Learn and practice basic mushroom growing techniques - then take home a small container of spawn to put what we've learned into practice.
About this event
Charlie Aller is a lover of mushrooms and an independent researcher of fungal roles in local ecosystems. He co-founded Mush Luv in 2017 with Nina O'Malley, and together they have worked to bring native fungi into the food, medicine, and awareness of their community.
For this workshop, Charlie says:
Gardening with Mushrooms is a simple and accessible practice. If you have an outdoor (or even indoor!) space where you can grow vegetables, you can grow mushrooms there too-- and sometimes they even help each other in the process! Mushrooms can even be grown in shady areas where plants won't thrive.
We will cover some basic techniques: log inoculation, wood chip bed inoculation, straw inoculation, and container growing. We will practice with two gardening favorites: Oyster and Garden Giant. Each person will take home a small container of spawn to put their learning into practice!
What to Bring
Your PPE
Appropriate clothes for digging/working in a garden
Water bottle
Note-taking supplies
Bagged lunch
We have a limited number of scholarships available. If you are unable to pay the registration fee, please select the scholarship option at checkout and we will be in touch with you.
COVID-19 precautions: We are limiting registration to 10 participants so that we can maintain proper distancing outdoors. Masks required. Each participant is asked to take a quick COVID-19 screening before entering the workshop area.
About Farfields: Farfields Farm is a 150 acre farmstead project inspired by permaculture design and regenerative agricultural practices, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Afton, Virginia. Our farm is home to a native plant nursery, pastured laying hens, vegetable and medicinal gardens, mushroom logs, ponds, woodlands, and wildlife.
Our agro-forestry efforts include an organic, log-grown shiitake mushroom yard, as well as a multitude of wild-simulated plantings, mostly of Reishi mushrooms.