Shitake mushrooms are an alternative income source for rural landowners and they have a low initial investment. The University of Kentucky’s Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability (RCARS) is focusing on shitake mushroom production during its second installment of the Mountain Monday Series March 14.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. EDT at the center’s Wood Utilization Center with a welcome from Carroll Fackler, a research specialist for the UK Department of Forestry at RCARS.

UK Forestry Extension Professor Deborah Hill will offer shitake mushroom production information at 6:15 p.m., including an introduction to shitake mushrooms, spawn selection, log moisture content, log inoculation, locations for maximum production and management tips. She’ll also pass out reference information to participants.

Fackler will get into more detail about log preparation and inoculation at 7 p.m. and will wrap up the meeting with a question and answer time. The meeting will also be streaming online at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mountainmonday for those unable to attend.

Preregistration is required and is $15. The fee covers the cost of spawn, logs, identification tags, sealer and class notes. Make checks payable to the University of Kentucky and mail to RCARS, 176 Robinson Rd., Jackson, KY 41339.

For more information contact Jackie Allen at 606-666-2438, ext. 285.

The Mountain Monday Series is the second Monday of each month. Future Mountain Monday topics will include blueberry production and pruning in April, the right grasses for mountain pastures in May, and food preservation in June.

For more information about RCARS programs, visit the website at http://www2.ca.uky.edu/RCARS .