Cultivation Course Complete Series

Service Description

DIY Mushroom Cultivation Course Turn your kitchen into a mycology lab! This hands-on course guides beginners through the full cultivation cycle—from preparing sterile grain and learning 'aseptic' inoculation, to bulk spawning and harvest. Master low-cost, DIY techniques to grow gourmet and medicinal mushrooms at home with zero prior experience required. Module 1: Preparing and Sterilizing Grain Spawn Master the foundation of growth by selecting and prepping grains like rye or corn. Using the "Drippy Corn" method and a pressure cooker or Instant Pot, you’ll learn hydration, jar assembly, and high-heat sterilization. This module ensures your mycelial "food" is perfectly prepped, sterile, and ready for a successful inoculation. Module 2: Aseptic Technique and Liquid Culture Inoculation Sterility is everything. Master aseptic techniques using PPE and alcohol while exploring flow hoods and low-cost alternatives. Practice handling liquid culture syringes and flame sterilization to safely inoculate your grain jars. This module builds the laboratory habits necessary to keep your cultures clean and your mycelium thriving. Module 3: Substrate Preparation and Spawning into Grow Bags Transition from lab to bulk growth by matching species to substrates like coir or wood. Learn to hydrate media to "field capacity" and pasteurize effectively. You’ll practice the "spawning" technique—mixing colonized grain into bulk bags—to trigger the massive expansion required for a heavy harvest. Module 4: Fruiting, Harvesting, and Troubleshooting Bring your crop to life by dialing in humidity, light, and airflow. Learn to identify "pinning," harvest at peak maturity, and preserve your yield. We’ll also cover troubleshooting common contaminants and using agar to save or clone genetics, effectively completing your first full home cultivation cycle. Course Fee : $75/module or $260 for entire 4 module series Class Time 2-4pm Cultivation Club Potluck Social After Class 4-5pm Location: Circuit Launch - 8000 Edgewater Dr Suite 200 Oakland CA Course Instructors: Mario works in professional horticulture and has been teaching mycology and biology laboratory skills for over a decade with groups like the SF Microscopical Society and Circuit Launch. Misha has traded the closet for the commercial field, working professionally in mushroom cultivation. A true lover of the outdoors, Misha spends downtime hiking the SF Bay trails or supporting the West Coast music festival scene.