The Many Ways of Fungi
First Steps Into the World of Mycology
Welcome to the Wondrous World of Fungi!
Learning about all that mushrooms, lichens, and other fungi offer people and the planet has changed my life in so many positive ways. After 17 years of studying and working with fungi, I know that these incredible organisms can enhance the lives of all the world's inhabitants and environments in profound, unique, and often simple ways. Through this course I wish to share some of my favorite ways to engage with and learn from fungi with you!
In this introductory course I'll help guide you into the magic and mystery of the most overlooked branch on the Tree of Life, and enable you to bring the gifts of the Fungal Queendom into nearly every aspect of modern life!
I can't wait to see how the skills provided inspire you!
—Peter McCoy
MYCOLOGOS Founder and Mycomind
The Many Ways of Fungi:
First Steps Into the World of Mycology
Duration: 7 weeks
(Full itinerary below)
Woven into the human story, infused throughout the ecosystems around us, and guiding the newest advancement of culture and technology today, fungi have richly influenced life on Earth since the earliest epochs. Recent discoveries in mycology are proving the science offers unprecedented means for creating a more sustainable and resilient future, with each day offering new ways for anyone to get involved in the mycocultural revolution. The biggest challenges in all of this excitement is simply knowing where to begin one's journey, and how to find proper support along the way.
In this course, you will learn to apply the core skills and insights that mycology offers – from the unique biology of fungi, to their fascinating history and numerous applications. By the end of the course you will have learned various introductory skills for creating fungi-centered foods, medicines, and artworks, while also honing the language to teach others about your passion for fungi through outdoor activities and personal development projects. All told, this course will leave you well-prepared for pursuing the more advanced courses offered at MYCOLOGOS and for knowing that you are starting off – or running strong – on the best foot possible.
In this course, you will learn to apply the core skills and insights that mycology offers – from the unique biology of fungi, to their fascinating history and numerous applications. By the end of the course you will have learned various introductory skills for creating fungi-centered foods, medicines, and artworks, while also honing the language to teach others about your passion for fungi through outdoor activities and personal development projects. All told, this course will leave you well-prepared for pursuing the more advanced courses offered at MYCOLOGOS and for knowing that you are starting off – or running strong – on the best foot possible.
Course Overview
WEEK 1: The Fungal Queendom
Orientation • Course Objectives • The History of Mycology • The Uniqueness of Fungal Biology • Patterns of Fungal Ecology • Fungi in Human History
WEEK 2: Finding The Fungi Around You
Mushroom Hunting Safety and Ethics • Best Foraging Tools • 5 Mushrooms to Know • Common Lichen Types • Fungi Are Everywhere(!)
WEEK 3: Cooking With Fungi
Best Basic Recipes for Cooking Any Mushroom • Cooking With Truffles • Rejuvinating Fungal Tonics • Crafting Simple Alcoholic Drinks
WEEK 4: Working With Medicinal Fungi
History of Medicinal Mushrooms • Active Compounds • Top Species to Know • Best Types of Medicinal Products • Simple Preparation Practices • Psychoactive Fungi Primer
WEEK 5: Cultivating a Relationship With Fungi
Fungal Cultivation Introduction • Growing Mushrooms on Coffee Grounds • Promoting Lichens in the Garden and Forest • Fun with Molds and Yeasts
WEEK 6: Fungal Arts & Crafts
Spore Art • Mushroom Paper Making • Dyeing Clothes and Hair With Mushrooms • Mycelium-Based Objects (Mycomaterials)
WEEK 7: Advanced Mycology Primer
Healing the Environment with Fungi • Current Areas of Research in Mycology • Best Places to Study Mycology • Common Careers in Mycology • Sharing Mycology With Others • The Future is Fungi!
Join Anytime!
You can join this course at any time using the links below. New material is released to you each week, which includes video lectures, readings, and project and activity descriptions. You have access to the material for a full year, during which time you can revisit the course content as often as you like!
