Destinations include farmland, ranches, apiaries, gardens and wineries
If you’ve enjoyed gourmet mushrooms at many of our local restaurants, chances are they came from one place: Play of Sunlight Mushrooms in Tallahassee.
Since 2015, founder Josh Saul has been perfecting the art of growing several types of mushrooms, including lion’s mane, chestnut, pioppino, hen of the woods and assorted oyster mushrooms in a warehouse facility on Palmer Avenue.
Golden oyster mushrooms are just one of the varieties grown at Play of Sunlight Mushrooms, which will be giving tours of its facilities during the Fall Farm Tour. Photo / Tallahassee Table
Saul, a graduate of Florida State University’s music program, started foraging, and then growing, mushrooms as a hobby when he was living in South Carolina.
“I moved to Tallahassee to try to make it a career,” Saul said. “It took a very long time to figure out the techniques to make it work.”
Play of Sunlight offers several varieties of mushrooms including lion’s mane, pioppino, and assorted oyster mushrooms. Photo provided by Play of Sunlight
You can see for yourself how Saul and Play of Sunlight co-owner Kyle Jackson have been making their indoor mushroom farm work during the 18th annual Fall Farm Tour, which takes place on Oct. 11-12. The 12th is fittingly National Farmers Day.
During the tour, the public is privy to a behind-the-scenes view of destinations responsible for producing much of our local food. About 34 places will be participating, including farms, ranches, groves, wineries, nurseries, gardens and apiaries in North Central Florida and South Central Georgia. In some cases, a few participants will be sharing their products at one location.
Millstone Institute for Preservation, located in Tallahassee, will feature a range of artisans and crafts. Photo / Tallahassee Table
“The tour is a chance for the community to meet our farmers and ranchers and see where their food comes from,” said Majken Peterzen, executive director of Millstone Institute for Preservation, which has been the Farm Tour host since 2016. Madison County is the current grand patron of the event, with about two dozen sponsors.
The tour gives local growers a chance to meet their customers and expand their markets, Peterzen said. “And families can get the kids outside. They can go on a hayride, talk to a farmer, and sample fresh-picked oranges. They’re creating that connection.”
Local farmers said that local support has helped them deal with higher costs and growing challenges..
“The price of big things and little things are going up,” said Kiona Wagner, owner of Rocky Soil Family Farm with her husband Chris. “But we have not gone up on our prices. We’re hoping we can push through and survive this. The community in Tallahassee has been so supportive. Our customers are the sole reason we’ve been able to continue expanding.”
Here are some of the tour highlights:
Moccasin Grove’s pumpkin patch will be open for visitors coming by for the Fall Farm Tour. Photo / Moccasin Grove
- Moccasin Grove will be presenting its fall activities during the Farm Tour. Visitors can load up on eight varieties of U-Pick pumpkins, zinnias and sunflowers and go through the corn maze. Owners Ryan and Lizz Bass will have pumpkin treats, popcorn, peach sherbet, lemonade and cider. Moccasin Grove is at 9214 Herold Hill Rd., Tallahassee. Stop by 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 11.
Whitney Burleson, owner of Neighbors Farm in Northeast Tallahassee, with her husband James, daughter Mabry and son Wilder. Photo / Neighbors Farm
- Neighbors Farm will feature sourdough baked goods, soaps, homemade goods and a trading post. Find out how to create an urban farm complete with chickens. It’s at 2966 Foxcroft Dr. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 and 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 12
Schmoe Farm and Blackwater Pastures in Quitman, Ga. will be featuring its fall festival during the Fall Farm Tour, with hay rides, live music and food. Photo / Schmoe Farm
- Schmoe Farm in Quitman, Georgia will present its fall festival, with live music, a hay ride tour and farmers’ market. Check out the ducklings and chicks. Schmoe will be teaming up with the farm Blackwater Pastures, owned by Matt and Anna Woolley – (Anna’s brother Christian and his partner, Drew, are the owners of Schmoe Farm). 1548 Greenville Hwy. Stop by 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 12.
Kiona Wagner, owner of Rocky Soil Family Farm with husband Chris, displays their milled grits and baked goods at the Tallahassee Farmers’ Market. Photo / Tallahassee Table Photo at top courtesy of Rocky Soil Family Farm
- Rocky Soil Family Farm will offer tours around the Monticello property. Learn about their growing techniques, especially what worked and didn’t work. The Wagners grow about 20 crops. Chris is a chef who makes bread, spaetzle and several other dishes. Tally Kombucha and New Green Organiks will also be present at Rocky Soil, 3137 Waukeenah Hwy. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11-12.
- Millstone Institute for Preservation will feature basket makers, weavers, soap makers, growers, herbalists, canning experts, potters, cutlery makers, wood workers, black smiths and other crafts people at 6500 Old Millstone Plantation Road. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12.
Florida-Georgia Citrus is offering hay rides and tours of its citrus groves and packing sheds. Photo / Tallahassee Table
- Take a hayride through the citrus groves at Florida-Georgia Citrus and learn how the business works.Several local participants will be there: Butler’s Pride, Martin Farms Beef Company, Old Fields Wood Shop, Plank’s Rough Cut and Spring Hollow Mill. It’s at 5314 Boston Hwy. in Monticello.Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12.
- The UF/IFAS North Florida Research & Education Center will be presenting kids’ activities, a pumpkin scavenger hunt, arts and crafts and food vendors. The Gadsden County 4-H will bring a petting zoo. 155 Research Road in Quincy. Open 9 a.m.to 2 p.m. Oct. 11.
The crew behind Play of Sunlight mushrooms: Owners Kyle Jackson and Josh Saul, center, are flanked by Tara Davy, left, and Tallulah Biletzkov, the farm’s managers. Photo provided by Josh Saul
At Play of Sunlight, visitors will go indoors and join tours to learn about the captivating mushrooms you’ll come across at the Tallahassee Farmer’s Market, on the Red Hills Online Market and at restaurants including Black Radish, Sage, Il Lusso, Liberty, Kool Beanz, Savour and The Bark. If you’re wondering about the name of the business, it refers to a quote from the composer John Cage, who was a mushroom forager in the 1950s: “In woods, we’re misled by leaves or play of sunlight.” Play of Sunlight will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11
Tips for the Tour
- The Farm Tour booklet offers a map and a guide to all the destinations and their schedules. You can download the guide at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WZ2e6Jwvw71dzVagIuJW3h-KzDTJ5Zj4/view?usp=sharing
- For questions, contact [email protected] or call 850-294-3918.
- Don’t bring pets but do carry suntan lotion, bug spray, water, a tote bag and cash in case the farm doesn’t take credit cards.
- Bring a cooler if you intend to buy meat or produce
- Here’s the farm tour QR code for more on each farm.
