THE BRCC NEWSLETTER
MAY NEWS
I wish I could say the old saying was right that April showers will bring May flowers but boy we really saw a drought last month. It’s unfortunate as it was peak morel time in the mountains and sadly this year just didn’t pan out. However let’s look ahead to this month, many of our amazing mushrooms will be out on the scene, including some early boletes, chicken of the woods, corals and one of my favorites, reishi! Pictured here is Pheasent Back/Dryads Saddle mushroom, a spring polypore that is edible best when young. This mushroom has a very pretty cap, resembling, you guessed it, a pheasants tail, and a very distinct smell of cucumber or watermelon rind. Larger, older ones can be dried and powered.
We’ve been making some changes to our product line, new, functional teas made with our wild foraged medicinal mushrooms, a few changes to our brain boost and woman’s harmonic bloom tincture blends, and two new oils for face and hair health. Tailgate and farmers markets are in full swing and it’s great to see so many familiar and new faces out in the community! Also some exciting news is our products made their way to a few new spots in Black Mountain, Marion, Fairview, Trust and Canton, all locally run and operated. Towards the end of the month my tours will begin! Plan ahead and get in contact with me if your interested in getting out there.
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May Mushrooms
May is the month that sees the forest floor come to life! Several mushrooms will begin to burst on the scene, medicinal and wild edible varieties, along with deadly Amanitas and toxic Cortinarius mushrooms. It’s a fun time to be out exploring in the woods. Slowing down and taking it in is the key, not to mention great for your mind and state of peace. The ‘zombie’ fungus, Cordyceps fruits well in this spring month, but it does take a sharp eye and some intentional observation to find them. Let’s dive in to some of what you’ll see this month in a forest near you……..
Chicken of the Woods
There are two distinct varieties of Chicken of the Woods here in the southern Appalachian region. Laetiporus Sulphureus, pictured growing on a dying oak tree in shelf like pattern, is the most common, with bright orange tops and yellow pores below. Laetiporus Cincinnatus is the white pored chicken, with a slightly paler orange top and white pores underneath and growing in a circular pattern. Both are equally tasty in the pan. Both can be found on dying stumps, tree trunks, in some cases on the roots (white pored) of a tree. There’s times you might find quite a flush of chicken, with so many mushrooms, preserving them can be a challenge. Some folks dry sauté them or boil them before freezing in air tight bags. Dehydrating is another option, then grinding or rehydrating later. I have even heard of people pickling them. Chickens can also be considered medicinal, having anti-inflammatory, immune system support and tumor fighting potential.
Reishi
Ganoderma Tsugae is the main variety growing here in the late spring and early summer months. They can be found on Hemlock trees and are sometimes called hemlock reishi or varnish shelf. Having foraged reishi for many years now, I notice it seems to flush well every other year. Much of it’s growth is also dependent on it’s host, with so many dying hemlock trees, it’s hard to predict what will happen in the future years. Harvesting them when they are fully mature (fully red caps) ensures they have dropped their spores and may continue to replicate. Reishi is a medicinal powerhouse, it’s history is long and storied, even reserved for royalty in some early Asian cultures, it was named ‘the mushroom of immortality’ for it’s range of amazing benefits. Made as a strong decoction or taken as a tincture, reishi provides calming energy and can be useful for sleep, relaxation and anxiety. It has benefits for detoxing liver and kidneys, as well as protcting the brain and boosting the immune system.
Early Boletes
The Bolete family of mushrooms usually doesn’t come on strong until summer and fall but there is some early birds that show up in May, namely the Painted (red/yellow) and Butter ball boletes. Both have yellow pores on the underside of the cap and don’t really stain any colors when bruised. These two varieties can be good edibles when prepared right, for myself it’s making them alittle extra crispy, as most boletes can be mushy. The bolete family of mushrooms is wide ranging and quite large as a group, in our region there are between 200-300 different kinds! Boletes can be found in rather large numbers, where you find one, there’s most likely a bunch more close by.
