Make & Take: Medicinal Mushroom Tinctures at Crabtree Farms, Chattanooga

On a brisk evening at Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga • 1000 E 30th Street Chattanooga, TN 37407, a small group gathers under the soft light of the farm's education space to learn the slow alchemy of medicinal mushrooms. The workshop, led by herbalist Melonie Sherman, guides participants through identifying common medicinal mushrooms, preparing a double extraction, and crafting a personalized tincture to take home. It’s an intimate, hands-on class—designed for people sixteen and older—that marries practical technique with the quiet sensory world of fungi. The scene is practical and rural-urban: a working community farm converted into a classroom for everyday medicine. Key features include jars of dried and fresh fungi, labeled extraction stations, and the hum of conversation as students measure grain alcohol and water into beakers. The curriculum focuses on double extraction methods — a solvent sequence that pulls water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds into a single tincture — plus dosage basics and home storage. Participants leave not just with a jar, but with confidence in integrating mushroom remedies into daily routines. Why this workshop matters in Chattanooga: Crabtree Farms has become an accessible entry point to regional ecology and food systems. The farm’s public education programs connect city residents to the land, and this class translates that local stewardship into practical health skills. Melonie Sherman’s background—years in nonprofit leadership and recent herbalist certification—shapes a teaching style that is clear, community-minded, and grounded in sound technique. Logistics are straightforward. The workshop lasts about 2 Hours and accepts up to 20 participants. There's a mandatory client waiver and a cancellation policy allowing refunds up to seven days before the event with a 10% cancellation fee. Expect to stand for portions of the class and to work with kitchen-grade tools and tincture jars provided by the facilitator. This experience is unique because it puts fungal ecology into the hands of visitors: you’ll handle mycelial materials, learn extraction science, and leave with a practical product tailored to your household needs. It’s equally useful for home herbalists, curious beginners, and anyone seeking natural approaches to family wellness. Whether you’re a local or visiting Chattanooga, the workshop offers a compact, skill-forward introduction to medicinal mushrooms anchored in a community-focused farm environment. Practical details: the minimum age is 16, the group caps at 20 people, and check-in is at Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga • 1000 E 30th Street Chattanooga, TN 37407. Bring a notebook, a pen, and a reusable jar if you prefer your own container; wear closed-toe shoes for working in the farm yard. For questions, email [email protected]. Arrive promptly 10–15 minutes early.