Nestled along the curves of the Monongahela River in Fayette County, PA Preferred® Flannel Roots Micro Farm is an inclusive and inviting venture focused on growing, exploring and enjoying mushrooms and fungi. Owners Jill Segraves and Brittany Burch help bridge the connection between farms, forests and the food on our tables. They shared insight into their community-focused events, tasty mushroom products and their vision for the future.
Flannel Roots Farm owners Jill Segraves and Brittany Burch
“Flannel Roots aims to share the vast connections between fungi and sustainable food systems via community based workshops and education, fostering a community that appreciates and understands the importance of regenerative practices,” Segraves and Burch say. “Our inclusive educational approach ensures that everyone can participate in and benefit from the knowledge we impart, making Flannel Roots a vibrant hub for innovation and sustainability in agriculture.”
Flannel Roots’ fungi programming includes mushroom walks, forays and foraging in regional parks and conservatories. These guided explorations allow people to learn all about wild mushrooms with guidance from the experts. Flannel Roots also participates in various seasonal markets and shopping boutiques, coming together with other artisans to showcase their goods.
Among its tasty products, Flannel Roots Farm offers PA Wild Mushroom Safety Certified seasonal mushrooms, cultivated fresh mushrooms and various mushroom derived products. Segraves and Burch say, “Our most popular products are the mushroom jerky and mushroom shrub drink syrups. The jerky is unexpected in texture and flavors and the shrub has become a favorite alcohol alternative for use in mocktails with benefits from ingredients like apple cider vinegar, lion’s mane mushrooms and herbal teas used for flavoring.”
Cordyceps candies
Flannel Roots grows a wide array of mushrooms including lion’s mane, blue oyster, maple arch oyster and chestnut, among many others. Segraves and Burch feel that they’re in just the right state for their occupation. They say, “Pennsylvania is number one in mushrooms, and not only in culinary production. It’s home to old growth ecosystems that provide an abundance of tasty, foraged edibles.”
The farmers’ greatest challenge has been reducing stigma, fear and misinformation around mushrooms. To combat this, they offer free meet-ups and low-cost workshops for beginners so that people can learn the benefits of mushrooms across all aspects of daily life. “We offer free educational opportunities whenever we can!” they say. They tote Jill’s “Crate Library” to market with them to share years of collected, sourced mycological information. They also travel throughout the tri-state to give workshops and allow people to text them for help with mushroom identification, as they’re both certified in PA Wild Mushroom Safety. “We hope to further expand our educational outreach by creating a team and developing beginner adult and K-12 friendly programming to build excitement and positive outlooks on the world of fungi around us in Pennsylvania,” they say.
Find Flannel Roots Micro Farm at local markets, events, festivals and online. Follow along on its Facebook and Instagram pages to stay in the loop on products and events! 214 Edith St., Belle Vernon; (570) 916-1988.
This series was created in collaboration with PA Preferred.
PA Preferred® is Pennsylvania’s statewide branding program that promotes locally grown and processed food and other agricultural products.
- Photos: Flannel Roots Farm
