Forester Nia Becker (pictured below) with the Clare Conservation District (CD) in Harrison, Mich., is using her expertise in cultivating mushrooms to increase landowner interest in land management and district programs in Michigan.

Earlier this year, Becker presented “The Magic of Mushrooms: Engaging Landowners with Their Passions” at the American Forest Foundation (AFF) National Leadership Community Conference, focusing on engaging landowners by using topics they are passionate about and the importance of partnerships to on-the-ground conservation through mushroom workshops.

“One of my goals was to help other forest and Tree Farm community members in building their toolbox of programs and finding ways to get landowners engaged,” Becker said. “If they’re not going to apply for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and get a forest management plan, maybe we can get them to engage in their property through mushrooms.”

“They might not come to you to sign up for the larger things right away,” she said. “But if you can get them into a workshop and get them engaged, you can build trust, and it’s a good way to introduce your organization and what you have to offer.”

Becker first conducted a mushroom log workshop in 2018, which received a large response.

Mushroom logs do not take up a lot of space or sun, and mushrooms can be grown in what many consider waste products such as felled trees and wood chips.

Mushroom logs require monitoring; it takes about a year to see the “fruit” of the mushroom. It is not unusual for Becker’s workshop participants to inform her of their progress, which allows her to maintain connections and follow up with any additional needs the landowner may have.

“I want to be able to provide a fun workshop and have something valuable that people can take home,” Becker said. “When we’re teaching people about resources and products, it can be hard to judge or find out if someone changed the way they take care of their land. With a mushroom workshop, it’s easier to see.”

Tags: Forestry, Forestry Notes