shimamā

On March 11, 2020 the Potter Valley Tribe hosted a one-of-a-kind Native Mushroom Workshop in the clubhouse at Noyo-Bida Ranch. The topics we discussed that day included medicinal species and benefits, cooking techniques, personal gathering experiences, soil remediation and composting, knowing your sources, gathering rights and potential policies, iNaturalist and MycoFlora Project demonstration, and a presentation on PVT’s grow from local waste substrate. We had 24 attendees from 7 different tribes with youth and elder representation. The lunch included mushroom dishes created by a local chef with medicinal teas, casserole, stew, dips, salad, and two desserts featuring choice mushrooms such as chanterelle, boletes, candy cap, and oysters from our grow project as well as traditionally gathered seaweed, mussels, and salad greens. During this workshop we planned how we want to move forward as a group to include mushrooms into tribal environmental and cultural efforts needed to remember how vital fungi are to our health and wellbeing.