MYCO MANIA

Dr. Shannon Nix is a fungal ecologist who received her B.S. from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Ph.D. from Rutgers University. Prior to becoming a tenured professor at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Shannon studied the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on fungal communities as a Fulbright Fellow at the Agricultural University of Norway and as a Post Doctoral Research Associate at the University of Georgia Experiment Station.  During her career as a professor at Clarion and George Mason universities, she taught undergraduate and graduate-level courses in mycology, botany, microbiology and environmental science. Now retired from higher education, Shannon is passionate about education and raising awareness of the role that fungi play in the environment and our lives.

Steve Sierigk is an owner at Hawk Meadow Farm, which is located near the southern edge of the Finger Lakes National Forest and specializes in log-grown woodland mushrooms. Hawk Meadow makes medicinal tinctures from their mushrooms, as well as sells them to local restaurants. Other products include maple syrup, herbal skin care products, locust posts, benches, and sustainably harvested lumber.

At Hawk Meadow, Steven and Anne take to heart their role as stewards of the land by trying to leave their piece of earth better than they found it. They include in their plans– soil building, water quality, improved forest stands, and coexistence with many forms of wildlife as they carve out their agricultural enterprise.

Tonya is happiest when totally immersing herself in a new skill or taking a previous skill further. From basket making to fiber arts, Tonya has learned each skill in order to teach her homeschooling family in an immersive way, with hands-on experience that extends into the living history community that she demonstrates in. While turning those things into an artistic expression Tonya begins with research and attempts to create an accurate portrayal, then asks the question “what happens if?” in order to stretch the possibilities.  Currently she is developing her skills in Natural Dyes and chemistry with mushrooms and lichens, dabbling in biology with an herb garden, and exploring ways to dye porcupine quills with locally foraged dye materials.  Summer can find her at rendezvous demonstrating pine needle basket making and the skills of a country wife of the Fur Trade Era.

Adam Welch is the farm manager and Resident Mushroom Expert at Healing Spirits Herb Farm. He loves working in the mushroom facility at Healing Spirits, and has been growing mushrooms for over 15 years.