Learn how to grow your own mushrooms

NOFA/RI Announces Cultivating Exotic Mushrooms Workshop on February 10

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Rhode Island (NOFA/RI) is pleased to announce the next Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) workshop focused on commercial mushroom cultivation. Find full details at nofari.org.

Bob DiPietro, owner of the RI Mushroom Company will lead a workshop called “Cultivating Exotic Mushrooms” on Tuesday, February 10, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. In case of hazardous weather, the event will be rescheduled to Tuesday, February 17, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. If in doubt, see workshop status at nofari.org/events. The RI Mushroom Company is located at 141 Fairgrounds Rd, West Kingston, RI.

Workshop attendees will see how gourmet mushrooms are grown commercially. Rob DiPietro will share his experience and offer a tour of his commercial mushroom operation. See inside RI Mushroom Company’s “grow rooms” and learn the basics of mushroom cultivation. Mycologist, Todd Leftwith, will offer technical details and provide a tour of the company’s lab. 

Learn about the life cycle of fungi, various methods of cultivation and how to prepare them for eating. Attendees will also see wild mushrooms collected by a small team of authorized foragers.

The RI Mushroom Company cultivates exotic mushrooms for restaurants and consumers in Rhode Island and beyond. DiPietro and his team grow several varieties or mushrooms including blue oyster, crimini, golden oyster, king oyster, maitake, portobello and pioppino.

CRAFT Workshops

The CRAFT workshop series shares grower experiences and best practices between farmers, farm workers, apprentices and gardeners.

These workshops are free thanks to a generous Farm Viability grant from the RI Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Agriculture which seeks to enhance farmers’ ability to grow and market their specialty crops. Everyone is welcome. Registration is not required for CRAFT Workshops.

Organization

Formed in 1990, NOFA/RI is an organization of farmers, consumers, gardeners and environmentalists working to promote organic farming and organic land care practices. NOFA/RI fosters a healthy relationship to the natural world through educational workshops, advocacy and participation in local and regional events. 

NOFA/RI works to increase the acreage of land sustainably and organically managed and to provide access to local organic food for all Rhode Islanders. Learn more about NOFA/RI at nofari.org or email nofari@live.com.

NOFA/RI is affiliated with six other NOFA chapters through the NOFA Interstate Council. This growing regional association of seven state chapters representing over 5,800 farmers, farm workers, apprentices, gardeners, chefs and consumer members. Learn more about the NOFA Interstate Council at nofa.org.