When: February 7th 2026 1:00pm-3:00pm
Where: 550 Thompson Road, Garner, NC 27529
What: FREE Mushroom Log Workshop (Capacity: 40)
We are so excited to be teaching this workshop again this year! Please fill out the form below so that we may be prepared for the amount of participants.
In this FREE, hands-on workshop we will demonstrate and teach a dependable method to grow your own mushrooms at home. We aim to equip you with all the knowledge to inoculate and upkeep mushroom logs at home for years! After the workshop, the logs we make in class will be available for purchase if you wish, or you can use the resource sheet provided in class to order your own supplies to use at home.
Please bring your own eye protection, closed toe shoes, and work gloves. The workshop will be held outdoors rain or shine (with canopies), please dress accordingly.
The number of tools we have available are limited and will need to be shared between participants. If you’re able to bring your own tools, please do! We will be using hammer, cordless drill with 8.5mm (5/16) bit and stop collar. Please mark your tools to ensure we avoid any confusion!
We will have a limited number of logs available to take home for $30 each (both the shiitake we make that day, and some pre-inoculated logs as well). Members with 2026 dues paid receive a 50% discounted rate on logs. This means that if you plan to purchase 2 logs, you effectively get a free membership!
*Mushroom logs require proper upkeep to successfully fruit. As we cannot control the conditions once they leave the workshop, we can not guarantee they will fruit. We will teach how to care for your logs in the workshop to give you the best chance for success!
There are a variety of mushroom strains that we have experimented with over the years, and we have found several favorites that grow well in our climate.
Snow Cap Shiitake Mushroom
Snow Cap™ produces beautiful, uniform, thick fleshed caps tufted with white lacey ornamentation. A long natural outdoor season makes it a favorite for those who like to visit their logs regularly. Heaviest fruiting occurs early spring and late fall. Possibly the best winter strain in the South.
West Wind Shiitake Mushroom
Nearly as popular as WR46™ and equally dependable, this strain has a slight advantage in environments with warmer fruiting temperatures. Spawn run may be faster than other wide range strains in areas where summers are prone to dry spells or logs cannot be irrigated. Fruiting temp range 55-75°F. West Wind™ is also slightly more drought tolerant than other WR strains, and shows a slight preference for red oak over white oak. Fruits naturally in the spring and fall.
Blue Dolphin Oyster Mushroom
Also known as the “Fall Fruiting Tree Oyster,” this strain undergoes a lovely metamorphosis from the frosty blue pins through the pewter gray clusters of the mature mushrooms. Blue Dolphin” is a prolific fruiter in cooler weather, especially after the first near-frost temperatures in autumn. It needs near freezing temperatures to stimulate fruiting.
BONUS:
Lion’s Mane
There will also be a limited number of Lions Mane ready-to-fruit blocks available for sale.
Softball size clusters with cascading long spines make this Hericium one of the most breath-taking mushrooms. Lion’s Mane has received attention in recent years for its neurotrophic capabilities by potentially keeping our brains strong. Lion’s Mane millet grain spawn is recommended to grow into sterilized hardwood sawdust or hardwood pellets.