Life Skills You Will Learn
This course will leave you well prepared for a lifetime of engaging with fungi and all that mycology offers by teaching you:- How to work with medicinal fungi at home and how to select the highest quality medicinal products at the store
- The central roles of fungi in human history
- Essential concepts and terms used to discuss and describe mushrooms, lichens, molds, and yeasts
- Tasty ways of preparing mushroom-based dishes that will convert anyone into a mushroom lover
- A clear understanding of the primary roles fungi fulfill in the environment
- Fun and easy techniques for growing mushrooms and other fungi at home
- Unique ways for making art with fungi, including mycelium-based object art
- Exciting, cutting edge applications and areas of research in mycology
- Common career paths in mycology
What You Receive
Enrollment in this course provides you with these special offerings:- One year of streaming access to the entire course content, including video lectures and demonstrations, field recordings, reference and resource documents, and more!
- Lifetime access to this course’s section on the MYCOLOGOS web forum where you can share ideas, questions, and success stories with a global community of fellow fungi enthusiasts
- Study and reference materials, and experiential projects designed to reinforce concepts and terminology
- Instructions, materials lists, and support for projects to be done in home, in the field, and in your community
- Upon completion, a Certificate from MYCOLOGOS recognizing your comprehension of course materials and completion of a project portfolio. Learn more about our Certificates of Completion here
How to Enroll
You can join this course at any time as enrollment is ongoing. To register, simply sign up at the link below. Within 1–2 business days, you will receive registration information to set up your account on the MYCOLOGOS Courses Portal, where the video lectures and other course content will be made available, and on the MYCOLOGOS Community Forum, where you can share ideas and research with your peers.You will then have access to the course's contents for a full year, during which time you can engage with the material and the associated projects and assignments at your own pace and as many times as you like!
Once you are registered, new course content will be provided to your account on the MYCOLOGOS Courses Portal each week, and an email will be sent to you when the new content is available. You will be able to download all of the course’s texts and supplementary materials, though course videos will only be available online, so you will need a reliable internet connection (whether on a smart phone or computer) to watch them.
Who This Course is For
This course is ideal for anyone interested in starting or expanding their path into the many arts and sciences of mycology. Course participants include:- Fungi-curious folks unsure of where to begin with mycology – but who can’t wait to start!
- Practicing myco-enthusiasts wanting to fill gaps in their appreciation of fungi
- Naturalists seeking new ways to engage with the uniqueness of fungal biology and ecology
- Herbalists and natural medicine enthusiasts wanting to start their studies with medicinal mushrooms
- Parents and homeschoolers wishing to teach their children simple skills for working with fungi
- Homesteaders and permaculturalists seeking a solid foundation in the foundational skills that mycology offers for resilient living styles
- Educators of any type needing new frameworks for communicating the importance of fungi
- Artists interested in incorporating the uniqueness of fungi into their palette
- Ethnologists and sociologists curious about the history of mycology in human cultures as well as current trends in the science and culture of mycology
Get Certified!
This course will prepare you for a lifetime of working with fungi in many capacities. To provide the best learning experience, we are including various suggested homework assignments and providing research resources to help reinforce the information covered in the video instruction.
These additional learning tools are optional, but in order to meet the requirements for obtaining a Certificate of Completion for the course, you can expect to spend approximately 1–3 hours practicing new skills for every hour of instruction.
At a minimum, students seeking certification will complete two exams, facilitate one community-oriented project related to coursework (various options for this will be provided in the first week of the course), and document their practice of various skills presented throughout the course. Students will have one year after the course ends to complete these assignments and submit their final portfolio for review.
Full details on Certification requirements will be provided in the first week of the course.
You can learn more about our Certificates here.
Ready to Dive In?
Register Today!
MYCOLOGOS Money-Back Guarantee
If you're not fully satisfied with this course for any reason, we'll refund your tuition within 72 hours of enrollment, no questions asked.
