Outdoor Mushroom Farming Series

Thursday, May 22, 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday, June 26, 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday, July 17, 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

This workshop is a 3-part series. You may attend parts but attend all three to develop the skill to successfully farm mushrooms on your land.

Part 1 - Outdoor Mushroom Farming Series- Part 1: Log Inoculation, The Basics

Thursday, May 22, 5:00 pm -7:00 pm

Are you interested in exploring how to grow your own mushrooms to start a small-scale mushroom operation? Participants in this workshop will learn various techniques for growing different species of mushrooms using a variety of materials, with a focus on shiitakes. You will participate in a hands-on experience inoculating wood with shiitake spawn. Each participant will bring home their own inoculated log for at-home production.

Part 2 - Outdoor Mushroom Farming Series Part 2: Laying Yard Management, Harvesting, and Gardening

Thursday, June 26 - 5:00 pm -7:00 pm

Join us at the shiitake laying yard to learn about managing shiitakes, as well as other mushrooms, as a crop. At this hands-on workshop, participants will experience soaking, fruiting and harvesting shiitakes, and will learn what is required to build your own mushroom yard. In addition, we will examine where we harvested small pole-size trees used for inoculating the shiitake mushrooms and understand the rationale for harvesting those particular trees as part of forest improvement. Participants can be sure that they will leave this class with mushrooms to try and will gain an understanding of how to profit from this newly recognized crop.

Part 3 - Outdoor Mushroom Farming Series Part 3: Enterprise planning and marketing

Thursday, July 17 – 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Ready to set up your mushroom skills and turn that knowledge into a business? Join us at the Agroforestry Resource Center to learn what it takes. During this class, participants will receive shiitake business planning resources with detailed guidance on how to apply that knowledge to your farm. Many different revenue streams associated with mushroom cultivation will be discussed, and how to market your mushrooms.