The Mentorship Program

EARLY BIRD

Registration now open for our 2024 season

SAVE $300 on tuition from now until April 30th, 2024 - extended

Save $1000 on select weeks posted on our 2024 schedule

Email Brian Callow, bcallow@wtfmushrooms.com

What to Expect

Upon attending this course you will gain hands-on experience and a wide variety of expert knowledge on seasonal mushroom cultivation.

The main instructors for the Mentorship are Brian Callow and Clayton Fenrich. Over the past 8 years, Brian and Clay have focused most of their research on seasonal mushroom cultivation. WTF's approach was initially discovered through a collaboration of mushroom experts on sustainable low cost and innovative farming practices. In 2014, a partnership was made with Thor Clausen from Bartlett Tree Experts, which led to the expansion of What The Fungus, where Brian has developed a successful, thriving, and innovative mushroom start-up company that now resides in Summerland, BC, Canada. Here are a few of the things you can look forward to learning during the Mentorship:

Laboratory Design

Learn how to setup a basic commercial laboratory for mushroom growing. Each student will be taught proper sterile techniques when working with agar, cultures, spawn and wood-based substrates.

Greenhouse Growing and Strain Selection

Become competent in proper strain selection based on temperature thresholds for a variety of mushroom species. We will show you how to plan a typical year in your area and grow better than the competition. 

Cultures, Grain Spawn, Wood Substrates

Each student will learn the importance of planning and implementing a production schedule with appropriate mushroom strains from petri dish to harvest. Students will also work with a variety of hardwood substrates and see the importance of nutritional supplementation.

Sales and Marketing

Acquire expert knowledge on identifying potential markets in your area and develop strategies for success. Learn the best way to approach new clients and keep them.

Workflow and Efficiency

Discover the importance of properly setup systems and workflow throughout our farm.

Course Options

This week-long mentoring workshop is run from March to October but space is limited. (full list of available dates)

We offer two accommodation options for those attending the course, both include:

• 4 cultures of commercial, edible mushroom strains that we use on the farm.

• "How to Start and Succeed Growing Mushrooms" (SECOND EDITION), written by Brian Callow - Founder / Co-Owner of What The Fungus.

  (You can also buy the book separately here)

Accommodation Options

(Our farm is a 30min walk into downtown Summerland)

What The Fungus Mentorship Success Stories

Cancellation Policy:

We do not refund tuition. In the event that you need to cancel, we require at least 30 day notice. You will then be credited and allowed to re-book another week.