Event

Metro Mushroom Farming

This hands-on workshop will teach you how to grow edible mushrooms almost anywhere: around your vegetable garden, in a small woodlot, in the cramped backyard of a triple-decker, or even in your basement.

The workshop will focus on growing wine cap, shiitake, and elm and other oyster mushrooms on logs. (Some varieties grow well on organic waste, like spent coffee grounds, a growing technique that will be covered in subsequent workshops.)

Every participant will take home a log they have 'inoculated' with one of several varieties of mushroom mycelia. Over time, the mycelia colonize and 'digest' the log, converting its nutrients into tasty edible mushroom 'flushes' or blooms. It's a wonder to witness!

There is a $25 registration fee that covers the cost of everything, including the log. Space is limited; registering and paying is recommended.

About the Instructors: Dan Bensonoff is a devoted foodie, farmer and educator. He began his mycelial adventures as a child foraging with his grandparents. The beauty of mushrooms eventually led him to try his hand at cultivation. He lives in Jamaica Plain and works at the Newton Community Farm. Dan Schenk is a dedicated cultivator of gardens, farms, and communities. During his biological studies, Dan discovered a passion for foraging and hiking in the many forests of Michigan. Dan now lives in Jamaica Plain and works for the Boston Food Forest Coalition.