Cameron's Staff Pick

Friends of Fungi: a Hiking, Foraging, & Mushroom Cultivation Retreat

Name: Friends of Fungi: a Hiking, Foraging, & Mushroom Cultivation Retreat
Start: 2025-06-13
End: 2025-06-15
Location: Menla
Rating: 4.67

4.673 reviews

375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States

June 13 - 15, 2025

About this Retreat

Your Guides

John

Erwin

Gabriela

Aubrey

John Michelotti

John Michelotti is the founder of Catskill Fungi which empowers people with fungi through outdoor educational classes, cultivation courses, mushroom art, and mushroom health extracts. John is a past president of the Mid-Hudson Mycological Association (MHMA) where he co-founded the Catskill Regional Mycoflora Project as well as the Gary Lincoff Memorial Scholarship. He served on the Mushroom Advisory Panel for Certified Naturally Grown to develop ecological standards in mushroom production. He was chosen by the Catskill Center as a "Steward of the Catskills" for his contribution to the environment. His goal is to educate and inspire people to pair with fungi to improve health, communities, and the environment. Catskill Fungi Catskill Fungi produces high integrity, triple-extracted health tinctures from mushrooms that are wild-crafted or grown near our family farm in the Catskill Mountains. We enjoy sharing our love of mushrooms on our guided mushroom walks, medicinal and cultivation workshops, and our fungi retreats. Catskill Fungi has a foundation of permaculture principles. This means the core of our business is about helping people and improving the planet through our work with mushrooms. We practice sustainable harvesting, leave-no-trace principles, and compassion for the environment. We aim to empower people to grow edible mushrooms as a fun source of fresh food, to heal themselves through utilizing health properties of fungi, and to explore the historical uses and present day innovations of this exceptional kingdom.

Erwin Karl

Erwin Karl is a farmer, mycologist and educator who has led walks and workshops for Catskill Fungi and Mid Hudson Mycological Association. He serves as site manager at the CycleX farm in Andes, NY where he has been involved in building maintenance, construction and agriculture for more than a decade. His projects in mycology, permaculture, beekeeping, canning, fermentation and wildcrafting build upon pursuits cultivated while growing up in a family that grew produce and kept livestock. He shares his interests by co-hosting the Farm Hour on WIOX (91.3 FM), writing plays about the Catskills for Preserve Players, and volunteering at the Michael Kudish Natural History Preserve.

Gabriela D’Elia

Gabriela D’Elia is the Director of the Fungal Diversity Survey (FunDiS), VP for Mushroom Society of Utah, Project Leader for FunDiS Local Project Northern Utah Funga, and founder of her company Moon Mushrooms, which focuses on holistic mycology, crafting tiny batch tinctures, and MycoAstrology.

Aubrey Carter

Aubrey graduated from Indiana University in 2016 with a BS in Biology. He has worked at several different ecological institutions in and around the NYC area, including the Central Park Conservancy, the Westchester Land Trust, the Stamford Land Conservation Trust, and Sleepy Cat Farm. Currently the Assistant Ecological Manager at Manitou Point Preserve near Garrison, NY, Aubrey became deeply fascinated with fungi after reading Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake, and has since devoted much of his life to cultivating that curiosity. Aubrey publishes a newsletter every Monday, entitled 'Mushroom Monday', which features photos and a profile of a different mushroom he has found throughout his travels. All archived posts can be read on mushroom-monday.com. He also leads public and private mushroom walks in Central Park, and is an active member in the New York Mycological Society. After five years in NYC, Aubrey has recently settled in Putnam Valley, NY and is spreading his mycelium in this fungal friendly part of the state.

Details of this retreat

From the largest living organism in the world to the creation of soil, fungi play an essential role for life on earth. They have been recycling and helping to heal the planet for centuries. Now we can partner with fungi to improve our lives through appreciating the food and medicines this extraordinary kingdom has to offer.

Join John Michelotti this June for an all-levels mushroom cultivation and foraging weekend workshop at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York.
Participants will create/inoculate and take home:
- Indoor Oyster mushroom grow kit
- Outdoor Winecap Mushroom Starter
- Chaga tincture
- Foraging hand lens and Mushroom journal
- Deeper connection with fungi, nature, self, and friends
Come explore the interesting and ancient relationship fungi have with our world and our culture. Learn about kingdom fungi and mushrooms in history and as we currently know them. Discussions will include: biology and ecology of fungi, mushrooms as food and medicine, how fungal allies can create resilience in our agriculture and communities, gardening with mushrooms, and mushrooms to heal the planet.

Through fun hands-on activities, learn low-tech methods to cultivate gourmet and medicinal mushrooms, identify and harvest wild mushrooms, and make mushroom medicines.

To learn more about John Michelotti and his mycological offerings, please visit his website www.catskillfungi.com and enjoy an article from the New York Times.

