Shiitake Mushroom Workshop

Date, Time: April 11, 2026  9:00 am to noon.

Programming Cost: $60/person, including the materials. Start registration by clicking the RSVP link; After you submit a registration, we will send you an invoice for payment. If cost is a barrier, let us know about the need for scholarship assistance. Maximum of 12 participants.

Location: In the Gathering Room and outdoors at “Iowisota”, 2472 IA-26, Lansing, Iowa.  Midway between Lansing and New Albin. Entrance to the education space is on the upper level on the back side of the “house”.

What to expect for the event:  We will start indoors to discuss background information on mushroom cultivation, including how different types of mushrooms are grown, and what equipment is needed. We will be indoors about an hour, then we will go outside or to the barn to work in stations to drill holes in logs, inoculate mushroom spawn into the holes, and seal the holes with wax. All the logs and spawn will be prepared in advance for you. You will take a shiitake-inoculated log home with you. If we have time, we will also talk about growing native oyster mushrooms. Dress casually, prepared to be outdoors and working with hand tools. There will be ample opportunities for questions and discussion.

Optional lunch and afternoon “Habitat Hike”: For a suggested donation of $30, stay for a charcuterie lunch after the workshop and then go out on a guided walk in the woods with the instructors. It is not the season for most choice edible mushrooms, but we will discuss the habitats and seasons in which they will occur. This will be a fun opportunity to gain a wealth woodland knowledge and  mushroom hunting tips! Hike 1:00-3:00ish.

Overnight opportunity: Iowisota has 6 guest bedrooms, with all the modern amenities. (See the accommodations tab of the website for information on all the rooms, and accommodations request form). Book an overnight stay to build in some extra time to enjoy some of the cool things that Iowisota and the Driftless Area have to offer.  Additional $75/person (or $100/room) per night; Breakfasts are included. Lodging taxes will be added. The setting of Iowisota includes nearly 200 acres of private forest and many trails to hike and explore. The sleeping rooms are a delightful blend of historic, rustic, and modern. The “gathering room” with its stone fireplace, expansive windows, and comfortable seating provides a place to hang out and chat or explore the “library”. Nearby attractions include the Driftless Area Visitor Center, Downtown Lansing, Effigy Mounds, and so much more.

About the Instructors: Mitch Gilbert is a consulting forester in Southeast Minnesota who has been cultivating Shiitake mushrooms for years. Janet Erdman is a private forest owner in Southeast Minnesota who manages her land and volunteers with the Minnesota Women’s Woodland Network; she too has been cultivating mushrooms for personal use and teaching others. Linda Haugen is the co-owner of Iowisota; she worked for 32 years as a forest pathologist with the US Forest Service. Linda collaborated with Janet on various projects and adventures with the MWWN, including a mushroom growing workshop in 2019. Between the three instructors, we have decades of relevant experience to share with you!

How to sign up and pay: Registration is limited to 12 participants. Click the link for registration and then fill out the registration form. This will hold your space. Iowisota will email an invoice to you for payment. You can pay securely online by credit card or PayPal, or make arrangements to pay in person by cash or check.