Did you know Christmas traditions may have originated from historical uses of a mushroom? This and so much more in store for you with this Rich Life Report.Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ 

What movie should I watch tonight? Who should I invite to holiday dinner this year and what to make? Where did Christmas traditions come from anyways? These are questions you may be asking yourself and we may have some answers. That and so much more lies ahead for you in this Rich Life Report β¬‡οΈπŸ„
 

Eat fresh & local all winter long

You know the drill. Each week you can purchase your favorite mushrooms directly from us at the two locations below. Note that the Northside Farmers Market has moved inside to the auditorium, accessible through either door from back parking lot.

Hyde Park Farmers Market every Sunday from 10 am - 1 pm @Madtree Brewing

Northside Farmers Market every Wednesday from 4pm - 6pm now INSIDE the Heart of Northside (4222 Hamilton Ave)

At each market we will have our 1oz or 2oz Lion’s Mane tincture for sale. Best known for it’s help with focus and memory, this would make for a great gift to any loved one. Local, handmade, and a good-for-you-gift.
 

Let’s talk about farming

And not the traditional type of farming, we are mushroom farmers after all. Have you heard of regenerative farming? It might save the world. Regenerative farming is the most sustainable farming practices that places value on soil health and balance of the ecosystem to produce healthy crops. It focuses on life and the balance of a living ecosystem where all parts benefit another to create a productive and enhancing system. Simply, farming can be regenerative if it follows these 5 principals:

  • No till

  • Crop diversity

  • Covered soils at all times

  • No chemicals (no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, not even organic ones)

  • Livestock incorporation

A new documentary just launched called, Common Ground. The film highlights the importance of regenerative practices for the preservation of our climate and on the quality of food it produces which can directly impact our health. The film takes the viewer across the country to learn about small-scale operations and large-scale farms. Common Ground debuted in Cincinnati in October, but for future viewings connected with their website. The prequel to the movie is now streaming on Netflix, it is called Kiss the Ground.

And our farm?

So how does regenerative agriculture relate to mushroom farming, our indoor-grown and non-soil based operation? Glad you asked. We see ourselves as the β€˜re-’ part of regenerative agriculture. Most importantly, we contribute living mushroom mycelium back into the soil. This living soil will support plant growth, improve water retention and increase carbon absorption. All of these things are imperative to health of the environment.

Further, the growing medium we use for mushrooms are created from waste products of other large-scale operations. One ingredient is oak sawdust that came from waste of a paper factory and the other is soybean hulls that are waste products of soybean oil creation. We take waste and turn it into a soil amendment. Pictured below is a pile of spent mushroom blocks, about a week old, breaking down the nutrients in the blocks to incorporate it back into the soil.

We touch on Rich Life Farm’s regenerative techniques in an interview with WCPO, video linked here & below.⬇️ In this interview we were accompanied by Maddie Chera, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council, where Emalee is a council member. This year the Food Policy Council spent a lot of time on the Farm Bill and advocating for items that would benefit the local food systems. Currently, they are working on the regional climate action plan and goals for the council to focus on in 2024.

Side note, Green Umbrella is hiring! If you or a friend would be interested in a Manager position for the Food Policy Council Community, check out the application here.

 

Cincinnati’s Best?

We knew we were your favorite mushrooms farmers, but being voted as the best FARM in Cincinnati?! We are so honored to have been chosen by Cincinnati Magazine as the best farm for 2023. There are so many wonderful producers in this region, and we appreciate being recognized as one of them. We are excited for the coming year and all that this year has brought.

 

Mushroom of the Month: Amanita muscaria

This mushroom is the epitome of mushrooms. It’s found in children’s books, home decor, Nintendo’s Mario universe, Alice and Wonderland, and so much fun fungi folklore. This mushroom Amanita muscaria.

Amanita muscaria is a mushroom that can be found on every continent, except Antarctica. It has been consumed throughout history by humans and animals alike, and has a unique history linking it to the way we celebrate Christmas today.

This story takes us to Siberia, where the the villagers live in feet of snow during the winter, surrounded by spruce and pine trees, and live amongst the reindeer who they regard as divine. These people would find Amanita mushrooms growing under pines β€” like presents under the tree. And place them on branches of the surrounding pine trees to dry β€” more inspiration to the modern Christmas tree. Then, they would consume the mushrooms and feel joy, relief, the urge to sing and laugh in jubilation β€” all common things to feel at Christmas. Side note: this mushroom DOES have psychoactive properties.

The reindeer also partook in enjoying Amanita muscaria mushrooms. The idea of β€œflying reindeer” comes from the potential event of when a shaman and the reindeer ingest Amanita mushrooms and β€˜take off’ on a trip together, like true spirit animals. This also grants the mushroom the common name, Fly agaric.

Other anecdotes describe people from other parts of the world to dry their Amanita finds over the fireplace β€” alluding to the idea that gifts get sent down through the fireplace. Further, the color of the mushroom, red and white, may be where the origin of Santa’s suit, since the mushroom is what brings the gifts of enlightenment to the people.

The Amanita muscaria mushroom is a very fascinating mushroom with a meaningful history and strong influence in many cultures. Do you think any of your Christmas traditions can be traced back to this psychedelic mushroom?
 

Recipe: Beef Wellington

On the menu for this year’s holiday dinner: Beef Wellington. A timeless dish perfectly balancing rich, umami center hugged by flaky, buttery puff pastry can only be enhanced with Rich Life Farm mushrooms (no Fly Agaric used here). It might be intimidating to some, but take it one-step at a time and your hard work will pay off. To save you from scrolling, check out the entire recipe on the Food Network website: Click here.
 

Partner Spotlight: Pipkins Market

We love our grocery store partners and Pipkins is one of our favorites. Pipkins Market has been Blue Ash’s local grocer and garden center for more than 35 years. They have seasonal produce, specialty groceries, and a vast selection of annuals, perennials, pottery, and hard goods. It’s hard to leave with only the items on your shopping list.

You can find our mushrooms out in our branded retail boxes in the produce isle. And don’t worry, the staffs places the mushrooms back in the refrigerator each night to keep them fresh and happy.

If you can’t make it to see us at the market, pay Pipkins Market a visit. Open Monday - Saturday 8:00 am - 6:30 pm and Sunday: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at 5035 Cooper Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45242.
 Where else to find Rich Life Mushrooms 
 

Happy holidays!

This will not be the last email from us. In a couple of weeks we will share our year in review, including how many pounds of mushrooms you all bought…aka how many pounds of mushrooms you all ATE. Any guesses?

Instagram: @richlifefarm

Facebook: Rich Life Farm and Fungi

#liveyourrichlife
Rich Life Farm and Fungi

Rich Life Farm & Fungi, info@richlifefarm.com, 1144 Ten Mile Rd, New Richmond, United States

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