The Growers Workshop
Designed for both aspiring truffle growers and those with established orchards, our workshops provide a practical, science-based approach to successful truffle cultivation.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve an existing truffière, we offer clear guidance, real-world insights, and proven techniques drawn from years of hands-on experience.
Truffle cultivation workshops at Virginia Truffles are offered exclusively from April through August. Tickets for each workshop season are released in March, and availability is intentionally limited to allow for a more personalized educational experience.
Our workshops provide a detailed curriculum leveraging the latest in truffle science and technology.
The 2-hour program includes a thorough technical presentation that delves into the basics of truffles, their science, the benefits of cultivating them, and our time-tested techniques developed through years of experience.
Participants will also have the opportunity to tour the farm and truffière at Virginia Truffles, gaining firsthand insight into practical truffle cultivation.
Upcoming Workshop
Workshop Details
What You’ll Do:
Collect and properly handle root samples in the orchard and learn how samples should be stored and prepared for analysis
Examine mycorrhizal root tips under the microscope, learning to recognize well-colonized roots and compare what you see to known references
Explore root tip morphology of common Tuber species and discover both what visual identification can tell us—and where its limitations begin
Practice precise tissue isolation under a dissecting scope and experience the delicate preparation required for molecular work
Get hands-on with pipetting techniques while learning the fundamentals of DNA extraction and PCR
Watch real results run on a gel and appear under fluorescence, then work through how to read and interpret what you’re seeing
Explore the value of multiple methods of confirmation, including morphology, microscopy, and DNA, and understand how they work together to build confidence in species identification
Bring Your Own Root Sample
Have trees you’re curious about? Bring a root sample with you. Participants are encouraged to bring samples from their own trees so we can take a closer look together during the workshop.
Who This Workshop Is For
Growers, nursery professionals, and serious hobbyists who want to better understand the science behind mycorrhizal colonization and species identification and make more informed decisions about their trees and orchards.
No prior lab experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to get hands-on.
Workshop Details
Duration: Approximately 4 hours
Format: Orchard sampling, four rotating hands-on stations, group instruction, and results discussion
Group size: Maximum of 12 participants, working in groups of three to allow for meaningful hands-on practice and instructor attention
Instruction: Led by Brandi and Joe, with supporting helpers at each station
Included: Gloves, laboratory materials, printed handouts, and light refreshments during the gel-run break
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have practical experience with the tools and techniques used in truffle mycology, a clearer understanding of what quality confirmation actually involves, and a new appreciation for the many careful steps between a root sample and a confirmed species.
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Join Us On A Truffle Hunting Adventure
Hunt the Virginia Truffle Truffiere, following our truffle dog as they track down the elusive scent of the black truffle.
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Shop Our Products
Virginia Truffles offers Black Winter Truffles (Tuber melanaporum, also known as Perigord Truffles), which are cultivated on oak trees in our local truffiere.
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Mycology Workshop | October 10, 2026
Go beyond basic cultivation and step into the science behind truffle growing. In this intensive, small-group workshop, you’ll follow a root sample from the orchard into the lab and explore, step by step, the methods used to evaluate mycorrhizal colonization and confirm truffle species identity.