Fungi Walks with Luke Sarrantonio

Saturday, June 6, 2026 — 1 PM to 5 PM

Location: Pine Hollow Arboretum, Slingerlands, New York

Schedule:
- 1 PM: Forest and Fungi Ecology Walk (2 hours)

Join us at Pine Hollow Arboretum for an exploration into the unique ecology of our region. With a focus on Fungi, we'll pull back the curtain and take a closer look at the fascinating organisms we discover and the intricate relationships that make up the ecosystems we live in.

• 3 PM: Local Culture Project

Stay after the walk to learn about and get some hands-on (if you would like) with low-tech mushroom tissue culturing. Any mushroom growing on wood can be tissue cultured or cloned, just like taking a plant cutting. We do this to search for local mushroom strains that have the potential to bring into community cultivation projects and offer to people for backyard mushroom gardens. Learn how you can contribute to conservation and community food security.

About the presenter:

Luke Sarrantonio grew up in Rosendale, New York, spending much of his childhood exploring the local landscape and ecological features, but it wasn’t until attending university at SUNY ESF (College of Environmental Science and Forestry) that he truly discovered Fungi. He has had a dynamic career in Mycology (15+ years), developing ecology and cultivation-based educational programs, organizing an annual mushroom and arts festival (For the Love of Fungi), community projects, and a line of functional mushroom products (under the name Mycophilic). His major goal is to be an accessible resource for people who want to learn more about this fascinating group of life. His most recent projects include an outdoor mushroom farm and teaching space with his partner Kaya, at their farm in Accord, NY (Eat Flowers Farm), and a community project called Eat More Mushrooms. He also offers mentorships and private classes. More at Mycophilic. net