Schedule

Friday, June 13

3 - 6 pm Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Evening Program Intro and Welcome Circle

Evening Presentation: Mushrooms 101 – Biology and Ecology of Fungi - John

Saturday, June 14

8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 am - 12:15 pm Mushroom Walk: How to identify mushrooms
12:30 - 1:30 pm - Lunch
1:30 - 2:30 pm Break
2:30 - 4 pm Afternoon Program 1

Outdoor Inoculation: Wine-cap in Wood chips & Slurry - John
Kombucha, fermentation & growing beneficial mycobiomes - Erwin

4 - 4:30 pm - Break
4:30 - 6 pm - Afternoon Program 2 - Keynote

Medicinal Mushrooms: Health for the Body, Mind, and Planet
Chaga Tincture making workshop

6 - 7 pm - Dinner
7:30 - 9 pm - Evening Program

Foraged Mushroom Collection Review
Indoor Inoculation: Oysters on Sawdust. Grow your own oyster kit. – Gabriela & Aubrey
Myco-Technologies - John

9 pm - Optional: open discussion at fire pit. Music Jam (bring instruments)

Sunday, June 15

7 - 11 am Check-out of Rooms
8 - 9 am Breakfast
9:30 - 11:30 am Morning Program

Mushroom Walk
Mushroom Cooking Class & Tasting
Closing Circle

12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch and Departure

*Please note that the schedule is subject to change at any time. Read More

Getting Here

Menla, 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States

Accommodation

Deluxe Queen

Deluxe Queen Room with Queen Bed and Private Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers. Deluxe Queen Rooms are Available in Lhasa Inn and Kathmandu House * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations Read More

Deluxe Double (Shared Room)

Deluxe Double Room with Two Full Size Beds and Private Bathroom Free Phone and Hi-Speed Wifi Internet Access Available Air Conditioning All Rooms in Lhasa are Handicap-Accessible, Including Four Rooms with Wheelchair Accessible Showers. Deluxe Double Rooms with Private Bathrooms are Located in the Lhasa Inn * Please note rates include meals and accommodations. This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You a Roommate if You Do Not Register with One. Read More

Economy Single - Shared Bath

Standard Single Room with a Twin Bed and Shared Bathroom Bathroom is Shared with One to Six Other Guests on Your Floor. A phone is not available but high-speed WiFi is available in the room Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note rates include meals and accommodations. Read More

Economy Double - Shared Bath (Shared Room)

Standard Double with Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom The bathroom is Shared with other rooms on the same floor. High-speed Wi-Fi is available in the room. Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations * Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed) * This booking is for one bed in a double shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others Read More

Economy Quad - Shared Bath (Shared Room)

Standard Quad Room with Quad Twin Beds and Shared Bathroom Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals. High speed Wi-Fi is available in the room. Phone Access Available in Nearby Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations * Please note: this is an open door policy room, meaning there are no keys to lock the door (we have lockers you can use at Lhasa if needed) * This booking is for one bed in a quad shared room: We May Assign You Roommates if You Do Not Register with others. Read More

Camping

Camping Campers Have Access to Bathrooms with Showers in Lower Level of Conference Center. Menla Has Six Wooden Camping Platforms by the Pantherkill Stream (First Come First Serve). If All Platforms are Full or You Prefer Not to Use One, There is Also Camping Space in a Small Field by the Stream. Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals. Phone and High Speed Wi-Fi Available in Upstairs of the Conference Center and also Lhasa in Business Center. All calls are free of charge. This Lodging Type is not ADA Compliant. * Please note that rates include meals and accommodations Read More

Commuter

Commuters Menla Encourages Members of the Community to Participate in Our Wonderful Programs! Includes Meals, Public Phone, Public Computer, and Wi-Fi Internet Available in Lhasa Inn. Accommodations Fee Includes All Meals. Read More

Customer Reviews

4.67 out of 5.0 average rating

Anonymous • Oct 03, 2023

4.0

Verified

Weekend retreat stay

The property is on a beautiful, peaceful location.
Nature is all around and sometimes a little too close but you are literally surrounded by woods.

The food was really good and I liked the buffet style and fruit basket.

The gift shop although small had a nice selection of items and I purchased a few fun items.

Since the dining area was on the opposite side of the site from the convention center, a lot of students drove back and forth on the property. I chose the walking paths to get around.

Read More

Marie • Apr 18, 2022

5.0

Verified

Lovely

I had a fascinating and enlightening experience during an “Energy squared Reiki,” class at Menlo this past week. The grounds, rooms, facilities amenities and spa at Menla were all beautiful, clean, and peaceful. The food was delicious and nourishing. I can say only good things about both Menla and the program I attended, and would wholeheartedly recommend both. Read More

Kevin • Oct 20, 2021

5.0

Verified

Friends of Fungi Retreat

Amazing, on all levels. John is an exceptional educator who wears his passion for fungi and local community on his sleeve. Add in his great sense of humor and you have yourself a inspiring weekend. Anyone considering joining a retreat or class with John, I couldn't recommend it more. You will walk away with a better understanding & confidence in the material being presented as well as new friendships and a strong sense of community as fostered by John and his colleagues. Read More

Friends of Fungi: a Hiking, Foraging, & Mushroom Cultivation Retreat

About this Retreat

Your Guides

John Michelotti

Erwin Karl

Gabriela D’Elia

Aubrey Carter

Details of this retreat

Getting Here