As new challenges arise, practical knowledge and skills—and the ability to share them—becomes ever more important. Mycelium Outreach offers fully customizable workshops on a pay-as-you-can basis that covers a variety of topics. From energy and sustainability to environmental communication and outreach, we aim to help groups achieve a more just and environmentally sustainable world one community at a time!
For more information or to schedule a workshop, please feel free to reach out via our contact form or by shooting us an e-mail.
Workshop Topics
Let’s Talk Energy
What do you think of when you think of energy? Utility lines and bills? Oil pumps? Gas stoves? More often than not, our understanding of energy remains focused on the point-of-consumption. Few stop to think where their energy comes from and who pays the externalized costs for its extraction, processing, and use. This workshop focuses on energy literacy combining natural and social sciences to take participants on a journey through a myriad of energy sources, their development, uses, and consequences as well as ways to effectively communicate issues across political and cultural barriers.
Topics covered: Fossil fuels including oil, coal and natural gas; Renewable energies including solar, wind, and hydro, energy communications .
Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Let’s face it, we live in a world that has become extremely dependent on energy, much of which is being wasted. This comprehensive workshop identifies many of the low-hanging fruit relating to energy conservation by first helping participants examine their individual energy demands before then addressing the physical and behavioral changes they can make to reduce their utility bills and carbon foot print, all while adopting healthier, more fulfilling lifestyles.
Topics covered: Home energy consumption, home weatherization, personal transportation, and food ways.
Solar!
Without the sun, life on our planet would not be possible. From driving the chemical processes in plants that generate food, oxygen, medicine, and building materials to keeping us from freezing to death in the darkness of space, we often neglect the many positive ways we can use solar energy for our modern lives. In this workshop participants learn the basics of solar energy, ranging from the basics of solar photovoltaic systems to the plethora of ways to harness the sun’s thermal energy we provide audiences with a foundation of knowledge to make the most use out of our nearest star.
Topics Covered: Solar site surveys, Passive and active solar thermal systems, basic solar photovoltaic systems and sizing, and even solar cooking.
Sustainable Food Ways
What is the most important energy source for humans? Food of course! In this workshop, we emphasize the importance of local and regional food production, encouraging sustainable diets and consumer education to minimize food waste. Our course helps participants learn the basic of low maintenance gardening, proper nutrition, and the ins and outs of creating a broader local food system that ensures food security and nutrition for all!
Topics include: Backyard and urban gardening, basic overviews of permaculture and hügelkultur, food forests, basic nutrition, and cooking with the seasons.
Public Outreach and Engagement 101
Unlike larger organizations with plentiful resources and communication departments, small, local grassroots organizations must struggle to get their messages out, often with little time or money. It can be even more difficult to work across political, social, cultural, and economic barriers. In this workshop, we apply our knowledge and experience in grassroots organizing and strategic communication to help your organization make the best of what resources are available. Let us help you to achieve the maximum impact in your community, whether it be addressing issues of environmental, economic, and systemic injustice or simply spreading the word about sustainable living practices to reduce your community’s environmental impacts!
Topics covered included (but not limited to): SWOT analysis, media relations and outreach, audience research methods, outreach campaign development, and effect/impact analysis, and adaption.