Emily Johnson
MoTown Mushrooms is a company that offers foraging tours and DIY cultivation lectures. The company is raising funds on Kickstarter to build a new mushroom facility. The new facility will allow customers to grow their own gourmet mushrooms and offer mushroom cultivation workshops. Reviews of MoTown Mushrooms' Myco-Walk experience are generally positive, with participants praising the knowledge shared by the hosts and the beautiful scenery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | MoTown Mushrooms |
| Activity | Raising funds to build a new mushroom facility |
| Location | Morristown, VT |
| Offerings | Mushroom cultivation workshops, mushroom foraging tours, mushroom cultivation kits, mushroom recipes, mushroom cultivation clubs, mushroom vouchers, mushroom cultivation sessions, mushroom cultivation tools |
| Products | Mushroom pate, mushroom cultivation kits, mushroom cultivation buckets, mushroom cultivation plugs, mushroom cultivation bags, mushroom cultivation clubs, mushroom cultivation vouchers, mushroom cultivation tools, mushroom-themed merchandise |
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What You'll Learn
Fruits of the Forest Myco-Walk
The Fruits of the Forest Myco-Walk by MoTown Mushrooms is a unique experience that combines a foraging tour with a DIY cultivation lecture. This excursion is perfect for those who want to learn more about the fascinating world of mycology. The walk takes place in the picturesque Joiner Brook in Bolton Valley, where participants can enjoy the beauty of the river, forest, waterfall, and fields while learning about common edible mushrooms and basic identification techniques.
During the walk, participants are encouraged to collect whatever mushrooms they can find, which are then identified by the knowledgeable and friendly hosts, Jason and Monica. They will teach you how to differentiate between edible mushrooms like Chanterelles and their look-alike counterparts, ensuring a safe and educational experience. The walk covers a distance of one mile and includes some off-trail exploration, so it is recommended to wear hiking boots and bring a flat basket, a good pair of shoes, a knife, and optionally, a walking stick.
After the walk, there is an optional cultivation workshop where participants can learn how to grow their own gourmet mushrooms at home. This workshop is perfect for those who want to continue their mycology journey and is suitable for all ages and abilities. The hosts provide a comprehensive and inclusive experience, sharing their knowledge and expertise freely.
In addition to their walks and workshops, MoTown Mushrooms is also expanding their operations by building a new mushroom facility. They have been raising funds through Kickstarter campaigns, offering various rewards such as mushroom cultivation kits, recipes, and merchandise to supporters. Their goal is to move from their basement to a commercial space, allowing them to expand their passion for fungi and share it with a wider audience.
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Foraging tour and DIY cultivation lecture
The Fruits of the Forest Myco-Walk by Motown Mushrooms is a great introduction to the world of mycology. The experience is part foraging tour and part DIY cultivation lecture. The tour begins with a 1-mile guided stroll around Joiner Brook in Bolton Valley, where you will learn about common edible mushrooms, basic identification, and companion gardening. Along the walk, you will be able to pick wild mushrooms and will be provided with a knife and a basket to collect them.
During the walk, the guides will provide a wealth of information and answer any questions you may have about mushroom foraging. They will also ensure that everyone, regardless of age and ability, is included and has a chance to learn. The path takes you through a river forest landscape, a waterfall, and fields, providing a beautiful and relaxing experience.
After the walk, there is a cultivation workshop where you will learn how to grow your own gourmet mushrooms at home. Here, you will go through the contents of your basket item by item, identifying which mushrooms are edible and safe to take home. This ensures that you leave with a basket full of goodies to enjoy.
If you are interested in further developing your knowledge and skills in mushroom cultivation, Motown Mushrooms also offers a 3-hour session to help you grow your own gourmet mushrooms. This session can be in person or remote, and they also provide kits with everything you need to grow mushrooms on your own hardwood logs. Additionally, they offer a Mushroom Farmer Club, where you can purchase grain spawn bags at a discounted price, and a Fungipail Club, which provides you with a starter kit and seasonal refills to grow different varieties of mushrooms throughout the year.
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Learning to identify Chanterelles
Chanterelles are one of the easiest wild mushrooms to identify, and they taste delicious. They are also easy to tell apart from poisonous lookalikes. Here is a guide on how to identify them:
Chanterelles are woodland mushrooms that have strong mycorrhizal relationships with trees. They are most commonly found near hardwood trees, such as beech, oak, maple, birch, and poplar. They can also be found near conifers such as pine or hemlock. They love old-growth forests with moist forest floors and often pop up after heavy rains. Mossy and damp forest clearings are another great place to look for them. If you find one chanterelle, chances are there are more in the area, so keep looking!
Chanterelles usually pop up in summer and fall. They grow only near trees, not alone in fields. They also don’t grow in big clumps or on rotting wood. They are usually relatively easy to spot because of their yellow-orange color, although in the fall, the colorful leaves on the ground can make it more difficult. They can be anywhere from almost white to deep yellow or almost orange in color. The cap of a chanterelle is flat at first, then funnel-shaped.
Chanterelles have false gills, like ridges. These ridges run down the stem a bit, rather than terminating with the cap. They do not have sharp gills that crumble and break when you run your finger over them.
