Mycelium Connections - Spreading Spores with the Community

Come down to Smith Street Community Garden and learn about some of the fascinating organisms that make up the Fungi Kingdom. Celebrate some of New Zealand's often overlooked fungi species and reconnect with edible & medicinal mushrooms that grow here naturally. A series of hands-on workshops where participants will learn how to grow native oyster mushrooms at home using different methods whilst exploring some of their environmental and nutritional benefits. All workshops will end with reflections and light refreshments, including some medicinal turkey tail tea and mushroom-themed snacks.

Adult Workshops ($35p/p):

Learn how to grow mushrooms on logs, in garden beds and in tubs/buckets. You will be inoculating your own log with a native oyster species to take home with you on the day. A great opportunity to gain hands-on experience with mushroom cultivation and explore the benefits of growing mushrooms in the garden. A step towards mushroom self-sufficiency and an introduction into why fungi are crucial for healthy ecosystems.

Family Workshops ($25p/f):

A fun family activity inoculating a log with native oyster mushrooms that you can take home on the day. A hands-on workshop where all can be involved - drilling, plugging in spawn, malletting in the dowels, brushing on wax. Explore some of the fungi species in Smith Street gardens and learn about the different parts of mushrooms; how they live, feed and grow. Learn how to make your own spore prints and collect mushroom ink for crafts.

Kids Workshops (Free):

Start on your mushroom journey and explore some of the fungi species in Smith Street gardens. A fun, educational workshop exploring different parts of a mushroom; how they live, feed and grow. Find out how to make your own mushroom spore prints and collect mushroom ink for crafts. You will also have the chance to grow your own edible mushrooms in a glass jar which will come with instructions for how to care for them at home. The edible mushroom you'll be growing is a species of oyster mushroom that is only found in New Zealand! Suitable for ages 8+.

The workshops will all be held at Smith Street Community Gardens. There is a portaloo on site, the nearest public toilets are in Eastgate. This is an outdoor workshop, if it does decide to rain on the day your workshop falls on bring your raincoat, there are some big trees for cover in the garden :)

If you have any questions please get in touch with Tilia via email - tilia.anisa@gmail.com