Friends of Fungi

From the largest living organism on the planet to the creation of soil, fungi play an essential role 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.

Join John Michelotti this September 18th – 20th, 2020 for an all levels mushroom cultivation & foraging weekend workshop at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York.

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.

To learn more about John Michelotti and his mycological offerings, please visit his website www.catskillfungi.com and enjoy a recent article from the Hudson Valley Magazine: www.hvmag.com.

Menla 2020 Schedule – Friends of Fungi Subject to change

Friday, September 18th

• 3 – 8pm Check-in
• 6 – 7pm Dinner
• 7:30pm Evening Program Intro and Welcome Circle
  • Evening Presentation: Mushrooms 101 – Biology and Ecology of Fungi

Saturday, September 19th

• 8 – 9am Free Time – Breakfast Available à la carte at Menla’s Front Desk
• 9:30am – 12pm Mushroom Walk: How to identify mushrooms
• 12:30 – 1:30pm – Lunch
• 1:30 – 2pm Break
• 2 – 4pm Afternoon Program 1
  • Outdoor Cultivation: Shiitake on Logs.
  • Wine-cap in Wood chips Inoculation. Slurry.
• 4 – 4:30pm – Break
• 4:30 – 6pm – Afternoon Program 2
  • Medicinal Mushrooms: tincture making workshop. Make your own chaga/LM tincture.
  • Erwin-Kombucha, fermentation & growing beneficial mycobiomes. (30 mins)
• 6 – 7pm – Dinner
• 7:30 – 8:30pm- Evening Program
  • Indoor Inoculation: Oysters on Sawdust. Grow your own oyster kit.
• 8:30pm – on Optional: open discussion at fire pit. Music Jam (bring instruments)

Sunday, September 19th

• 7 – 11am Check-out of Rooms
• 8 – 9am – Breakfast Available à la carte at Menla’s Front Desk
• 9:30 – 11:30am Morning Program
  • Mushroom Walk
  • Closing Circle
• 12 – 1pm Lunch and Departure