The Small Farm Program and Beginning Farmer Project of Kentucky State University collaborated with the University of Kentucky to conduct two classes on cultivating Shitake mushrooms through mushroom inoculation. The classes were held on March 23 at 1 pm and 6 pm at the Whitley County Extension Office in Goldbug. Thirty-two limited resource farmers attended the classes and learned about selecting appropriate hardwood logs for mushroom inoculation, watering and stacking the inoculated logs, and the ideal placement for mushroom growth. The farmers also learned how to drill holes, plug them with spawn, and seal the spawn with wax.

During the classes, Andrea Munoz from the Kentucky State University Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition Education Assistant presented the nutritional value of mushrooms, highlighting their high Vitamin D content. She also demonstrated a recipe for air-fried mushrooms for those who wished to try it. One of the female farmers expressed excitement at using a drill for the first time during the drilling process.

Several attendees expressed their anticipation for a successful mushroom harvest in the coming fall. While some were still contemplating whether to sell the mushrooms or use them for their own farm tables, they all seemed eager to reap the benefits of their efforts.