MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME -SUMMER 2026
A personalised hands-on week in applied mycology & small-scale mushroom farming
Fat Fox is launching a week-long mushroom mentorship at our working mushroom lab and farm in North London in July and August 2026. Designed for one-to-one tuition with no more than two students at a time, this is not a classroom course - it’s a practical, farm-based learning experience.
You’ll step into the full process of mushroom production and learn how a real mushroom operation functions day to day, from lab work through to harvest.
Whether you’re completely new to mycology or already growing and ready to deepen your skills, the programme is tailored to your experience level and interests. We begin by understanding what you already know, then shape the week around your goals — whether that’s hobby cultivation, farm setup, strain work, or professional production.
What you can learn
Depending on your existing knowledge and goals, we will tailor the programme to meet your needs. We offer a clear, end-to-end understanding of mushroom cultivation on topics including:
Practical Mycology
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Key cultivated mushroom species and how their growth habits differ
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Contamination best practices: how to prevent it, spot it early, and respond effectively
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Substrates: recipes, sourcing, hydration, mixing, bagging
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Pasteurisation & sterilisation: methods, equipment, and decision-making
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Lab protocol & sterile technique
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Grain spawn, liquid culture, and agar work (including cloning and transfers)
Mushroom farming
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The full cycle of mushroom production, from culture to fruiting
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Incubation and fruiting environments, plus grow-space design
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Production planning, stock takes, tracking, and farm spreadsheets
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Clear, efficient lab and farm workflows
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A practical hands-on experience of working in mushroom cultivation
Advanced topics
For those who wish to go deeper, we can also explore:
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Mushroom breeding and strain selection
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Monokaryon and dikaryon identification
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Microscopy and phenotype stabilisation
Ongoing support
Learning doesn’t stop at the end of the week. Graduates receive:
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Continued support for follow-up questions and troubleshooting as you apply what you’ve learned
Who this is for
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Curious beginners seeking a solid, correct foundation
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Growers ready to deepen their knowledge, professionalise or scale
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People considering setting up a mushroom farm or community projects
If you’re already confident in your growing skills and are primarily seeking
advice on setting up, scaling, or running a mushroom farm, please see our Mushroom Farm Startup Consultancy here.
Practical details
Schedule
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Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
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Lunch, snacks, tea & coffee provided
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Weeks available: W/C 6/7/2026- W/C 17/8/2026
Price
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£900 per person
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£300 deposit (due once your session week is agreed)
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£600 remainder (due no later than one week before your session begins)
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Flexible options may be available depending on your needs and learning objectives - please feel free to email us at fatfoxmushrooms@gmail.com to discuss.