Darklight Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) I've had a few requests lately in-person for help and advice with sterile techniques- usually related to mycology, but also with regard to plant tissue cultureIt's hard to teach this online, and a lot dispiriting watching so many people burn out over the years trying to learn these teks in isolationI'm thinking about running a Sterile Tek for Mycology workshop to be run at Koda Phytorium in Byron Bay around early June. This will be a 2 day workshop of approx 5 hours a day with a lunch break in the middleI'd love some feedback on the course outline below. What would people like to see? What is redundant? Would you attend if you were in the area? Does it sound interesting for n00bs?Sterile Tek for MycologyLocation: Koda Phytorium, Byron BayDate: Mid June 2013, ( TBA ) 2 daysCost: About $350 per person ( but TBA, it's equipment intensive ), this includes your own take-home perspex tunnel and some hardwareThe proceeds of the workshop ( all the course fees minus equipment expenses ) will be donated to the Australian Ethnobotanical Association http://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=34208Limit: 4 peopleAim: This workshop provides good practical grounding for culturing and growing gourmet edible and medicinal mushrooms at your home or community group. It is aimed at beginners and enthusiastsWe'll be doing practical sessions with four woodloving species ( primary decomposers ): Oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus spp ), Shitake ( Lentinula edodes ). Shimeji ( Hypsizygus tessellatus ) and Reishi ( Ganoderma lucida )This will be a small, practice-based, lab-centred workshop, covering theory and some practice of sterile tek, and some semi-sterile teks like hydrogen peroxide, shiitake newspaper logs and Pleurotus straw balesYou don't need any experience with mycology to attend this workshop. You should be over 18, though we can waive that for people who can show maturity and commitment or have a parent or guardian who will be responsible for you and undertaking the course on the same day.This short practical course is extensive but not exhaustive- we'll cover the basic teks and theory but there are always new teks coming online. If you have some myco experience and would like to attend, we really welcome your input as long as you understand that you may be one of the more advanced students in the classTopics we'll cover: Biology and growth of edible and medicinal species. Ecology. Safety. Sterilisation and aseptic theory and practice. Inoculation and growth on solid and liquid media. Contamination and contam patterns. Spawn and dowel culture and handling. Research. Maintaining your culture library. Record keeping. Storage, and drying.We'll make some shiitake or reishi newspaper logs and a couple of Pleurotus straw bales. You'll take away some culture slants of your own. and a few extra copies we'll supply you with, a reishi or shiitake newspaper log, your own perspex tunnel and hopefully a head full of knowledgeAll workshop profits ( basically your course fee minus what I pay for the perspex tunnels and supplies ) will go to the Australian Ethnobotanical AssociationYou will need to wear covered shoes. For best results and your own safety please keep long hair tied back during prac sessions. Bring a hat and something to drink for the outdoor sessions. Please make your own food, drink and accommodation arrangementsThe techniques you learn at this workshop can also be applied to plant tissue culture, and we may run workshops on that in future, however practicing these teks using your perspex tunnel after the myco workshop will significantly increase any benefit you get from a plant tissue culture workshop Edited April 5, 2013 by Darklight 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bigred Posted February 12, 2013 I think its a great idea especially for noobs is there a bit on fungi id, a lot of noobs struggle with the subject plus maybe a print out on agar blends,bulk substrate blends etc and a reference to the subjects that were covered Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darklight Posted February 12, 2013 I think its a great idea especially for noobs is there a bit on fungi id, a lot of noobs struggle with the subject plus maybe a print out on agar blends,bulk substrate blends etc and a reference to the subjects that were covered Thanks There will be a smidge of ID under the biology and safety sections Agar types and substrate blends will get a basic coverage during the workshop but not so much as to confuse n00bs. The handout notes will contain more extensive references on that and other topics and participants are welcome to a copy of the workshop Powerpoint There's a lot to cover. This is the first time I've run this workshop and I'm hoping we all get through the material 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darklight Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) We'll be covering a bit of fruiting theory, but it's not my area of expertise. I tend to inoculate a bunch of logs and throw them around the yard and be happy if I get a feed off them. Or stick a bag into a closed space whose parameters I've not measured and mist them twice a day, resoaking for a second flush. Nothing hardcore There are so *many* cool fruiting teks coming out it would be remiss of me to presume to teach them without first hand experience. My background is strictly lab and sterile work and that expertise is what you'll be getting A specific fruiting workshop would be a good subject for a subsequent full day course ( or two day ) for someone with practical skills and the right gear. Getting a group of people to make a fruiting tub and showing them how to manage it would be fun, esp if they can make one too and take it home. But it's well beyond the scope of this intro course Edited February 12, 2013 by Darklight 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whitewind Posted February 16, 2013 Hi Darklight, (BUMP) is this still proposed - had lots of interest? Would you like me to post it up on our Facebook Page, see if I can generate wider interest, or is it mostly for SABers? Should make it a sticky, mods! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
reptyle Posted February 17, 2013 can u put me down for this right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darklight Posted February 24, 2013 (BUMP) is this still proposed - had lots of interest? Would you like me to post it up on our Facebook Page, see if I can generate wider interest, or is it mostly for SABers? Should make it a sticky, mods! This is still proposed- I need to check some things with T first. Haven't had much interest because I haven't advertised it yet and would prefer not to until the details are ironed out When I accounce it with all the details sorted I'm happy for it to be a sticky, but til then it would be premature Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darklight Posted April 5, 2013 T has OK'd this, as has the store manager ( thanks! ) I've had to markedly revise the number of places in the workshops- the space simply won't safely fit ten people plus me. Four is the maximum The first workshop is now fully subscribed, but it's just a test run to see how the curriculum crams into the timeframe We'll run another one once I see if any adjustments need to be made- wish me luck 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites