Popular mushroom workshop returns to Volcano Art Center

After a sold-out workshop in August, instructor Zach Mermel is back to teach the basics of mushroom cultivation in “Food From Wood: Growing Edible &Medicinal Mushrooms on Logs, Stumps and Wood Chips” from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.

Wondering what to do with those undesirable exotic trees on the back 40? By teaming with certain fungi, you can turn that pesky plant problem into an edible solution.

A wonder drug or just darn tasty, the humble mushroom belongs to a kingdom seldom explored. Mushrooms are an excellent source of vegetarian protein and nutrition with the added bonus of being easy to grow. Their health benefits are well-known and their ecological advantages are just now being fully realized.

Now you can learn basic fungal biology and how fungal mycelium colonizes different materials, particularly wooden logs, stumps and wood chips. Students also discover the health benefits of different edible and medicinal fungi in Hawaii.

The cost to attend the workshop is $55 for VAC members or $60 for nonmembers. Preregistration is required.

Each participant will depart with a shiitake mushroom log kit, as well as a King Stropharia mushroom kit.

If you’re an eager epicurean, avid horticulturalist or just interested in mushrooms, Mermel encourages you — along with farmers, gardeners and homeowners seeking to incorporate the growing of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms into their lives and livelihoods — to attend.

Participants will meet at VAC’s Niaulani Campus for a slideshow lecture, then drive to Shaka Forest Farms on Wright Road in Volcano Village for the hands-on segment of the workshop. For more information and to register for the workshop, please call 808-967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

The Niaulani Campus is located at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road.

For more information or to register, visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.