2019 is off to a big start! In the first two months so far I have collected quite a bit of Chaga and been on several hunts. I also got my products in a local health food store called Roots and Fruits Market, that is hosting a Saturday winter market which I have been involved in as well. The Appalachia Guild of Healing Arts, in downtown Asheville also has a nice display of my products. This is all wonderfully exciting news as I continue on living what I love. I’m getting ready for spring and picking up where I left off last year with more mushroom and plant walks and being involved in more tailgate markets. I have also increased my tincture production and looking to add in some new ones such as Birch Polypore, Pipsissewa, Mullen and Rattlesnake Plantain, to help promote healthy livers, kidneys, lungs, urinary tracts and immune systems. I will be doing presentations along with everything else too. Hope to bring more natural medicine to more people this year, come out and find me in and around Asheville. East Asheville tailgate market will open again in May, and Black Mountain tailgate market also in May.
***My next presentation is happening Sunday, March 10th at 12:30-3pm at Kate’s Garden Refuge (375 Presnell Hollow rd) in Burnsville, NC 28714. Kate will be preforming a singing bowl meditation at the end of the event for 30 minutes, which is truly amazing stuff! The event costs $10-20 sliding scale and the singing bowls is by donation.***
On our latest and greatest Chaga hunt we reeled in 31 pounds!! Including the biggest single piece yet, credit goes to my partner in foraging fun Jill Love Phoenix who has developed quite the mushroom eye. The supply is full, get some today and start living a healthier, more mushroom rich life (:
Siberians call it “Gift of God” and “Mushroom of immortality”— Japanse call it “Diamond of the forest” and the Chinese call it “King of plants”
Health benefits:
*Contains numerous vitamins including B-1-2+3, K and D-2, Flavonoids, Essential Minerals, Iron, Enzymes and Dietary Fiber.
*It is also one of the world’s densest sources of Pantothenic acid, and this vitamin is needed by the adrenal glands as well as digestive organs. It also contains Riboflavin and Niacin in significant amounts.
*Chaga has an abundance of Beta-D-Glucans which help balance the response of the bodies immune system. This means that chaga helps boosts the immune system when necessary, but slows it down when it’s overactive. Keeps common colds at bay and aids against allergies.
*Reduces inflammation, especially caused by Arthritis.
*Anti-Cancer, it has been shown to reduce the size of cancerous tumors!
*One of the highest Anti-oxidant containing Superfoods (even more than blueberries and Acai berry!!). Provides energy naturally, regulates blood sugar, supports gastrointestinal health; including soothing ulcers, is an anti-viral, and normalizes blood pressure and regulates cholesterol levels.
*Chaga contains high levels of Melanin; Melanin is a complex compound that gives the skin, hair and the iris (colored part of the eye) their color. The amount or concentration of these color pigments determines the appearance of the skin. It can help protect both the skin and hair from sun damage and might even help diminish the size of age spots.
*Chaga has more Potassium than bananas, more Germanium than Turmeric and more Rubidium than Green Tea.
*Gives natural energy that is mellow–long lasting and can boost your mood!
*Chaga has ZERO toxic compounds and can be drank everyday.
*Chaga has been an approved Cancer Treatment in Russia since 1955 and has been used in folk medicine around the world for centuries.
*Chaga can be added to coffee, chai, made into a powerful tincture and mixed with many other herbs such as Reishi, Turkey tail, ginger, licorice root, turmeric, cinnamon, vanilla, and on and on.
*Chaga can be used 3 or 4 times…so it literally gives and gives before it loses it’s medicinal value!
Besides wild crafting, I also lead guided Medicinal and Edible mushroom/plant hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I cover a variety of poisonous, edible and medicinal mushrooms, as well as over 20 useful plants in our region. My walks last anywhere from 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours in length. Destination hikes such as waterfalls, 360 view balds, and various other places of interest can be arranged. My walks take place in the Asheville area, Black Mountain, Burnsville, Old Fort and Brevard.
***My typical charge for these hikes is $50 per person and half price for kids. Just contact me by phone or email to set up a walk!
***I also do ID walks at private residences, I will come to you! The cost of these walks will be $60 an hour. Email me for more information or to set up a private walk.
Reviews of walks:
“My wife and I joined Kevin for the mushroom/plant walk last weekend – what a great experience! A walk in the beautiful woods of North Carolina, saw lots of mushrooms (both the good kind and the bad kind – now we know the difference), cool plants, and a good group of people. Kevin is very knowledgeable about the mushrooms and plants and is able to explain it in a very easy manner. We had a terrific time, came home with lots of mushrooms, and hope to do it again when the next mushroom season occurs. I already put my knowledge to work and collected a bunch of cinnabar chanterelles today when I came across a patch of them while fishing! Will be eating them tonight!
