Fungi take spotlight at first-ever festival in Annapolis Valley
The mighty mushroom is being acknowledged not only as a delicious ingredient, but for its role in nature and medicine at a new festival in the Annapolis Valley this fall.
Megan Giffen is organizing Nova Scotia’s first-ever fungi festival to celebrate the mushroom -- a subject she says is largely misunderstood.
“Mushrooms are their own kingdom, so there’s this mystery around them,” Giffen explained. “They’re not part of plants, they’re not part of animals, so people don’t really understand them.”
Giffen teaches people how to cultivate their own mushrooms through her business, Unseen World.
By turning a liquid mushroom culture into a substance called mycelium, she sells pre-inoculated sustainably harvested logs, which will grow different varieties such as grey dove, oyster and turkey-tail mushrooms.
“They’ll keep growing for years and years,” Giffen said.
Giffen felt compelled to celebrate the humble mushroom by bringing together a network of experts and enthusiasts to educate others on the fungi kingdom and their many benefits.
“We have herbalists, therapists, cultivators, foragers, and chefs all coming together to share their knowledge in person,” said Giffen.
Fiona Lewis, owner of Molotov Cuisine, is one of the chefs hosting a workshop at the festival.
“You can do sweet and you can do savoury with mushrooms,” said Lewis. “They fill you up with wholesomeness.”
Lewis is planning to teach festival-goers how to incorporate mushrooms in desserts.
“People really don’t know how to use mushrooms in desserts but it’s actually quite delicious,” she said. “You can really meld your flavours to bring out the amazing qualities of a dark chocolate with a porcini mushroom.”
The festival takes place on Oct. 16 at Annapolis Seeds in Nictaux, N.S.
Visit the festival’s website for more information.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.