growing them as a hobby, and love to eat tion to become Atascadero’s latest gourmet mush- them, of course. Oyster mushrooms have been room farmer. He can be found at Farmer’s Market shown to prevent tumors, and new studies are in Sunken Gardens every Wednesday selling his coming out all the time that show the health beneexotic and brightly colored mushrooms: Pink, fits of eating mushrooms.” Frank shared. Golden, Blue Oysters, Lion’s Manes, and Shitakes. After reading a few books and watching some Frank moved to Atascadero as an adolescent videos, Frank began farming mushrooms on a scale and graduated from Atascadero High School in that allowed him to move beyond hobby farming 2002, became an Army Infantryman at 18, and to becoming a licensed commercial farmer and was initially stationed in Germany after training. selling his products at local Farmer’s Markets and A rapid deployment to the war in Iraq came soon supplying restaurants. Frank explained, “When I enough, and on those battlefields, Frank earned started growing, I converted an old fridge into a the Combat Infantry Badge, a Purple Heart after fruiting chamber. I would check on them several taking mortar round in Iraq, and the Bronze Star times a day, waiting for the pins to form. This led for service in Afghanistan during his nearly 13 to my excitement one morning when I opened the years of service, which included three tours into fridge to see a beautiful Blue Oyster mushroom combat. growing. At that moment, I knew what I would Because of the injuries he received in the war, be doing for years to come.” Frank had to leave the Army with a medical Frank ditched the old fridge, built a grow tenet, retirement after training other infantrymen at Ft. and has since expanded his operation to grow Hood, Texas, and Fort Lewis, Washington; he then enough to sell at the local Farmer’s Markets and returned to the Central Coast. supply local restaurants and wineries. Joining Upon retirement, he was looking the Farmer Veteran Coalition and the to provide stability for his two Homegrown by Heroes program children as a single dad and for has given him opportunities a new professional direction. and shared expertise to keep Frank used his vast military growing his business. Visiexperience to accept a job at tors to his stall at the FarmFort Hunter Liggett as a civiler’s Market can see his proudly
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displayed Homegrown by Heroes banner, identifying him as a veteran farmer. “It’s satisfying to hear how much people are enjoying the mushrooms I grow; they are so appreciative,” Frank said. Frank is excited to find varieties of mushrooms to grow and new recipes to share with his loyal customers, like Pan-Fried Oyster Mushrooms, Oyster Mushroom Soup, and Oyster Mushroom Pasta. He hands out those recipe cards to his customers. His mushrooms are in high demand, so he is looking to expand his operation even further. “I’m currently looking to find a more permanent place for my mushroom farming practice and look forward to launching my mushroom jerky in the coming weeks.” When asked about the best part of being a mushroom farmer, after all, he has experienced as a combat veteran, Frank replied, “Doing something on my own, taking a risk, getting the work done, and overcoming the fear of possible failure is the most satisfying experience.” Coming from a man who has faced down this country’s enemies only to battle with his own injuries and cancer, Farmer Frank will likely not only find peace growing his mushrooms, but he will demonstrate the courage to make his fledgling business a big success. For more information on Farmer Frank Mushrooms, check him out on Instagram by visiting instagram.com/farmerfranksmushrooms.
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