Workshop:

Workshop: Grow your Own Fungi!

Basic biomaterials introduction during We Make the City

23 Jun 2018

It is said that the mushroom, and especially Mycelium has the potential to replace all sorts of (harmful) materials like plastics and batteries. Here at Mediamatic we are interested in the cultural and artistic applications of this 'new' bio-material and invite you to start exploring it for yourself. As part of We Make the City, this introduction course you will learn how to cultivate the Oyster Mushroom at home and by doing so gain a better understanding of the potential of this organism.

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Straw ready to be inoculated with mycelium - Working in the cleanroom during the Grow Your Own Oyster Mushroom Workshop. Xiang Yu Yeung

Mycelium as a source for bio-based materials

Mycelium is the white fungal network of filaments that you will find underneath our soil. In the woods these strains or ‘mushroom roots’ are responsible for the transfer of nutrients, detoxification and the degradation of dead plants and treas. It is precisely this feature that makes mycelium a powerful agent in the production of new bio-based materials.

Current developments have pushed mycelium in the fields of fashion, furniture, architecture and fine-arts, stating that it can be seen as ‘the plastic of the future’. Go here to read more about mycelium as an alternative for leather, and a dress made from fungi.

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During the Grow your own Fungi workshop - Giulia Menicucci

Discuss, learn and grow

In this workshop you will meet up with mushroom expert Wouter Hassing to (critically) discuss the mycelium’s potential and gain a better understanding of how to start cultivating yourself. Over the course of 2 hours you will be introduced to different growth media, substrates, cultivation methods and fungal strains. After which you will produce your own bag of straw substrate and learn how to extract spawn from full grown mushroom at home.

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Going home with Substrate and Fungi - Participants of the Workshop: Grow your own Fungi learn how to inoculatie their own bag of straw. Anisa Xhomaqi

Bio Clean Lab

Both cultivation and the introduction will take place in the Bio Clean Lab; our laboratory which is fully equipped for working with micro-organisms. This Clean Lab is not only available for individual artists and artist in residency programs but it is also the homebase for our Myco Insulation Brewery. A permanent exhibition and production line where we produce beer and grow mycelium insulation panels on the spent grains.

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Fungi expert extraordinaire - Wouter Hassing has his own mushroom company in the North of Amsterdam. Anisa Xhomaqi

About Wouter

Wouter Hassing can be seen as an authority in the field of local mushroom cultivation. His company Mycophilia (in the North of Amsterdam) not only supplies local restaurants with Shiitake en Eryngii but also serves as a platform for research and innovation. Here he investigates new low energy productions methods but also how to make better use of mushrooms in the kitchen (for example pulled pork from oyster mushrooms!).

We Make the City

As the biggest city-festival in Europe, We Make the City explores the future of the City. In what kind of city do we want to live in ten years? At Mediamatic we believe in Fungal Futures, and propagate the potential of the mushroom as the replacement for plastic. Come and learn more about fungal futures and discover possibilities for a Creative, Sustainable and Healthy city during this workshop. 

Info

Workshop: Fungi, basic biomaterial introduction during We Make the City
Saturday, 23 June , 15:00 - 17:00
Mediamatic Biotoop, Dijksgracht 6, Amsterdam
Tickets: Regular €40,- | Student €28,- / Artists €28,- (excl. administration fee)

We might contact you about your student card or other proof to show the discount applies to you.

Please note that this workshop is in English and we need a minimum of 6 participants.