Discover the basics of fungal tissue culture and nutrient-media. In this workshop you will get hands-on experience learning how to culture mushrooms, make various types of culturing media, and ways to expand or maintain isolated cultures. Other topics will be covered, such as materials and supplies needed to get started, how to follow proper aseptic technique, how to make spore prints and ways to view fungi under a microscope.

Participants will get to take home their very own fungal cultures and all the information needed to replicate what they learn on their own.

Please bring a mask to wear for the hands-on part of the workshop.

There will also be the opportunity to make your own Still-Air-Box if you bring you own clear sterilite tote (preferably 90 quart size or larger). This is the first of two workshops covering the basics of personal mushroom cultivation.

Attendance to both is recommended, but not required.

If you are interested in learning how to grow your own mushrooms or conduct your own fungal science projects, these workshops are for you.

**Scholarship Information**
These workshops will cost $65 each. To provide an equitable experience within our community, we will be awarding (5) scholarships to community members who self identify as members of historically underserved and marginalized communities. Scholarships will be awarded via email on August 5th, 2024.
Please apply for scholarships here.

Aubrey Inkster is a mycologist/community scientist specializing in mushroom cultivation. In the past he has worked in research laboratories focusing on urban forestry and environmental engineering at the University of Delaware, and most recently spent a year working as a laboratory technician in an industrial-scale spawn lab in Kennett Square, PA. His current interest is in learning how to extract and sequence DNA from mushrooms that he has cultured from the wild in order to contribute to the greater understanding of fungal biodiversity around us.