A common chanterelle lookalike is the poisonous Jack O’ Lantern mushroom. It can be confused with chanterelles when it appears to be growing terrestrially rather than from wood.
If you want to learn how to identify chanterelles, you can join a foraging tour, such as the Fruits of the Forest Myco-Walk by MoTown Mushrooms. On this excursion, you will learn about common edible mushrooms, basic identification, and companion gardening.
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Mushroom kits and recipes
Mushroom kits are a great way to grow your own mushrooms at home. They are easy to use and can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Mushroom kits come with a growing medium that already has mycelium growing in it, so you don't have to worry about gathering materials or sterilizing the substrate yourself. Simply add water and harvest your mushrooms in as little as 2-3 weeks!
Types of Mushroom Kits
There are various types of mushroom kits available, offering different varieties of mushrooms to grow at home. Oyster mushrooms, for example, are known for their culinary and therapeutic benefits, and can be grown right on your kitchen counter. Other types of mushrooms available in kits include Portabella, Crimini, White Button, Shiitake, and Lion's Mane.
Mushroom Recipes
Once you've grown your own mushrooms, you can use them in a variety of recipes. Mushrooms are a versatile ingredient that can be used in dishes like stir-fries, pasta, soups, and salads. Here are some specific recipe ideas to try:
- Mushroom and spinach stir-fry: Sauté sliced mushrooms with garlic and olive oil, then add baby spinach and cook until wilted. Serve over rice or quinoa.
- Creamy mushroom pasta: Cook sliced mushrooms in butter and cream, then toss with cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Mushroom soup: Sauté mushrooms with onions and thyme, then add vegetable or chicken broth and simmer. Blend the soup until smooth and season with salt and pepper.
Fruits of the Forest Myco-Walk by MoTown Mushrooms
If you're interested in learning more about mushrooms, Fruits of the Forest Myco-Walk by MoTown Mushrooms offers a unique experience. It's part foraging tour, part DIY cultivation lecture, providing an introduction to the world of mycology. During the walk, you'll learn about common edible mushrooms, their identification, and companion gardening. The workshop that follows teaches participants how to grow their own gourmet mushrooms at home.
Safety Considerations
It's important to remember that not all wild mushrooms are safe to consume. Proper identification is crucial to avoid accidental poisoning. Always seek expert guidance or attend educational workshops like the one offered by MoTown Mushrooms to learn how to safely identify and forage for wild mushrooms.
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Fundraising for a new mushroom facility
Motown Mushrooms is a mushroom-focused company that offers foraging tours and cultivation workshops. Their popular Fruits of the Forest Myco-Walk takes customers on a 1-mile stroll around Joiner Brook in Bolton Valley, teaching them about common edible mushrooms, basic identification, and companion gardening. The workshop that follows teaches participants how to grow their own gourmet mushrooms at home.
Motown Mushrooms is now seeking to expand its operations by moving from its basement into a commercial space. To raise funds for this new mushroom facility, they have launched a campaign on Kickstarter, offering a range of rewards for backers.
One reward is the "Mushroom Mafia Hoodie," a fitted full-zip unisex hoodie in supersoft Flex Fleece fabric, colored in mushroom brown. Backers will also receive a mushroom pate recipe and a bumper sticker. Local pick-up is available in Morristown, VT, or shipping across the US for an additional fee.
Another reward is the "Forester Kit," which provides everything one needs to grow gourmet mushrooms on their own hardwood logs. This kit includes various types of spawn plugs, a drill bit, pliable wax, aluminum tags, inoculation instructions, and a recipe. Backers can choose between local pick-up in Morristown, VT, or US shipping for a fee.
Additionally, Motown Mushrooms offers the "Fungipail Club," which is a year-long subscription to grow your own gourmet mushrooms. The club includes a Mushroom Garden in a Bucket starter kit and three refills of seasonal oyster mushrooms shipped every three months. This option also includes a 3-hour session for those who need help with their current setup or are new to mushroom cultivation.
Finally, backers can opt for the "Mushroom Farmer Club," which offers ten bags of grain spawn at a wholesale discount. This spawn comes in a disposable myco-bag with a filter patch, ready for transfer to a final fruiting substrate. Backers can choose from a variety of mushroom types, including Oyster Mushrooms, Lion's Mane, Shiitake, and more.
With these fundraising efforts, Motown Mushrooms aims to establish a new mushroom facility and continue sharing their passion for fungi with the community.
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Frequently asked questions
MoTown Mushrooms is a company that offers foraging tours and DIY cultivation lectures. They also sell mushroom cultivation kits and host workshops.
MoTown Mushrooms was raising funds to move from their basement into a commercial space. However, their website now simply reads, "That's all she wrote. Thank you for the support." It is unclear if they were successful in their move or if they have ceased operations.
MoTown Mushrooms sells mushroom cultivation kits, such as the Forester Kit and the Chestnut Mushroom Fungipail. They also offer memberships to the Fungipail Club, where customers can grow their own gourmet mushrooms for a full year with seasonal refills. Additionally, they provide vouchers for customers to redeem various seasonal mushroom varieties.
