Outdoor mushroom cultivation workshop
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn about the many ways that mushrooms and fungi protect our delicate forest ecosystems and promote and protect human health.
Christian will lead the group on a short forest walk to discuss the selection of trees for mushroom log cultivation as well as ideal locations for growing. You will learn about the different processes for outdoor mushroom cultivation and then participate in the inoculation process, which includes drilling holes in the hardwood log, packing the holes with shiitake mushroom spawn, and then sealing the holes with wax.
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Each participant will leave with an inoculated log (roughly 3-4 feet long) as well as care and fruiting instructions. If cared for properly, each log should last up to 4 years and yield anywhere from a half a pound to a full pound of shiitake mushrooms twice a season.
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If you've been keen to learn about outdoor mushroom cultivation and grow your own, this is the workshop for you!
About Your Facilitator
Christian Hicks is the owner and operator of Pizzeria Ascente and a small off-grid outdoor mushroom farm in Port Hood, where he grows 5 different types of culinary mushrooms. This will be his 3rd season of outdoor mushroom cultivation and if you've head a chance to speak with him about mushrooms, it won't take you long to see how passionate he is about the topic. He aspires to help others gain the knowledge and confidence to grow their own mushrooms, spreading the love of fungi all over Cape Breton Island!
Date and Cost
Saturday May 9th, 2026. 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
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Cost $75 / person
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Includes your own take-home inoculated shiitake mushroom log, coffee, tea (herbal & black), mineral water, and appetizers.​​​
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Registration
To register for this workshop, payment is required to hold your seat as space is limited. Once payment has been received we will send out a registration package.
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For cancellations, we must receive a cancellation request 7 days prior to the workshop date. We will refund the cost of the workshop, minus a 10% administrative fee. You may also transfer your seat to someone else, just inform us of the change.
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If we have to cancel the workshop, participants will receive a full refund.
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