I have been considering running an Introduction to Mycology class with a lab component to assemble a sealed jar of bioluminescent mycelium. I would provide all supplies and the cost per take-home jar would be $5.
This photo is not my own because I don’t have a camera that is capable of capturing the glow effect. It is very dim, much dimmer than this photo makes it seem.
If you have taken one of my mushroom cultivation classes in the past, it would have the same presentation before the lab portion of the class. The differences would begin when we prepare some grain spawn and make some Masters Mix substrate on-site. We would then prepare jars to house the organism.
Since sterilization of the jars and substrate is required, I would have a set of jars and substrate pre-autoclaved and ready to be inoculated at the time of the class. (Let me know if you think this could be done differently/better, because otherwise the class would need to span two days and would not be possible to complete in one class session.)
The jars would take a few weeks to fully colonize. After full colonization, the glow effect lasts (I am told) for a year or so. I think it’s a neat way to learn about mycology if you think you’re not into mushrooms as a food.
What do you think? Is this class something you would take?
The event is now live on the calendar. We will have the class on Saturday, 2/28 at 11:00 a.m.
There are only six slots, so please only register if you are 100% promising you will make it. I have to do a lot of preparation for mushroom classes which is why they don’t happen with great frequency.
I wasn’t able to make this one due to a sailing race this weekend, but I’m so bummed to have to miss it! Do you plan to offer the pet bioluminescent fungus class again? I’d love to sign up if you do
Yes I do. I am also happy to do 1:1 with anyone who is really interested in learning to work with mushroom cultures for a variety of applications. For example, I have inoculated my garden beds with a fungus that kills common garden pests, and I am capable of creating as much inoculant as I could ever want or need.
