Inside the Artisan Tunnels at The Old Mushroom Farm

The artisans are the heart of the tunnels at The Old Mushroom Farm.

Bakers, designers, herbalists, curators and candle makers each through their own discipline bring care to their craft. These creative spaces just outside Howick, KwaZulu-Natal are a must visit if you're looking for things to do in the Midlands. Take a stroll through the tunnels at The Old Mushroom Farm where you'll find artisan's shops, studios and eateries, and see what’s been unfolding.

The 9 tunnels were once used to grow mushrooms, and are laid out in two rows back-to-back, linked with a central walkway. We don't mention Tunnel 5 (aka Playhouse 5) in our artisan walkabout because this fantastic domed space is used as an events venue, housing artisans of a musical and theatrical variety. We invite you to attend an upcoming show. But for now, we will start our tour from the bottom tunnels...

ALKALINE DESIGNS | Tunnel 4

Alkaline's WAYST — PENDANT 01 tells a story that begins right here at The Old Mushroom Farm. Created using crushed brick from construction site discards (Thank you Boutique Apartments), the pendant reframes waste as memory and material. Designed digitally, then 3D printed, moulded, cast, and hand-finished, each piece reveals fragments of its origin through exposed aggregate. It’s both a lighting object and a material study, balancing form and weightlessness.

This piece marks the beginning of the WAYST collection, which Alkaline has just shown at Cape Town Furniture Week, a 4-day design festival for contemporary furniture, lighting and homeware. Alkaline has been selected as one of the top 12 finalists for the Design Prize by @visi_mag and @furnitureweek.capetown. To have nationally recognised designers in our community is truly inspiring. Congrats!

Meet the Alkaline team on The Old Mushroom Farm's YouTube channel.

CROOKS GOODS | Tunnel 6

Crooks encaustic tiles usually steal the spotlight (understandably so), but this month we’re tipping our hats to a quieter hero: the Concrete Butler Sink. Solid, reliable, and effortlessly handsome, it’s the kind of piece that anchors a space without demanding attention. As always, made right here on The Old Mushroom Farm.

Read more about CROOKS here.

BITE SOCIETY | Corner Building

Positioned opposite the tunnels and beside the Community Food Garden, Bite Society sits exactly where it should for their much-loved Forager pizza. Topped with mushrooms, sour cream and greens gathered straight from the garden, it's been a bestseller since day one. Even with February’s seasonal shifts, it’s not going anywhere. A tip for the 'weed eaters' out there; order a Margherita and forage your own toppings.

NUDE SOAPS | Tunnel 3

Born from a personal need for deep winter healing, Nude’s Skin Repair Treatment has grown into an everyday staple. Made with nutrient-dense tallow, castor oil, and a carefully selected blend of healing herbs, including comfrey, ribwort plantain, and quickweed it supports skin repair, soothes inflammation, and restores balance. Gentle enough for daily use on face or body, yet rich enough to help with eczema, rosacea, sunburn, and dry skin. It’s a product that truly earns its praise.

Meet the makers behind NUDE here.

HOME SLICE CAFE | Tunnel 7

Some recipes become legends, and Home Slice’s carrot cake is one of them. Gran's recipe, gifted when the café first opened, has earned its place as a firm favourite. Generously sliced, perfect for sharing (or not), and enjoyed with the best cup of coffee in the Midlands. Warning: You may find yourself returning next week for another slice.

Meet the Home Slices here.

MARGARET ANNE CANDLES | Tunnel 9b

Margaret Anne’s fragranced candle range is designed to cultivate desired states of being through colour, fragrance, and intention. Dream is a deep calm in lavender and sage, Joy's key is French vanilla, Ocean carries rocksalt and driftwood, and Palm Trees transports you to a tropical island with scents of lime and coconut. Plus, these stunning vessels were created in collaboration with Alkaline from tunnel 4.

Watch Annie's interview on our YouTube channel.

COSMIC CRYSTALS | Tunnel 1a

Keep an eye out for Cosmic Crystals’ new Himalayan Black Salt range: a rare, mineral-rich variation on the familiar pink salt. Natural Himalayan Black Salt brings bold, smoky depth to everyday cooking, while Himalayan Grey Salt Chunks can be used for baths, air purification or culinary use. The unusual Natural Grey Salt Lamp completes the trio, emitting a soft, calming glow from a handcrafted salt crystal.

Read more about Cosmic Crystals.

THEN THERE ARE SOME BEST EXPERIENCED IN PERSON

Midlands Books & Collectables in Tunnels 3 and 8 (opposite), brings in new stock every week, so there’s always something new to be found on the shelves. Kidz Delite, in Tunnel 9a, is a space where delight reveals itself in unexpected ways and the surprise is half the charm.

THE ARTISANS MATTER

The Old Mushroom Farm backs people, not production lines. Every loaf, lamp, balm and tile carries the mark of the hands that made it. That kind of care cannot be mass produced, and it’s exactly what makes the Artisan Tunnels at The Old Mushroom Farm worth exploring.

The best days to visit The Old Mushroom Farm shops, studios and eateries are Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Most of our artisans close on Tuesdays. Some are open on Mondays and Wednesdays. It's always best to check individual operating hours in advance to make sure.