Cultivating living organisms is never easy. Picking up and moving an entire business has its challenges. Shifting an operation focused on growing fresh fungi, who can be temperamental at the best of times, has truly been a Herculean task. We have finally massaged our infrastructure and workflow into conditions nearly back to what they were in Lansingburgh. Mycelium is colonizing, substrate is being consumed, and the mushrooms are starting to fruit again!
Our Corner Spore at the Yellow Rock Cafe is nearly open. Stop in any day starting Monday, 4/7 for a wide selection of our fresh mushrooms and additional products, grab some Defazio’s food, a coffee or other beverage from the cafe and shop at the Indian Ladder Farms’ store.
Losing our retail space and having to move our farm has put us in severe financial distress. We have opportunities to grow, but without an influx of capital we are completely stymied and falling further behind. If you are interested in providing aid while we are steadying the ship, there’s a couple things you can do: 1. Purchase a farm share weekly delivery. This is something we’ve talked about for our Troy based customers. We can provide a 52 week for $500 or a 26 week (every other week) for $250. A farm share will be a $10 bag of fresh mushrooms. Possibly a mix, possibly a single type. These shares will start in May and we are talking with 2 or 3 spots in Troy where they will be available for pickup. (email @collarcitymushrooms for details) 2. Another way you can help us through this difficult time is with a donation to our gofundme. It hasn’t been updated since our last attempt to purchase the building at 333 2nd ave, but it is still a portal through which we can receive your assistance.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/collar-city-mushrooms-phase-2
Anything will help!
Amy and Avery started the month at the New York Capitol Convention Center representing the Rensselaer County Farm bureau during the Meet the Legislators Taste of New York Event. They served up some tasty mushroom forward options and talked to dozens of lawmakers about mushroom farming and farmers in Rensselaer County.
During Indian Ladder’s Maplefest event we served up our fresh savory mushroom waffles made on the spot by Chef Dave, a small selection of mushroom items, and some limited time only smokey maple jerky made with Mountain Winds Farm Maple Syrup. The Jerky was also used on freshly cooked glazed Cider Donuts!
Chef Dave Chaiken led the charge in a kitchen takeover at the Temple Rd test kitchen dining hall. Multiple Mushroom forward breakfast and lunch choices curated by Chef Dave and prepared by the Mazzone Hospitality Team of culinary professionals were available to everyone who came in for food.
Watch this great Reel put together by their media team:
The New York State Museum pushed into the Common Roots outpost for a presentation on Mary Banning. Our team and other Collar City Mushrooms’ friends attended the standing room only event. Mycologist Patricia Kaishian discussed the importance of women in mycology. The New York State Museum has over 90,000 preserved specimens.
Amy and Avery have been testing recipes for the New York State Museum’s Mary Banning Exhibition event on Friday 4/4. The Mushroom Bourguignon and Comb Tooth Curry dishes will be available for sale as well as Chef Dave’s Incredible Chestnut-Chestnut Soup and a few dessert choices crafted by Corinne.
The Schenectady Stem Focused Rise High group of students visited our farm to talk about the science of mushroom cultivation. They got some hands-on experience with our fungi friends and each took a simple toilet paper grow kit home to facilitate its growth!
Check out their great program here:
Fostering youth interest in mycology is an important part of our mission. Breaking the stigma of mycophobia is a never ending task! When young learners like Tamada ask how they could do a mushroom growing science fair project we are always happy to help! She took one of our second flush blocks home to care for and present to her school. According to her mother “she presented to many kids and adults and she was selected to present at the highschool science expo!” Great job Tamada!
Introducing budding mycologists with a few more levels is also an important facet of our mission. Avery is once again teaching a “Mushrooms, Mycelium, and More” specialty interest class at Hudson Valley Community College. This 4 session class introduces people to the world of fungi, briefly touches on identifying mushrooms in the wild, introduces some home cultivation techniques, and dives into the medicinal qualities of a variety of strains.
Meadowlark Catering is once again offering our mushrooms as a prepared meal entree! If you are local to Troy, get on their mailing list so you can dial in to their plant and fungi based weekly meal service!
https://www.meadowlarkcatering.com/mealprep
Avery talked fungi to the Hilltown Seniors group in Berne, NY. How to include mushrooms in your wellcare routine, and how mushroom compost can help improve garden soil health were topics that many seniors were interested in.
