Sometimes when you reach out into the universe something, or someone of similar composition reaches back. That’s happening a lot more these days. This is how I “met” Kai Wingo, mother, mycologist and founder of Kultured Mushrooms in Cleveland, Ohio. I searched facebook for other black mushroom farmers and found Kai. We’re never met face to face but Kai’s story is so compelling that I feel like I know her and have already learned so much from her example. Such is plasmogamy.
Kai’s entree into growing mushrooms and building a community run business came after she lost her job. Growing mushrooms is now her fulltime second career and passion. Along with it, came some community building wisdom and a love for outdoorsing. Our favorites. Kai was kind enough to take some time to answer our quirky questions and inspire us a little in the process.
GSF: I’m paraphasing here but you’ve mentioned that humans are very similar to mushrooms. Do tell. What can we learn from Cousin Hyphae and Uncle Assai?
KW: Yes. That’s probably what also makes them some of the strangest organisms known. I mean we all have a story to tell about a relative who is the most unique phenomenon anyone has ever met. They are excellent at being the most efficient primary digesters and reproduce like nobody’s business. At the same time, they can do it in a way that brings the least amount of harm to their environment and can restore balance when nature gets out of whack. If we could learn from them to use our “brain” to figure out how to use our resources around us in the best possible way, forming symbiotic relationships with trees and other plant life, we could learn how live a good life.
GSF: You’ve talked before about being the only mushroom farmer growing in your area or at your scale. I think I originally reached out super eager to meet another black person doing something similar. Since then, I’ve met two other black mushroom farmers and am foraging for more. What changes about your practice when you find out you’re not alone? Asking for a friend.
KW: We are the first and only mushroom farm in Cleveland, established specifically to market mushrooms. I am sure there are other black people out there enjoying the benefits of fungi but not many of us are vocal about it so it does sometime feel like we are alone. But I think it’s great to find others, we can swap techniques, spores or mycelium, increase awareness, and strengthen fungal partnerships to become a stronger mushroom community. Many of our people are unknowingly in a state of disparity and, I believe doors will begin to open, when and if it hits the mainstream black folks because the potential is so great. I can’t wait to see the results of what we will come up with, especially in the category of science and culinary arts.
GSF: You are/were an African Dance instructor! What are you choreographing on the petri dish dancefloor? What should we do when we hear the break?
KW: Ha! Well I am choreographing lots of different species on the petri dishes, we have a variety of shiitake, oysters, reishi and stropharia rugosoannulata or garden giants to name a few.
The break tells us when to start, stop or change: When you hear the break you should start learning all you can about mushrooms, leaving nothing out; stop hating on each other, respect yourself, the creator and everybody else; and then be sure to share the experience with friends and family and make a real change.
GSF: You involved you’re entire community and family into a mycelial network. Describe how you’re spawning solidarity?
KW: As the word spreads, we are connecting cells, in a way, creating fungal colonies by reconstructing the substrates available and forming mycelial hyphae knots that have potential to become fruiting bodies one day. These things grow by themselves one only has to cultivate it.
GSF: Tell us about Buckeye Mushrooms? What’s flushing?
KW: The Buckeye Mushroom Farm is home to many mushrooms growing outdoors and in our insulated seasonal high tunnel. They grow on woodchip beds, straw logs and on coffee grinds or newspaper in buckets, bags and on racks. We are a self-sustaining facility which is a model the community can use for local food systems. We also have big plans for the future, we will be using solar and wind energy as well as offering even more exotic mushrooms species.
KW: Well, I guess the best place for people to find me is on my facebook page Kultured Mushrooms. Also, we have a Buckeye Mushroom GoFundMe Campaign going on now if people like what we are about and would like to contribute. Thanks!
No, thank you Kai and good luck! You can give to Kai’s campaign here and support community resilience in Cleveland and beyond!
