ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

We will talk about what people are calling the “earth’s internet.” Everyone is talking about the invisible, underground network that connects most plants and distributes water and nutrients. This workshop will give you the practical knowledge to learn how to use spent mushroom substrate (SMS) to build healthy soil, sequester carbon, increase water retention, feed the soil web, your plants and eventually you! This workshop will cover the basic biology and then we will show you low-cost and low-tech ways to recycle SMS and other organic matter back into the soil and also grow delicious Vitamin D filled culinary mushrooms! These basic techniques require no special equipment or electricity, and can all be done outdoors using organic materials found on most farms and gardens. Let’s build healthy soil together!

BYOB (optional): Bring your own bucket. 5 gallon containers: planter pot, bucket, laundry basket, milk crate, or crate for vegetables, wire mesh container like a bird house. Any container with holes in it will work. Do not buy anything new, there are many ways to recycle and use these materials. If your container doesn’t have holes in the side, use a power drive with a 1 “ bit and drill holes in a diamond pattern 4” apart on the sides of the bucket. DO NOT drill holes on the bottom. If there are already holes on the bottom, line it with cardboard.

This workshop is great for beginners and advanced farmers and gardeners. You will walk away with the knowledge of:

1. Basic biology terms and understanding of types of fungi as it relates to plants.

2. Benefits of fungi to the soil web and our larger ecosystem

3. How to use spent mushroom substrate (SMS) in your compost

4. How to use SMS and grow mushrooms in the garden alongside your vegetables and perennials

5. How to use SMS and grow mushrooms in containers (Hands-on)

6. How to source SMS at a very low-cost