Our infrastructure build out seems just about complete. After a few hiccups and mis-steps we are finally getting back into the groove of farming. Sterilizing substrate blocks and completing transfers is back into our routine. We are far behind schedule with where our production should be and are still relying on other farms to meet nearly all of our mushroom needs.
We supported the Engineering students at RPI competing in the WERC Environmental Design Contest. They constructed a myco-filtration system to remove heavy metal contaminants from Mining Impacted Waters in and near abandoned mines. We provided growing mycelium and ideas to help keep their filters alive.
New Customer: The Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga.
Chef Josh is using our mushrooms in both of their dining venues: Salt & Char and Morrissey’s Lounge and Bistro.
North American Mycological Association Update:
The Medicinal Mushroom self reporting database is nearly ready to be beta tested! The Medicinal Mushroom Committee has been working on building this project out for almost a year now. People around the world will be able to record their medicinal mushroom use and any perceived effects brought about with functional mushroom use as part of well care routines. Stay tuned to the Committee page for more details:
PSILOCYBIN CORNER
March was a very active month for psilocybin advocacy. Members of NYMHA participated in talks and conventions all over the area and beyond. Our team met with New York Senators and Assemblymembers in order to educate them on psilocybin-containing mushrooms.
We are very excited to announce that the New York State Assembly Health Committee will be hosting a hearing on Psilocybin Containing Mushrooms. April 22nd from 10:30am – 3:30pm.
Testimony will be heard from invited experts and people who have used psilocybin-containing mushrooms to process their trauma and aid in their recovery from various conditions. This is a huge step in the effort to end the criminalization of New Yorkers using substances that promote neural plasticity.
The conversation about substances that promote neural plasticity is certainly broadening! Oprah is even talking about psychedelics
Michael Pollan discussion about How To Change your Mind
Can Psychedelics Heal Mental Trauma? With Harvard Professor Michael Pollan
And check out this article about the possibility that psilocybin-containing mushrooms healing the brain after head trauma:
COMING SOON
New Yorkers for Mental Health Alternatives Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, April 8th 7pm – 8pm. This monthly meeting will focus on planning future speakers, the upcoming Hearing on Psilocybin-containing Mushrooms, a possible Albany Common Council Action and planning a Manhattan action. ONLINE ONLY.
Join remotely via zoom here:
Mary Banning Exhibition at the New York State Museum, Friday 4/4 7pm – 9pm. FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC.
https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/women-of-science/mary-banning
Check out the event here and -pre-register to let us know you’re coming!
Mushrooms & Me at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library, Tuesday, April 15th 2pm. A Program for budding young mycologists in grades 2 – 5 with an adult. We’ll be talking about mushrooms, safe identifying of fungi, and reading a few mushroom books. Register here:
https://events.cphlibrary.org/event/12938920
Mushroom Experience Dinner at Schenectady County Community College, Tuesday, April 15th 5:30pm. This 3 course dinner curated and prepared by the culinary students of SCCC will be a wonderful evening to get immersed amongst the mushrooms. We’ll be setting up some fungal ambiance and be on hand with some mushroom educational items as well as a limited selection of fungi finds for purchase! To Reserve your seat call Tamara at 518-381-1325
Foraged New York Walks, Sunday, May 4rd – Saturday May 10th More info and tickets available soon. ($20 per walk)
Foraged New York Dinner and a show featuring Sean Rowe, Saturday May 10th. This multi Course Dinner curated by Corinne Carey and Dave Chaiken will feature foraged ingredients as well as mushrooms. Guests will be joined for dinner by singer songwriter and avid forager Sean Rowe. He’ll be concluding the evening with a private concert. Tickets can be purchased that include the concert with VIP seats, or even a pre-dinner foraging walk. **THIS EVENT PRESENTED AS PART OF FORAGED NEW YORK 2025**
If you or your company would like to sponsor foraged to help us bring delicious wild crafted adventures to the capital region, let us know! Here’s our sponsorship info:
The Barn School: The Mysterious World of Mushrooms at Indian Ladder Farms. August 4th through August 8th. For learners in grade 1 through 8. Enroll your young mycologist through this Indian Ladder Farms link:
Collar City Mushrooms 