CULTIVATING OYSTER MUSHROOM AND OTHER COOL THINGS WITH FUNGI

Why Fungi? Why Mushrooms?

The fungi kingdom is vast and diverse; it includes moulds, rusts, yeasts, mushrooms, and more! We’re surrounded by invisible fungi all the time; spores are in the air, in the clouds, and fungal mycelial networks are hidden in trees and in the soil. Fungi are ubiquitous.

Fungi are used for  food production and medicine, making materials, and remediating land and water from contaminants. They also play an important role in ecosystems; connecting, decomposing, and ultimately recycling life. There is no doubt that fungi are important and useful.

Given how important Fungi are overall, we ought to have an appreciation and understanding of how fungi operate in and support our ecosystems and human societies/communities.

Discovering more about fungi, and knowing how to protect and partner with fungi (for food, medicine, or soil remediation etc) can help advance ecosystem restoration work, and help us find more ecologically conscious ways of being.

This workshop has three main threads:

Low-tech Mushroom Cultivation

The practical part of this workshop explores an easy approach to growing mushrooms using cheap accessible resources and minimising waste.

Growing mushrooms begins with growing mycelium, the root structure of the mushroom. Such insight is useful for understanding the role of fungi in ecosystems.

In addition to harvesting delicious mushrooms a grower gains an understanding what mycelium is, how it behaves, and what it needs to thrive.

Discovering Radical Mycology

The Radical Mycology Movement was started by Peter Mc Coy and Maya Elson in 2006, and was originally a collaborative network of mushroom and fungi enthusiasts.

Now there is also the Radical Mycology Convergence in Oregon, and a book called Radical Mycology.

The movement is all about appreciating fungi, growing mushrooms, and making applied mycology more accessible in everyday life.

Who is facilitating the workshop?

Joanne is a community food activist with particular interest in fungi/mushrooms. She has a MSc Food Security and Permaculture Design Certificate, and currently works as a facilitator. In addition to cultivating mushrooms Joanne is interested in the Radical Mycology movement and how people can partner with fungi for purposes such as clearing up pollution.  She is currently based in Donegal, and looking to connect with people across the island, to share (and learn) fungi/mushroom knowledge and skills. You can follow some of her work on instagram @mycocraic

This workshop offering includes full participation plus food and refreshments. contact Joanne & Milo  for more details on this. 0861088397.