Low-Tech Mushroom Cultivation Workshop

Come to Herff Farn to learn basic mycology and start growing your own culinary mushrooms.

In this hands-on workshop, students will discover the powerful role mushrooms play in boosting soil health and water retention, as well as learning basic mycology and understanding the relationship between fungi and plants. The course will cover practical, low-cost, and low-tech methods to recycle mushroom blocks and organic matter, enriching the soil web and supporting the larger ecosystem. Students will gain hands-on experience growing vitamin D-rich culinary mushrooms alongside vegetables and perennials in garden beds and containers, all without the need for special equipment or electricity. Additionally, the workshop will explore how to incorporate recycled mushroom blocks into compost, use them for sheet mulching, and provide guidance on sourcing mushroom blocks at a very low cost. All techniques can be done outdoors using materials commonly found on farms and in gardens. Together, we’ll build healthy soil and sustainable gardening practices.

What to Bring: A 5-gallon container. This could be a planter pot, a bucket, laundry basket, milk crate or even a strawberry pot.

Price: $35. Get your tickets here!

Resources provided:

• Mushroom spawn
• Power drills and ¾ to 1½ inch bits: there will be a few to share
• Straw
• Hydrated lime
• Trashbags, micropore tape
• Handouts

Who Should Attend: This workshop is great for all ages, beginners to advanced farmers, gardeners and anyone that is learning to grow mushrooms.

Instructor: Angel Schatz radiates passion for understanding the ecosystem of central Texas and making gardening with mushrooms accessible to anyone who shares interest. Angel is part of the leadership team the Central Texas Mycological Society. She combines vegetable gardening and mushroom growing, particularly by using recycled mushroom blocks.