May Markets
Weaverville Tailgate-Wednesdays from 3-6
@60 Lakeshore Drive, Weaverville, NC
Yancey County Farmers Market- Saturdays 8:30-12:30
@322 W. Main St. Burnsville
East Asheville Tailgate Market- Fridays from 3-6 @954 Tunnel rd
Milltown Farmers Market- Thursdays 4-7 @8 sorrells st. Canton
Show & Tell Night Market- Wednesday May 6th from 5-9
@the orange peel
Blooms and Berries Market- Saturday May 2nd from 10-6
@Ten Acre Garden 148 Chambers Lane Canton, Nc
Tennessee Plant Show- Saturday May 9th from 8-6
@MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center
Kingsport TN
Art-ifact Handmade Mothers Day Market- Sunday May 10th from 12-5
At The Wedge Brewing @37 Paynes Way
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NEW PRODUCTS
Myco Herbal Tea Blends
Over the winter months we spent the season re-crafting new and improved tea blends, intentionally blended and updated formulations, designed for functionality, that mix healing herbs with our foraged medicinal mushrooms. We believe that tea can taste good and be great for your health at the same time! Think of tea time as a ritual, a brief part of the day that is your moment of self care. Medicinal mushrooms and healing herbs work perfectly in harmony to provide nourishment and benefit to your mind and body. Here’s a look at what’s in each blend…….
Chocolate Chaga Chai
Ingredients: rooibos, chaga chunks, cinnamon chips, cacao husk, carob powder, cardamom pods, ginger root, orange peel, spicebush berries, marshmallow leaf, black peppercorns, vanilla powder, cloves
Mountain Citrus Berry
Ingredients: lemon verbena*, nettle leaf*, freeze dried mixed berries*, (cherry, strawberry, blueberry), rosehips, hibiscus*, orange peel*, alfalfa leaf*, lions mane mushroom, peppermint, cranberry pieces*, cordyceps mushroom, hawthorn berries*, violet leaf & flower, licorice root*, meadowsweet* organic*
Appalachian Digestive Comfort
Ingredients: Lemon balm, red rooibos, anise hyssop, orange peel, licorice root, fennel seed, ginger root, cardamom pod, turkey tail mushroom, marshmallow leaf, caraway seed
Mountain Meadow Goddess
Ingredients: raspberry leaf, nettle leaf, lady’s mantle, lemon balm, spearmint, linden flower, calendula, rose petals, cinnamon chips, orange peel, chaga mushroom, reishi mushroom, licorice root
Blue Ridge Relax & Unwind
Ingredients: skullcap, passionflower, wood betony, oat straw, calendula, marshmallow leaf, vanilla bean powder, chamomile, lavender, rose petals, cinnamon chips, orange peel, reishi mushroom.
Appalachian Resilience
Ingredients: strawberry leaf, blackberry leaf, hibiscus, rose hips, juniper berry, acerola, elderberries, astragalus root, echinacea root, turkey tail mushroom, maitake mushroom, chaga mushroom, elder flower, ginger root, orange peel, cinnamon chips, bee balm, licorice root
Appalachian Energy Flow
Ingredients: Green Rooibos, Rama Tulsi, Spearmint, Lemon grass, Yerba Mate, Lions Mane, Cordyceps, Orange Peel, Hibiscus, licorice root, Hibiscus, vana tulsi
Chocolate Chaga Chai Blend
Ingredients: rooibos, chaga chunks, cinnamon chips, cacao husk, carob powder, cardamom pods, ginger root, orange peel, spicebush berries, marshmallow leaf, black peppercorns, vanilla powder, cloves
Net Weight 1.7 ozs (45 grams)
New Places To Find Our Products…….
Many times that I vend markets in another town, people ask me if they can find my products in any stores near them. This year I’ve added some new places, in Asheville’s surrounding areas and I could always use your insights! If you know of a perfect small shop, spa, cafe or any other retail space that our mushroom tinctures, teas, salts and body care might be a good fit, please let us know!
Trust General store & cafe
Located between Hot Springs and Asheville, this historic one stop shop has something for everyone. The cafe menu is packed with some amazing food options and the general store has connivence items as well as many locally made goodies.
Black Mountain Variety
Located in downtown Black Mountain, this variety store has a wide range of locally made art, jewelry, clothing and more, including our tinctures, bitters and tea blends. There’s a whole other side of the store that is vintage clothing. Serving beer and wine, you can have a sip while your browse around.
Main Season Market
Located in downtown Marion, this local market and brewery is the perfect place to pop in and meet some great folks. With local beers and a variety of wines, the brewery offers a taste of local and their store offers fresh baked goods, ferments, produce and other local goods.
Wilderness Muse
Located in Fairview, this creative marketplace, carwash turned local shop has over 67 local makers products, from art and plants to skin care, our tinctures and teas and much more. They also offer classes and pop up events.
