Conversations with Fungi: an Ecofluency x Afrifungi workshop

Discover the ancient art of communicating with fungi!

Join Ecofluency and Afrifungi for an extraordinary day workshop that will completely change how you relate to the living world around you. This isn't your typical nature workshop – we're diving deep into the science, art, and magic of actually communicating with fungi, those mysterious beings that connect forest ecosystems and could revolutionise how we grow food and heal landscapes.

What makes this event special?

You'll learn to have real conversations with mushrooms using techniques that work in ordinary states of mind – no psychoactives needed. This ancient skill lies dormant in all of us and can easily be rediscovered and developed. Because humans are Nature, every single person can do this, whether you're a complete beginner or already have some experience with Nature communication.

During our time together, you'll master safe, effective techniques for fungi communication using expanded sensory awareness. We'll explore how to access the wisdom and intelligence of fungal consciousness, and you'll discover practical ways to co-create with these incredible beings for both personal healing and landscape regeneration. The skills you learn apply far beyond fungi too – once you understand the principles, you can communicate with plants, trees, animals, microbes, even the land itself.

This workshop offers embodied learning of Nature communication. With Afrifungi's help, you'll get hands-on experience creating a unique fungi-focused project to take home, practice guided communication exercises with living fungi, and share your discoveries in a supportive group environment. The day flows between indoor teaching sessions and outdoor practice time, giving you space to really integrate what you're learning.

And let's talk about lunch – we're treating you to a gourmet mushroom feast showcasing the incredible diversity and flavours of different fungi varieties. Think of it as a delicious exploration of the beings you'll be learning to communicate with! Beverages and refreshments flow throughout the day, keeping everyone nourished and energised.

The magic doesn't end when you go home, either. A month after the workshop, we'll gather for a follow-up integration call to help you weave the day's experiences into your everyday life. You'll also receive resources and practices to continue your journey, plus connection to a growing community of Nature communicators around the world.

This workshop is perfect for anyone who's ever felt a deeper connection with Nature calling to them. Whether you're a gardener wanting to understand your plants better, a healer looking to expand your practice, someone interested in fungi cultivation, or simply curious about what it might feel like to have a real conversation with a mushroom – you belong here. We welcome complete beginners alongside experienced practitioners, creating a beautiful learning community where everyone has something to offer.

Why does this matter now?

In a time when we're facing unprecedented environmental challenges, learning to actually listen to and collaborate with Nature isn't just beautiful – it's essential.

This work helps us move beyond the old paradigm of dominating and extracting from the natural world, toward true partnership and co-creation.

As participants often discover, it's not us trying to save Nature – it's Nature trying to save us, and finally we're learning how to hear the guidance that's always been available.

FACILITATORS

Your guide for this journey is Dr Saskia von Diest, founder of Ecofluency and a true pioneer in this field. With a PhD in Plant Pathology and over 15 years of teaching experience across multiple countries, Saskia brings both scientific rigor and profound intuitive wisdom to her work. She's spent years researching intuitive farming and subtle agroecology, and her passion is creating those magical moments when people suddenly realize they can actually hear what Nature has been trying to tell them all along.

What sets Saskia apart is her gift for creating incredibly safe, respectful spaces where everyone feels comfortable exploring and sharing. Her teaching style is clear and organized, but also deeply honoring of both human and more-than-human participants. People consistently describe her workshops as life-changing, transformational experiences that open up whole new worlds of possibility.

Afrifungi are your hosts for this event: Afrifungi is a pioneering mycology hub based in Orchards, Johannesburg, dedicated to building a thriving community of mushroom cultivators and myco-businesses. Led by Sven Mollgaard and Matt Keulemans, they specialize in Shiitake log cultivation, spawn production, and sustainable myco-materials, while fostering an environment of active collaboration and collective contribution. Through their workshops and technical mentorship, Afrifungi empowers passionate mycologists to embark on their own growing projects, whether for personal medicine, food security, or commercial ventures. At the heart of South Africa's mushroom revolution, they're committed to demystifying fungi cultivation and sharing the profound interconnectedness that fungi reveal in nature's living systems.

EVENT DETAILS

The workshop runs from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and will be held at Fibonacci House, 37 Young Avenue, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg.

Secure, off-street parking available for all participants.

We're keeping the group intimate with max. 15 participants so everyone gets personalised attention. Concession rates for students, farmers, and beekeepers available on application (please email Saskia at [email protected]).

Please arrive 15min before the start of the workshop to park and settle in, so that we can begin on time.

Lunch, teas, coffees and water will be provided.

Please wear comfortable clothing and bring your own water bottle, as well as a notebook and pen.

Book now for this rare opportunity to learn from two organisations at the absolute forefront of fungi cultivation and Nature communication. This is your chance to step into a more enchanted, abundant way of being, and discover capabilities you had forgotten you had.

"Humans have the will, and the Nature spirits have the power. If you lend them your will, they will lend you their power."

NB: Service policy

Cancellation and refund:

1. If we cancel or postpone the event for any reason, ticket(s) will be refunded in full.
2. If for any reason you are unable to use your ticket(s), we offer a full refund, a flexible exchange or a ticket transfer:
3. Ticket(s) can be 50% refunded up to 7 days before the event, unless it's for a valid medical reason, such as hospitalisation, in which case 100% of the ticket is refunded.
4. Ticket(s) can be exchanged for another workshop in the same year. To take advantage of this, please contact us to request the exchange at least 7 days before the event (2 weeks for group bookings of 4 people or more), OR
5. You may transfer your ticket(s) to a friend of yours. To do this, please contact us to provide contact details of the new ticket holder(s) at least 3 working days before the event so that we can give them any necessary details about the workshop.
6. No-shows without the above notice are not entitled to refunds, exchanges or transfers.

Printed notes will be provided during the workshop. These are strictly for your own use, and may not be copied, edited or distributed in any form. All workshop content is copyright of Saskia von Diest, all rights reserved.