Friends of Fungi: Cultivating and Foraging for Medicinal and Edible Mushrooms
With John Michelotti
June 1 - 3, 2018
From the largest living organism on the planet to the creation of soil, Fungi play an essential part for life on earth. They have been recycling and helping to heal the planet for centuries. Now, we can pair with Fungi to improve our lives through appreciating the food and medicines this extraordinary Kingdom has to offer.
Come explore the interesting and ancient relationship fungi have with our world and our culture. Learn about Kingdom Fungi and mushrooms in history and as we currently know them. Discussions will include: biology and ecology of fungi, mushrooms as food and medicine, how fungal allies can create resilience in our agriculture and communities, gardening with mushrooms, and mushrooms to heal the planet.
Through fun hands-on activities learn low tech methods to cultivate gourmet and medicinal mushrooms, identify and harvest wild mushrooms, and make mushroom medicines.
Schedule
Friday, June 1st
- 3 – 8pm Check-in
- 6 – 7pm Dinner
- 7:30pm Intro and Welcoming Program
• Intro Circle
• Lecture: Mushrooms 101 – Biology and Ecology of Kingdom Fungi
Saturday, June 2nd
- 8 – 9am Breakfast
- 9:30am – 12pm Morning Program
• Basics of Mushroom Identification
• Mushroom Walk: Foraging in the Forest. Learning what the mushrooms are doing in the forest.
• Taking Spore Prints and Basic Groups of Mushrooms - 12 – 1pm Lunch
- 1 – 2pm Break
- 2 – 4pm Afternoon Program
• Hands on : Shiitake Log inoculation – take home your own inoculated Shiitake Log
• Hands on : Indoor Oyster Mushroom on Coffee Grounds/Cat Litter Inoculation – Take home an Indoor Oyster Grow Kit - 4 – 4:30pm Break
- 4:30 – 6pm Afternoon Program
• Presentation : Mushrooms as Medicine for people and the forest
• Hands-on : Tincture Making – Take home your own made Chaga Tincture - 6 – 7pm Dinner
- 7:30 – 9pm Evening Program
• Hands on: Wine-cap in Woodchips Inoculation – Take home a Wine-cap starter
• Discussion: Mushrooms in the garden: Cultivating from woodland mushrooms and the of amplifying mycorrhizal fungi for the garden. - 9pm Camp Fire/Movie (Optional)
Sunday, June 3rd
- 8 – 9am Breakfast
- 9:15 – 11:45am Morning Program
• Mushroom Walk
• Feedback and Q&A
• Close - 12 – 1pm Lunch
* Please note that schedule is subject to change
About the Leader
John Michelotti
John Michelotti is the founder of Catskill Fungi which empowers people with fungi through outdoor educational classes, cultivation courses, mushroom art, and mushroom health extracts. John is a past president of the Mid-Hudson Mycological Association (MHMA) where he co-founded the Catskill Regional Mycoflora Project as well as the Gary Lincoff Memorial Scholarship. He served on […]
Learn more about John MichelottiCategory : Menla Retreat (all retreats)