Friends Of Fungi

Days

Hours

Mins

Friends Of Fungi

September 09 - September 11, 2022

From the largest living organism in the world 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 partner with fungi to improve our lives through appreciating the food and medicines this extraordinary kingdom has to offer.Join John Michelotti this September for an all-levels mushroom cultivation and foraging weekend workshop at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York.

Participants will create/inoculate and take home:- Indoor Oyster mushroom grow kit- Outdoor Winecap Mushroom Starter- Chaga tincture- Foraging hand lens and Mushroom journal- Deeper connection with fungi, nature, self, and friends

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 an article from the New York Times.

Schedule

Friday, September 9

3 - 8pm Check-in

6 - 7pm Dinner

7:30pm Evening Program Intro and Welcome Circle

Evening Presentation: Mushrooms 101 – Biology and Ecology of Fungi - John

Saturday, September 10

8 - 9am Breakfast

9:30am - 12pm Mushroom Walk: How to identify mushrooms

12:30 - 1:30pm - Lunch

1:30 - 2pm Break

2 - 4pm Afternoon Program 1

Outdoor Inoculation: Wine-cap in Wood chips & Slurry - John

Indoor Inoculation: Oysters on Sawdust. Grow your own oyster kit. – Gabriela & Aubrey

4 - 4:30pm - Break

4:30 - 6pm - Afternoon Program 2

Kombucha, fermentation & growing beneficial mycobiomes-Erwin

Myco-Technologies - John

6 - 7pm - Dinner

7:30 - 9 pm- Evening Program

Medicinal Mushrooms: Health for the Body, Mind, and Planet

Chaga Tincture making workshop

8:30pm - on Optional: open discussion at fire pit. Music Jam (bring instruments)

Sunday, September 11

7 - 11am Check-out of Rooms

8 - 9am - Breakfast

9:30 - 11:30am Morning Program

Mushroom Walk

Mushroom Cooking Class & Tasting

Closing Circle

12 - 1pm Lunch and Departure

*Please note that schedule is subject to change.

ABOUT THE TEACHERs

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 th...

Erwin Karl

Erwin Karl is a farmer, mycologist and educator who has led walks and workshops for Catskill Fungi and Mid Hudson Mycological Association. He serves as site manager at the CycleX farm in Andes, NY where he has been involved in building maintenance, construction and agriculture fo...

Gabriela D’Elia

Gabriela D’Elia is the Director of the Fungal Diversity Survey (FunDiS), VP for Mushroom Society of Utah, Project Leader for FunDiS Local Project Northern Utah Funga, and founder of her company Moon Mushrooms, which focuses on holistic mycology, crafting tiny batch tinctures, a...

Aubrey Carter

Aubrey graduated from Indiana University in 2016 with a BS in Biology. He has worked at several different ecological institutions in and around the NYC area, including the Central Park Conservancy, the Westchester Land Trust, the Stamford Land Conservation Trust, and Sleepy Cat F...

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“The food was divine! I’m not a vegetarian and will say the meat was not missed while here. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay…. The staff was warm and courteous. Space very conducive for retreat. Great common spaces for community and plenty of space for solitude. Will return again.”

George Charlton

“I have many words but I will use this: streams. This whole valley is full of incredible streams. I came as a part of YTTP retreat this past weekend and loved how the valley of Menla just belonged to each and everyone one of us, together and alone at the same time, I stayed at Dragon house and loved how at home you are made feel though no one really is there guiding you, you are your own guide. I will remember this stay for a long time, the 2 days will last a life time. I hope to return one day. Thank you!”

Lucie T

“The speakers and yoga instructors were giants in their fields, and people came from Holland, Germany, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, NYC, Brooklyn, Missouri… Being around friendly and happy people with positive attitudes interested in understanding and enjoying life in all it’s vicissitudes, curiosity, and making a better world was intoxicating…”

Anne R.

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