From a dream to the first harvest: how a veteran’s family started their own business

Oleksandr’s family from the Cherkasy region had long dreamed of starting their own business. Until recently, his wife Vita worked as a chief accountant at a school, while he served in the military. After his return to civilian life, the couple decided it was time to turn their family dream into reality.

The idea of starting a mushroom farm came quite unexpectedly. An acquaintance offered them the opportunity to rent a facility that had once been used for mushroom growing but had been standing empty for a long time. That is how they decided to try their hand at a completely new field.

“We had absolutely no experience in mushroom growing, but we wanted to work for ourselves and build something of our own,” Vita recalls.

She learned about the Ukrainian Red Cross’s Reboot programme at the employment centre, where she was informed about the opportunity to receive a microgrant to develop their own business.

The business plan was prepared by the family themselves, while programme specialists helped them understand the requirements and guided them through the application process.

With the grant funds, the family purchased mushroom spawn and the necessary equipment for growing mushrooms. They renovated and equipped the facility themselves.

The most exciting moment came with the first harvest.

“We were so happy. We could hardly believe it had worked. When you pick mushrooms, it feels as if you are in a forest, even though you are actually working indoors.”

The mushrooms produced by the family are supplied to shops, cafés, and restaurants. However, they do not plan to stop there. Their future plans include building new greenhouses and growing vegetables. In the long term, Vita and Oleksandr aim not only to expand their business but also to create new jobs for people in their community.