Welcome to the Backbone Farm Mycology Division!
Backbone Food Farm has dedicated many years to learning how to work with mushrooms. We are avid foragers and cultivators, taking what we have learned from nature and weaving it into our diversified farm system. We are dedicated to sharing our love of mushroom cultivation and foraging in workshops and practical settings on our farm. Come explore mycology with us and together, connect with the environment and encourage productive communities.
What we do
Commercial Mushroom Cultivation
We grow a large variety of mushrooms for sale for our CSA and Farmers Markets as well as provide supply for family grocers (Highland Market) and restaurants. Specific species vary according to season and conditons and may include forest foraged mushrooms such as reishi, chaga and chantrelles. Our commercial mushroom agricultural operation includes approximately 1,000 shiitake mushroom logs per season and oyster grown in an indoor space. Our annual April Shiitake Mushroom Day is a great time to come help us inoculate 1,000 logs with shiitake spawn.
Mushroom and Mycology Consultation Services
We have over 20 years of experience incorporating commercial mushroom cultivation into our farm system. Whether you are hoping to start a commercial production or diversify your
homestead, we can bring insight to help you actualize your pursuit. We will identify key features of your land suitable for cultivation,potential species that would fit with your situation,substrate options, and discuss best management practices based on the size of your operation.
For mushroom consultation services information please feel free to contact us via an email or phone call.
Appalachian Mushroom Foraging and Identification Workshops
Head into the forest with Backbone crew and learn how to find and identify the myriad of mushrooms in our region in one of our mushroom identification programs. We live in one of the most mycologically diverse regions in the country due to multiple micro-ecosystems and normally ample rainfall .
Join us for a stroll in the woods to pick and identify(we hope!) the mushrooms we come across. Learn the tools necessary for positive identification of edible,toxic,and fascinating fungi .Must be able to walk at least a half mile,possibly in inclement weather.This class is available only during wild mushroom season.(June to October).
Mushroom Cultivation 101
Backbone Farm Mushroom Workshops are designed for those interested in learning more about growing mushrooms for fun or profit. We have been adapting and fine tuning our gourmet mushroom operation for 20 years, using agricultural and forestry products available in our area.
What you will do
- Spend the day on Backbone Farm learning the art and science of mushroom cultivation.
- Learn about the life cycle of fungus, what their needs are and how to use that information to produce mushrooms.
- This workshop includes a close up look at shiitake and oyster operations and get hands on experience with inoculation, cultivation, infrastructure and more.
- Log cultivation and indoor column production will be featured.
- Look further beyond shiitake and oyster to other species such as turkey tail, stropharia and reishi.
- 6 hour workshop includes lunch on the farm and a myco project to take back to keep the magic growing!
- $150 per participant- discount for groups of 3 or more
About the mushroom workshop leaders:
Max and Katharine Dubansky are long time mushroom foragers and growers. Max leads mushroom cultivation workshops for the annual West Virigina Mushroom Club, Mushroom Foray held every year in July.
Backbone Farm inocluates and grows approx 1,000 shiitake mushroom logs per year and has several mushrooms houses where they grow oyster mushrooms and other several other varieties.
Mother Earth News Article on Backbone Farm.