Name: Mushrooms 101: How to culture fungi
Start: 2026-03-21T14:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-03-21T16:00:00-05:00
Location: ChiTownBio

Join ChiTownBio & mushroom maestro Val Thompson as we guide you through mushroom culturing basics! Mushroom to Mushroom cultivation!
About this Event

Mushrooms and fungi are having a moment in popular culture, and if you're in any way curious about how to culture and grow your own mushrooms, now's the time to explore! ChiTownBio is here to help you on your fungal journey, and we're committed to making sure you can understand the basic methods and science behind all the techniques associated with growing mushrooms at home. We'll walk you through how to culture fungi on agar plates, we'll show you how to make your own liquid cultures, and we'll explain the benefits of grain spawn in starting your culutre. We also want to make sure that we get you all the way to the last big step: innoculating your substrate.

This course is going to be an essential guide to growing mushrooms, and everyone in attendance will be walking away with some cultures of mushrooms (Which species will be dependent on our current cultures, but we're most excited about oysters and local ganoderma species). We want to make sure you are able to replicate what you learn in the lab productively and safely, and we're excited to see where the cousre goes!

You don't need to bring anything to the class other than a desire to learn. We'll provide everyone with some cultures and make sure no one leaves empty handed.

Courses at ChiTownBio are open to everyone, and we believe that working in a biotechnology future should be accessible to all Chicagoans, regardless of race, gender expression, sexual identity, national origin, or any other protected class. Our lab is a space for open and friendly sharing of ideas, and we are all responsible for ensuring everyone feels safe and respected. We are committed to hosting inclusive events, and will not tolerate any actions or attitudes contrary to our deeply held beliefs in inclusivity. By attending this event, you are agreeing to uphold this standard and acknowledge that the organizers reserve the right to restrict attendance.

If you have any concerns about another person's behavior, you may file a report via email with our organization's president Andy Scarpelli ([email protected] ). ChiTownBio is a safe space for all, and we will take precautionary measures or responsive actions to uphold these ideals.