—Jay M (Black Mountain, NC)
“Kevin led myself and several others on a plant and mushroom ID hike. He was very knowledgeable and also encouraging of us to learn on our own. He recommended a great mushroom ID guide book for the southeast that I’ve already dogeared half a dozen varieties that we found on the hike. Kevin is definitely a friendly and personable guy to be around. We ended our hike with a large basket full of edible mushrooms that we split evenly and I now have lunch for two days, about what the hike cost (very affordable). I plan on doing several more hikes with Kevin later this year.” –Tomas Maly (Asheville)
“We went on a great hike and found so many delicious edible mushrooms and plants! I had fun with Kevin and happy I met a bunch of new friends! I feel much more empowered and confident with new and familiar mushrooms after this walk.”—Alea Tuttle (Asheville)
“I joined a wild plants/ mushrooms foraging walk that Kevin led and loved it so much! We learned so much, had a great time and all went home with some wild foods to eat! I can’t wait to join another walk and I HIGHLY recommend him to others!!!” –Andrea Johnston (Asheville)
“Just got back from a mushroom walk, I learned so much more than I could imagine. As a chef I always love learning more about ingredients I use all the time. I would love to go and find mushrooms again soon! The walk is the perfect amount of time and coming home with so many mushrooms was so enjoyable.” –Margeaux Pierce (Asheville)
“Today I went on a small group hike with Kevin and a few others who were wanting to learn more about edible and medicinal mushrooms. I know a little about edible shrooms but today I know a lot more. Kevin is also knowledgeable about plants as well. Great time and will go again!” –Robert Carter Wallace (Asheville)
“I did a mushroom and plant walk with Kevin. He new a lot about them and was extremely helpful. I learned a lot from the hike. I would highly recommend it if you want to learn about edible mushrooms and plants.”–Parker Bell (Candler)
“As a native of Asheville I’ve always wanted to be better about identifying native plants. There are some I know and many I had questions on.
On this hike he not only answered questions (I didn’t even have to ask) but also was super informative on plants I didn’t even know to ask about as well as mushrooms. I loved it. I’d do it again ( there was so much information I didn’t know I wasn’t aware of that not all of sunk into my brain.)
I highly recommend this! You’re supporting local business and yourself by joining in on this experience. Cheers, Kevin! Thank you SO much!”—Jessie Brandt
“(Review for my mushroom walk) We had such a wonderful time on our walk with Kevin. He brought us to a great spot and showed us TONS of mushroom species (he’s knowledgable about local plant life as well)! It was a beautiful, enlightening experience and we came home with quite the variety of mushrooms to try! Kevin is a lovely human being and clearly cares a lot about what he does, the medicinal benefits, and being ethical in his cultivation. It won’t be my last walk…Highly recommend!” –Tessa Matthes (Asheville)
“Today I had the pleasure of hiking in Montreat with my best friend to find some hidden, edible gems! I have always been interested in foraging, but I never felt confident enough to just gather mushrooms on my own. I can now say I know a handful of varieties to look for and the defining qualities some of those non-toxic and toxic varieties possess! Thank you for a wonderful, educational, wild mushroom foraging experience @kevs1813! I hope to pick your brain again soon… and more shroomies!”
—Mia Bach (Tampa)
” Kevin’s mushroom walks are abundant with harvest, knowledge, edibles and drinkables. He’s ah fun guy who knows his fungi” —Anthony Antonecchia (Asheville)
“Kevin is a fantastic foraging guide. Knowledgeable with lots of experience foraging and focus on the benefits of Chaga. I have a lot of interest in medicinals. He shared a recipes and processing of various plants, roots and of course mushrooms. We loaded up our bags and baskets from the forest, felt like I had been to a gourmet market! I think Kevin should consider doing personal property consultations if not already out there! I would repeat a tour during other seasons to learn more about plants in various stages of growth.” —Holly Foster (Asheville)
***You can contact me for any ordering inquiries, online purchasing or other questions about my products. I accept Paypal, Venmo or Square as payment. If shipping I use either USPS or Fed EX, shipping is charged on orders.***
All products are subject to in stock availability. All products are wild harvested.
Chaga Products: By the pound
Small chunks:
1/2 lb- $35
1 lb-$50
Mason Jar $25
Pre-made Tea bags
4 for $15
*Each teabag makes 2-3 quarts of tea and can be used 3 times before discarding.
Tinctures: 1 oz – $25
2 oz- $35
(Double Extraction Alcohol or Vegetable Glycerin available)
Reishi Products: Whole mason jar full $25
Pre-made tea bags:
4 for $15 – Each teach bag makes 1 quart of tea.
Tinctures: 1 oz $25
2 oz-$35
(Double Extraction Alcohol or Vegetable Glycerin available)
Turkey Tail: (when in stock) Whole mushroom or shredded $25 mason jar full
Small mason jars of whole or shredded mushroom $20
Premade teabags:
4 for $15- Each teabag makes 1 quart of tea.
Various Tinctures:
1 oz-$25
2oz-$35
Turkey Tail , Lions Mane, Indian Pipe , Usnea, (Double Extraction Alcohol or Vegetable Glycerin available)
Maitake**(only available in Double Extraction alcohol)**
1oz- $25 2oz- $35
Four of a kind– Chaga, Reishi, Turkey Tail and Lions Mane
1 oz/$25 2 oz/$35
(Double Extraction Alcohol or Vegetable glycerin available)
