The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) promotes profitable farms that produce healthy food for all people, while respecting the natural environment. Their range of Farmer Education Programs build the Good Food Movement in the mid-Atlantic region.
One of PASA’s recent Farmer Education Programs was a workshop on shiitake mushroom cultivation. Thirty-five participants joined Jesse Allen—PASA member, mushroom grower, and 6th grade schoolteacher—on a late spring morning to learn this profitable farming skill. Jesse led participants through the “Essentials of Shiitake Mushroom Cultivation,” including details of how to select logs, plug spores, and create the best growing conditions with the safest practices. This hands-on learning experience gave participants the opportunity to practice drilling holes, inoculating logs and sealing them with hot wax, and Jesse shared many secrets to his successful business. Particpants also left with an important network of people to contact as future challenges and questions arise.
PASA says, “The support we receive from Farm Aid annually gives us such pride! Farm Aid supports similar organizations all over the country, and that they choose to support PASA is truly meaningful.”
