Fungi are all around us and underpin many of our ecosystems. They are nature’s recyclers breaking down forest debris – the leaves, branches, woodchips, and other forest detritus – they are busy returning locked-up nutrients to the environment. Many of the fungi we wish to cultivate are saprobes, they derive energy and nutrients by breaking down plant matter.  While some can be easily grown in artificial conditions, some prefer to work in a partnership with other organisms, or have certain requirements that defeat cultivation.  

This workshop will be about some of those wood-loving fungi.  From spore to spawn to substrate, many of the fungi we cultivate are relatively easy to grow using conventional cultivation methods, while for others, it is sometimes best to leave them up to their natural lifecycle – guided somewhat.

Some fungi thrive in a setting of competition and cooperation, and fortunately, there are a handful of “Guerrilla” style techniques that we can use to capture fungi using the stem butts of foraged mushrooms that prefer outdoor garden beds, bulking out a myceliated substrate, then returning them to an environment where they are happy to grow, and fruit.

Join Caine Barlow for 90-minute mushroom cultivation workshop covering the cultivation and use of outdoor wood-loving mushrooms. Guided by the mushroom lifecycle, Caine frames mushroom cultivation in an easy-to-understand context, covering what is needed to succeed in a home, community, or guerrilla garden. The language and techniques used in mycology can be confronting for many, but Caine has a relaxed teaching style, mixing both backyard methods and lab techniques. The workshop will have time for open Q&A.