Community Cultures

This week's episode of "pull, extract, and ferment your invasive medicinal plants" is brought to you by MUGWORT.
- this wonderful herb was one of the original bittering agents in beer; it's also been used medicinally and spiritually within many cultures; whether used for digestion, as a nervine, or a "dream herb", this beauty brings a unique bitter flavor and we like to let her shine on her own in our water kefir soda 🍾🦠
- oh yeah and check out the shiitake kimchi before it sells out!
- spruce is back, and a molasses-forward version of Western PA Forest is taking the stage
- stop by and say hello to Gabby as she holds down the table this week!
WAHOO!

New product alert! meet Spring Shiitake Kimchi

Over the last year you may have seen Gabby at the Lawrenceville Market, or covering our table at Bloomfield. Throughout the winter she's also helped me process and ferment the bounty of local produce from autumn and winter. She also loves kimchi (and makes great kimchi, btw) AND mushrooms!, Sadly, she's moving out of Pittsburgh in June 😢
When I learned that she is moving I asked her if there were any products she'd like to make before departing, and, like any groovy human, mushroom kimchi was at the top of her list. So here it is--an ode to Gabby and the vibrant, thoughtful and passionate work she's brought to Community Cultures.
Spring Shiitake Kimchi (Vegan): local shiitake mushrooms married with julienned carrots, scallions, garlic, ginger, gochugaru, mushroom broth, apple, and salt. This is an extraordinarily small batch, and expensive, because we all know how mushrooms shrink down....but we plan to make future batches, perhaps with other seasonal veggies mixed in to bring down the cost. Gabby will also be covering our table at Bloomfield so you can buy this special product from the maker herself!

Bloomfield menu is up for Saturday! Pine soda is back, but just spruce flying solo (sorry, eastern hemlock and white pine, it's time for spruce to shine). Nettle garlic cashew spread is back! This one might be the last batch before we move into the next seasonal herb/veg cashew spread.

It might be rainy and chilly tomorrow, but us vendors will be there...waiting for you... just like those groundhogs are waiting for you to plant your garden!

Just two workshops this month, folks! Prepare for preserving the fresh fruit and herb season by caring for starter cultures and honing your skills in wild soda. Link in bio to sign up.