Join us for 2 full days of regional Mushroom Cultivation training at the Hostel in the Forest with Ja Schindler of Fungi For the People.
We will spend the weekend exploring many exciting approaches to home and small business scale edible and medicinal mushroom growing, with a strong focus on growing regionally appropriate varieties on easily accessible recycled materials. The entire process is worked through in a hands-on format and everyone will leave with the materials and know-how to start growing their own.
Mushroom identification and ecology are taught in daily field trips into the forest, and we will bring wild mushrooms into cultivation during the course, a very valuable skill as some of the best mushrooms to grow are the ones already out your back door. A variety of accessible laboratory skills as well as a plethora of outdoor mushroom cultivation practices will be covered.
MycoRemediation is also highlighted in this course and we will dive into the growing practices of working with Fungi to heal damaged land and degrade toxins.
Main Themes of the Weekend:
Mushroom Gardening
Identification and Ecology
MycoRemediation
Medicinal Mushroom Preparations and Use
Growing Mushrooms using Appropriate Technologies
Basic Lab Set-Up and skills
About the Instructor: Ja Schindler has been studying fungi in both the natural world and in the laboratory for over a decade, as well as working with mushroom cultivation farms in the US and Canada. Ja hails from Eugene, Oregon and is visiting for the purpose of passing along vital skills for growing native food and potent medicine from local waste products, and to heighten our societies ecological relationships. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Ja’s appreciation of food security and environmental justice began at a young age. A severe interest in Fungi took him to the NorthWest nine years ago on a journey of field learning. After a number of mushroom farming experiences left him with the feeling that the practice needed to become much more accessible and commonplace. In 2011 he founded Fungi For the People, a mushroom cultivation research and education organization. Over the past 2 years many people from the Eastern states and throughout the world have traveled to Oregon to learn with him, which has prompted the Resilient Mycology Road Show to bring these skills to a broader community. This course is an excellent primer for those thinking of growing mushrooms for food and medicine, business, soil development, or personal pursuit.
This Course Also Includes:
50 Page Workbook: Details on a variety of cultivation techniques, material choices, glossary of terms, and technical references.
Mushroom Spawn: You will get to choose 2 species of edible and medicinal mushrooms to leave with!
Wholesome Meals: A healthy lunch and refreshments will be provided both days. There is also the recommended option of enjoying all of your meals at our host site The Hostel in the Forest, dinner is provided by The Hostel staff every night, and you will have access to the shared kitchen.
Lodging:The recommended option of staying at The Hostel for the weekend is likely the most rewarding and inexpensive lodging choice available.
Class Time: 10am to 7pm both days | Lunch 1-2pm Cost: $175 PLUS /Lodging
Ethnobotanical Intensive with Mycol Stevens & Marc Williams June 14-16 2013
Come prepared to have your brains explode with great practical ecological and fermentation knowledge where Marc and Mycol come back to their favorite classroom at the Hostel!
Mycol Stevens has a (pun) masters in aquatic ecology and has worked as a restoration ecologist/botanist for the Florida Fish and Game across the state of FL since 2004. He has traveled much of Central and South America and Africa, and has learned from some of the best teachers including Frank Cook and Robert Hunsicker. Mycol has been teaching ethnobotany and edible mushrooms since 2005. He also lives off-the-grid on an “ecocentric” permaculture homestead where he eats from the wild almost daily and propagates and cultivates his own organic foods. Mycol’s philosophy is to ween off the “system” and to eat your food as medicine. Mycol has been inspired by the Hostel since the mid 90’s and much of its philosophy is reflected in his way of life. Knowing the living world around you, connects you to the living world. Mycol hosts (Willing Workers On Oraganic Farms, (WWOOFers) at his finca. Contact him if you are interested in visiting. He also is the host of the Florida Earthskills Gathering in February and annual mushroom teaching in July on the Finca. Many a poor pun is often interjected to inject fun in his teachings…be forewarned!
Marc Williams is an ethnobotanist. He has studied plants intensively while learning to use them for food, medicine, biological
conservation, and beauty. His training includes a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies concentrating in Sustainable Agriculture from Warren Wilson College and a Master’s degree in Appalachian Studies concentrating in Sustainable Development with a minor in Geography and Planning from Appalachian State University. Marc’s major research in graduate school focused on the most useful plants of Appalachia. However it is clear that a holistic appreciation of nature irrespective of utility will be necessary to create the new paradigm that are current global situation calls for. He has since spent significant time learning the plants of the Western U.S. and tropical regions as well. Marc has spent over a decade working at a multitude of restaurants, various farms, and travels throughout 23 countries in North/Central America and Europe and 49 of the United States of America. In those travels he has visited over 70 of the best botanical gardens in the world. He has taught hundreds of people about the marvelous lives of plants and their respective uses. Marc first came to the Hostel in the Forest in March of 1998 and was immediately transformed through a first time sweat lodge experience with Tom Dennard the hostel founder. Like Mycol many of the principles that make the Hostel in the Forest such a special place have informed his expression of life in this world ever since. Further info can be found at www.botanyeveryday.com where an online botany class in the tradition of Frank Cook is conducted by donation.
Teachings will start Friday evening and end Sunday afternoon.
Workshops will include:
Botany 101 presentation, Wild Foods/Medicines walk, Super Food preparation presentation, Botanical Beach/estuary Walk, Fermentation Overview with Honey Mead Making and a Permaculture Ecological restoration talk. Botanical slide shows of various parts of the world including Latin America, Africa and Europe are also possible.
The cost will be $100 per person, which includes accommodations at the Hostel for the Friday and Saturday night as well as a beautiful vegetarian dinner on both nights. Make sure to call ahead to reserve your spot!!! Sundays beach venture ride shares to the beach which is 5$ a car load.
Bring your notebook, any relevant books you have, a camera, a loupe if you have one, water bottle, rain coat etc. Handouts will be provided.
“Teach a man to fish, ya got food for life. Let your food be your medicine.”
“The forests and fields are a table always spread” Henry Thoureau
