Urban & Small-Scale Mushroom Farming
Set up a compact mushroom farm in a basement, container or small unit and sell to local restaurants and markets.
Programme identification
- 1.1Programme name
- Urban & Small-Scale Mushroom Farming
- 1.2Type of qualification
- Course
- 1.3Provider / endorsing institution
- Fungaris – International Institute of Mycology, School of Mushroom Cultivation & Production. A Fungaris programme of its own, not endorsed by a university.
- 1.4Mode of study
- Online, with live sessions in a small group, recordings and a virtual campus.
- 1.5Duration (hours / ECTS credits)
- 3 months (12 weeks) · 72 hours in total · 6 modules of 12 hours · 12 live sessions of 2 hours. ECTS credits: not applicable (Fungaris own programme, not an official university degree).
- 1.6Language
- English
- 1.7Start and end dates / intake
- Next intake: 11 January 2027 to 2 April 2027. Enrolment closes on 4 January 2027. Following intake: 8 March 2027. How intakes work →
Overview
2.1Programme description
Urban and Small-Scale Mushroom Farming shows how to turn a basement, shipping container, garage or small industrial unit into a productive mushroom farm. You will choose species and spaces that fit together, build low-cost infrastructure, and source substrates and spawn locally, often from waste streams such as coffee grounds or sawdust. The course covers small-batch production planning, selling to restaurants, shops and markets, and the permits, hygiene rules and neighbour relations that matter in built-up areas.
Compact farms close to their customers can deliver very fresh mushrooms with short supply chains, and they require far less space than most crops. The challenge is making a small operation consistent and financially sensible. The course suits urban growers, micro-entrepreneurs and community projects. In the final project you develop a launch plan for a small urban farm, including site choice, species, equipment budget, weekly production schedule, sales channels and a compliance checklist, which your professor reviews with practical, honest feedback.
2.2Why it matters / what need it meets
It meets a practical need: applied, up-to-date knowledge in cultivation, useful in areas such as Urban agriculture, Local food supply, Social and community enterprise, Food service.
Mycology is moving fast and good practical training is still scarce. This programme gives you a structured path, taught live by people who work in the field, so you can apply what you learn with judgement and safety.
Objectives and competences
3.1General objective
To finish the programme able to apply its content professionally and with judgement. In short:
Set up a compact mushroom farm in a basement, container or small unit and sell to local restaurants and markets.
3.2Specific objectives
- Build the foundations: Choosing Species and Space; Low-Cost Infrastructure.
- Put them into practice: Sourcing Substrates and Spawn Locally; Small-Batch Production Planning.
- Apply everything to a real case: Local Sales Channels; Permits, Hygiene and Neighbours.
- Complete a final project reviewed by your professor.
3.3Competences you will gain
- Assess a small urban space for mushroom production.
- Build low-cost fruiting and incubation set-ups.
- Source substrates and spawn from local suppliers and waste streams.
- Plan weekly batches that match customer demand.
- Identify permits and hygiene rules relevant to a small urban farm.
Student profile
4.1Who it is for (entry profile)
Urban growers and micro-entrepreneurs.
4.2Entry requirements
No prior knowledge is required, though basic growing experience helps. A potential growing space, even a small one, makes the planning exercises more useful.
4.3Career paths (exit profile)
- Owner of an urban mushroom micro-farm
- Community growing project coordinator
- Supplier of fresh mushrooms to local restaurants
- Social enterprise production lead
- Urban agriculture educator
Outcomes depend on your experience and on your local market.
Study plan
5.1Overall structure (modules and workload)
| Module | Title | Phase | Topics | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Choosing Species and Space | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 02 | Low-Cost Infrastructure | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 03 | Sourcing Substrates and Spawn Locally | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 04 | Small-Batch Production Planning | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 05 | Local Sales Channels | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| 06 | Permits, Hygiene and Neighbours | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 72 |
6 modules × 12 hours = 72 hours: 24 hours of live sessions, and the rest for campus study, exercises and the final project.
5.2Content by module
Hover or tap a module to follow the path from the first session to the final project. Open a module to see the topics it covers.
- Species suited to compact spaces
- Evaluating basements, containers and units
- Matching species to space and climate
- DIY fruiting chambers and tents
- Shelving, lighting and humidifiers
- Budget pasteurisation set-ups
- Coffee grounds and urban waste streams
- Finding sawdust and straw suppliers
- Buying or producing spawn
- Weekly batch scheduling
- Matching production to orders
- Simple production records
- Selling to restaurants and shops
- Markets and box schemes
- Pricing for small volumes
- Registration and permits
- Food hygiene for small producers
- Managing noise, smell and neighbours
5.3Company placement
This programme does not include a company placement. Practice is built into every module through exercises, case studies and the final project.
