Download the Appalachia NAMA 2023 Full Schedule
Workshops are available for an added fee per person. Forays are included with your main ticket, but you must reserve your spots here!
You may go on multiple forays, but please do not sign up for more than one foray in a time slot (unless registering others in your party) so all attendees can get out there. You can grab more than 1 ticket and register others in your party for the same foray or workshop. Please be respectful of the process!
All are offered on a first come, first serve basis.
Learn the magic of koji with Eleana Hsu of Shared Cultures. Koji is an ancient edible fungus that has long been used in China and Japan to make soy sauce, bean pastes and rice wine. Eleana will go over koji's history, use, and how to grow it. Samples and tastings of koji-related products will also be provided for further culinary education and exposure. Eleana is a small-batch producer in San Francisco specializing in using koji, an ancient fungus, to create newly imagined ferments through her business Shared Cultures. Inspired by traditional fermentation methods, wild-foraged mushrooms and the bounty of Northern California, she and her partner Kevin Gondo are creating farm-to-ferment misos, shoyus and umami seasonings using the magic of koji.
9:30 - 11:30am
Dive into the latest in cutting-edge community science technologies with NAMA Foray Chair Mandie Quark. She will give a short presentation on the background of molecular mycology and outline popular DNA barcoding methods. Participants will then have the opportunity to sample mushrooms they previously collected from local grocery store shelves for DNA barcoding. Bring in your edible mushrooms, folks! Data from this workshop will be part of a larger project that was started by NAMA members with the potential for high impact in the field of fungal DNA sequencing.
9:30 - 11:30 am
Well-known regional artist Karen Milnes will lead participants in completing a "hipster" basket with slots to slid onto your favorite belt! After a brief discussion of materials, each student will be guided through the process of forming the basket base, twining, weaving the sides and constructing a rim. This workshop will cover a lot of the basics of basket weaving! It will be a fast-paced class; while weaving experience is NOT necessary, some propensity for hand-crafts and will serve you well – but don’t worry, Karen promises that no one of any experience or skill level will be left behind.
1:00 - 5:00pm
Dive into the latest in cutting edge community science technologies with NAMA Foray Chair Mandie Quark. She will give a short presentation on the background of molecular mycology and outline popular DNA barcoding methods. Participants will then have the opportunity to sample mushrooms they previously collected from local grocery store shelves for DNA barcoding. Bring in your edible mushrooms, folks! Data from this workshop will be part of a larger project that was started by NAMA members with the potential for high impact in the field of fungal DNA sequencing.
1:30 - 3:30pm
Olga Katic of Mushroom Mountain will share preparation techniques and provide participants with tasting portions of several mushroom-focused recipes. Below are some of the recipes Olga has planned (subject to change, but here's an idea!):
Coconut Ginger Lemon Grass Soup (vegan/gluten free)
Morel Egg Quiche
Truffled Wild Mushroom Pate (vegan/gluten free)
Mushroom Duxelles with a side of Quick-Pickled Mushrooms
Fruit with CandyCap syrup (vegan, gluten free)
10:00 am - 12 pm
Well-known regional artist Karen Milnes will lead participants in completing a "hipster" basket with slots to slid onto your favorite belt! After a brief discussion of materials, each student will be guided through the process of forming the basket base, twining, weaving the sides and constructing a rim. This workshop will cover a lot of the basics of basket weaving! It will be a fast-paced class; while weaving experience is NOT necessary, some propensity for hand-crafts and will serve you well – but don’t worry, Karen promises that no one of any experience or skill level will be left behind.
1:00 - 5:00pm
Olga Katic of Mushroom Mountain will share preparation techniques and provide participants with tasting portions of several mushroom-focused recipes. Below are some of the recipes Olga has planned (subject to change, but here's an idea!):
Oyster Mushroom Clamless Chowder (vegetarian, gluten free)
Truffled Deviled Eggs (vegetarian, gluten free)
Fried Oyster Mushroom with Aioli dipping sauce (vegetarian)
Walnut Mushroom Pate (vegan, gluten free)
Matcha Cordyceps Bliss Bites (vegan, gluten free)
3-5PM
Wade Fox will explain what koji is, how to make it, how it functions and how to integrate it seamlessly into any home kitchen. He will make shio koji and honey miso in class and will bring samples of both for participants to take home with them along with instructions on how to make and use them. Wade is a koji fermentation specialist, currently developing fermented products and workshops for Bluestem Hollow Farms. He is an avid forager, home cook, and has a penchant for making culinary puns.
9:30 - 11:30am
Thursday 8/24 @ 2PM EST
Van ride from the Asheville Airport to Kanuga. Van(s) will be in the cell phone waiting lot, just past baggage claim and doors DS-4 & DS-5, across from the parking ramp entrance. Questions? Contact Kathy Yerich, marketing@namyco.org
Cost is per person.
NON-REFUNDABLE
Thursday 8/24 @ 4PM EST
Van ride from the Asheville Airport to Kanuga. Van(s) will be in the cell phone waiting lot, just past baggage claim and doors DS-4 & DS-5, across from the parking ramp entrance. Questions? Contact Kathy Yerich, marketing@namyco.org
Cost is per person.
NON-REFUNDABLE
Thursday 8/24 @ 6PM EST
Van ride from the Asheville Airport to Kanuga. Van(s) will be in the cell phone waiting lot, just past baggage claim and doors DS-4 & DS-5, across from the parking ramp entrance. Questions? Contact Kathy Yerich, marketing@namyco.org
Cost is per person.
NON-REFUNDABLE
Sunday 8/27 @ 9AM EST
Van ride from Kanuga to the Asheville Airport. Depart at 9am for a 9:30 arrival at the airport. Vans meet at the Kanuga lobby entrance.
Cost is per person.
NON-REFUNDABLE
Sunday 8/27 @ 11:30AM EST
Van ride from Kanuga to the Asheville Airport. Depart at 11:30am for a Noon arrival at the airport. Vans meet at the Kanuga lobby entrance.
Cost is per person.
NON-REFUNDABLE