Bought a house with this glass structure in the backyard, no idea what it’s supposed to be.

If you grew up in the 70s or 80s, there’s a good chance you remember it:

The little shed at the edge of the garden made from mismatched windows and wooden frames — not for storing tools or toys…

But for growing mushrooms.

That quirky structure we used to call the mushroom fruiting house was more than just a backyard oddity — it was a place where dampness was welcome, where mystery thrived in the shadows, and where kids got their first taste of watching life sprout from straw and logs .

And now?

What Exactly Is a Mushroom Fruiting House?

A mushroom fruiting house (or mushroom bed enclosure) is a small, semi-humid structure designed to encourage mushrooms to grow in controlled conditions — often in compost, straw, or wood chips.

Unlike traditional greenhouses, it doesn’t need full sun.

It doesn’t chase heat.

Instead, it craves shade, moisture, and still air — the kind of environment most plants avoid.

And unlike high-maintenance crops, mushrooms don’t ask for much:

A damp log

A dark corner

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