5.4Final project
A launch plan for a small urban mushroom farm with site, species, budget, production schedule, sales channels and compliance checklist.
Methodology
6.1How it is taught
- Live online sessions, usually weekly, with a working professional and a small group.
- Recordings of every session, so you can catch up if work or time zones get in the way.
- Exercises and real case studies in every module.
- Tutoring: your professor answers questions and gives feedback on your exercises and project.
6.2Platform and resources
A Moodle virtual campus with session recordings, readings, exercises and forums for each module. You need a computer, an up-to-date browser and a stable connection; a webcam and microphone are recommended.
Technical requirements →6.3Estimated weekly workload
About 6 hours a week for 12 weeks: one 2-hour live session on a weekday evening, plus study and exercises on the campus at your own pace.
Assessment
7.1Assessment system and weighting
Assessment combines participation in live sessions with practical planning exercises after each module. The final project is reviewed by the professor with written feedback.
7.2Requirements to pass
- Complete every module, by attending the live sessions or watching the recordings.
- Hand in the module exercises.
- Have your final project approved by your professor.
Teaching team
8.1Academic direction
The Cultivation at Fungaris coordinates the content and quality of this programme. The academic director of each intake is named in the intake guide.
8.2Faculty
Taught by professionals who work in the field. The professor of each intake is confirmed before the start.
Meet our faculty →Certificate
9.1Certificate awarded
Course Certificate
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Accreditations are assessed according to the training completed and the local regulations of each country.
9.2Issuing body / recognition
Issued by Fungaris (operated by Nexora Generation, S.L.) as a digital certificate. It is a Fungaris certificate of its own: it is not an official university degree and does not award ECTS credits.
About our certificates →Admission and enrolment
10.1Admission process (steps)
- Send your request through the form or write to admissions.
- Admissions reviews your profile and confirms the start date, the session schedule and the fee.
- You secure your place with full payment or a 40% reservation.
- You receive your campus access and welcome guide before the first session.
10.2Documents required
- A valid identity document.
- Contact and billing details (personal or company).
10.3Deadlines
Enrolment for the intake starting on 11 January 2027 is open until 4 January 2027, or until the group is full (maximum 20 students).
10.4Fee and payment options
Fee: £340
- Full payment before the start: £272 (20% reduction).
- 40% reservation (£136) and 3 monthly instalments of £68.
10.5Grants, discounts and funding
Discounts: 10% for Fungaris alumni and 15% for groups of three or more people from the same organisation. Discounts cannot be combined with each other or with the full-payment reduction.
Your employer can pay for the programme and receive the invoice in the company name. Whether a public or employer training budget can cover the fee depends on your country, so check with them.
10.6Cancellation policy
The conditions for cancelling, withdrawing or moving to a later intake are explained in our cancellation policy and in your enrolment confirmation. Nothing there limits your rights under the consumer law that applies to you.
Cancellation and refunds →Additional information
11.1Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to study Urban & Small-Scale Mushroom Farming?
No prior knowledge is required, though basic growing experience helps. A potential growing space, even a small one, makes the planning exercises more useful.
How is Urban & Small-Scale Mushroom Farming taught?
Live online, in 6 modules with a working professional, a small group and a final project.
How am I assessed?
Assessment combines participation in live sessions with practical planning exercises after each module. The final project is reviewed by the professor with written feedback.
What is the final project?
A launch plan for a small urban mushroom farm with site, species, budget, production schedule, sales channels and compliance checklist.
What certificate do I get?
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Accreditations are assessed according to the training completed and the local regulations of each country.
What can I study after Urban & Small-Scale Mushroom Farming?
The natural next step is Diploma in Gourmet Mushroom Production.
11.2Alumni testimonials
We only publish verified testimonials from real students. This programme does not have any published yet; they will appear here once its first intakes finish.
11.3Admissions contact
Write to info@fungaris.institute or use the contact form. Admissions answers in your language.
Read before you start.
BusinessHow to Start a Small Gourmet Mushroom Farm: A Practical GuideA small gourmet mushroom farm can be built in a converted room or shed, but it succeeds on planning, not enthusiasm. Here is how to plan space, substrate, costs, sales and registration.Read the article 
CultivationHow to Grow Oyster Mushrooms at Home: Step-by-Step GuideOyster mushrooms are the most forgiving gourmet species to grow. This step-by-step guide takes you from straw and spawn to your first harvest, and on to a small farm.Read the article 
CultivationHow to Grow Shiitake on Logs: A Step-by-Step Outdoor GuideLog-grown shiitake takes patience, but a well-made stack of logs can fruit for several years. Here is how to do it step by step, from cutting wood to harvest.Read the article Keep branching.
From our species guide.
Join the next intake.
Pay in full with a 20% reduction, or reserve your place with 40% and pay the rest in monthly instalments. All prices are stated in pounds sterling (GBP).